Arizona State University Final Study Report

This four-year study strongly suggests that using THE SPALDING METHOD® improves performance in critical literacy skills.

According to the four-year study (from 2006-2007 through 2009-2010) conducted by the Arizona State University, students who used THE SPALDING METHOD® demonstrated higher and statistically significant learning as measured by DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills).

One group used THE SPALDING METHOD®, while the second group used either Houghton Mifflin or Harcourt. Since both groups used detailed teacher guides evaluated by the Arizona Department of Education for research-based reading components, theoretically, they should have produced similar results. This was not the case.

oral reading fluency
Figure 1: Oral Reading Fluency comparison between Spalding and Non Spalding Students over time. From 1st Grade 2008, to 3rd Grade 2010.
oral reading fluency mb
Figure 1: Oral Reading Fluency comparison between Spalding and Non Spalding Students over time. From 1st Grade 2008, to 3rd Grade 2010.
word use fluency
Figure 2: Word Use Fluency comparison between Spalding and Non Spalding Students over time. From Kindergarten, to 1st Grade 2007.
word use fluency mb
Figure 2: Word Use Fluency comparison between Spalding and Non Spalding Students over time. From Kindergarten, to 1st Grade 2007.
retell fluency
Figure 3: Retell Fluency comparison between Spalding and Non Spalding Students over time. From 1st Grad 2008, to 2nd Grade 2009.
retell fluency mb
Figure 3: Retell Fluency comparison between Spalding and Non Spalding Students over time. From 1st Grad 2008, to 2nd Grade 2009.
terranova reading
Figure 4: Average NCE score on the TerraNova (the state's norm-referenced achievement test) reading portion comparison between Spalding and Non Spalding Students.
terranova reading mb
Figure 4: Average NCE score on the TerraNova (the state's norm-referenced achievement test) reading portion comparison between Spalding and Non Spalding Students.
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