Technology has been great for many things, keeping in touch with loved ones far away, checking the weather, breaking news updates and so much more, but with the increase in technology comes the increase in how much time students and their teachers spend staring at a screen. Large print books may be the solution, this according to a new study from Thorndike Press from Gale, part of Engage Group. It found that large print books are easily implemented and increase reading engagement and comprehension. The study found that 87% of teachers saw a positive impact on their students reading engagement when they switched to large print books.
Conducted independently by Project Tomorrow-an education nonprofit on behalf of Thorndike Press to understand the impact of large print books on student literacy rates, the study examined 1,500 students in grades 4-12 and 56 teachers and librarians from 13 elementary, middle and high schools throughout the United States.
“When a simple change in format can lessen distractions, increase the time students spend reading, and improve participation in classroom read-alouds, the impact is enormous.Large print books are easy to integrate across the curriculum in ELA, social studies, history, and in any library collection—and teachers don’t require any additional training to use them.” Says Dr. Julie A. Evans Ed.D., chief executive officer of Project Tomorrow.
Thorndike’s books are designed to encourage struggling or reluctant readers to keep reading through a variety of techniques. Including, being designed to be similar in size to standard print editions, more space between lines and paragraphs, and 16-point font with high-contrast ink.
71% of teachers reported that reading large print increased Lexile scores by 2 grade levels for those reading on grade levels. 59% reported the same about students reading below grade level. 77% of teachers said the large print books increased comprehension for below grade level readers. 55% saw improvements in students diagnosed with ADHD. Teachers also saw improvements in students who have trouble comprehending what they read (82%), are easily distracted (85%), are anxious about reading (91%), and are still learning English (76%).
The books also helped students who have IEPs, giving students “An opportunity to read a wider variety of current books than they usually get, and books they really wanted to read! Students were more comfortable with large print and would do their homework more often. When given the choice, three out of four would pick a large print book.” Says, Michele Barnaby, an ELA teacher at Marco Foster Middle School in San Juan Capistrano, CA.
Of students grades 6-12 who participated in the study, 89% said they enjoyed reading large print. Nearly half the high schoolers said they were more engaged in the large print books than the other books used for their school work. “After incorporating large print books, my students have been more engaged. I saw their confidence and reading abilities grow. Their fluency and comprehension skills also improved, and they were more eager to read aloud in class.” Says study participant Kelli Merriman, 10th grade special education teacher at O’Fallon Township High School in Illinois.
Teachers found the books easy to integrate into their instructional practices as an intervention took. The teachers didn’t need an extra profession development, changes to their curriculum or adjustments in the teaching methods. 100% of teachers in the study said it would good and valuable to have more large print titles accessible to their students in the classroom or the library. 86% said they would recommend large print books to other teachers to help with literacy development.
A 7th grade language arts AVID Coordinator at San Marcos Middle School in California, Kara May-Dirkschneider taught with the books for the first time during the study and found them helpful for readers who were relecutant and would go so far as to pretend to read. “The novelty of these books made it more exciting for them to read. They were more engaged.” She noted that the large print books were always checked out first from her classroom library.
Teachers noted the following:
- Large print books decreased stress and anxiety about reading for school.
- 81% below-grade-level readers
- 58% students with ADHD
- 58% students reading at-grade-level
- Saw greater confidence in reading abilities.
- 87% below-grade-level readers
- 55% students with ADHD
- 71% students reading at-grade-level
- Noticed increased participation in classroom read-aloud activities
- 87% below-grade-level readers
- 63% students with ADHD
- 52% students reading at-grade-level.
75% of students grades 6-8, and 86% in grades 9-12 requested more access to large print books in school. 62% in middle grades said they felt the format would help improve their reading skills.
O’Neill Middle School in Downers Grove Illinois has been investing in large print for years. They now have over a thousand large print books out of 12,567 in their library. Leading school librarian Tasha Squires to create a section just for the large print books to help students find them easier, “12% of our annual circulation is represented by large print titles, which outpaces even our graphic novels.” Says Squires.
Sabine McAlpines, Vice President of Thorndike Press at Gale said; “The findings from the Project Tomorrow study reveal that large print books serve as a simple yet powerful transformative learning tool that can significantly reduce barriers to reading. They demonstrate that these books offer a ‘no-lift’ intervention that helps educators facilitate improved reading fluency and enjoyment without the need for new technology or extensive training. This approach not only engages with students better but also helps them build lifelong confidence in their reading abilities.”