Teaching Expository Text Management and Proficiency Skills for Comprehension for Students With Language/Learning Disabilities

Abstract

The purpose of this registered report study was to determine the effects of explicit text structure instruction on the expository text comprehension of students with language and learning disabilities (LLD) using a multiple baseline design across conditions (e.g., compare–contrast and cause–effect) and participants. Participants included four children enrolled in the fifth grade of Florida schools with previous diagnoses of language impairment and reading comprehension deficits. Text structure instruction was provided during the intervention phases using a researcher-designed intervention program called TEXT-MAPS. The dependent variables included text structure and signal word identification and percentage of idea units recalled from expository text. All participants showed improved recall of idea units for compare–contrast and cause–effect texts with maintained performance 1-month post-intervention. The program also had notable effects on participants’ identification of signal words and text structures in compare–contrast and cause–effect texts. The magnitude of the Tau-U effect sizes was in the large, medium, and small range, and varied across participants. The results indicate that short-term, explicit text structure instruction can be effective for children with LLD with deficits in expository reading comprehension. Considerations for further research and practical implications are presented.