CommonLit Español Insights NEW: CommonLit Español Study Shows Increased Student Reading Growth Connected to Teacher Professional Development

Mar 8, 2023 • 4 min read

This exciting new study demonstrates the effectiveness of CommonLit Español when paired with teacher professional development.

CommonLit Español offers over 800 texts in Spanish, including literary and informational texts by influential authors like Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel García Márquez. We also have over 70 Lecciones Guiadas, interactive lessons that help students to find evidence, write, and collaborate with peers. Lecciones Guiadas are free guided lessons that teach reading in a structured way, with an emphasis on student-to-student, student-text, and student-teacher interaction.

An exciting new study demonstrates the effectiveness of Lecciones Guiadas when paired with teacher professional development in Mexico. The study utilized a mixed-methods convergent parallel design. Participants had some familiarity with CommonLit, measured by whether they had an active account and assigned at least three digital lessons in Spanish in the last two years.

The total sample included 41 middle and high school educators in Mexico. The educators in the treatment group received professional development while those in the comparison group did not. Both the treatment group and the comparison group had access to Lecciones Guiadas. In the treatment group, teacher experience ranged from 5-31 years, and the majority were middle school teachers.

Over eight weeks, teachers in the treatment group participated in a series of five virtual trainings led by a CommonLit Español representative. These trainings explicitly taught methods for leading the Lecciones Guiadas. Teachers were asked to assign five lessons between sessions and complete pre-, mid-, and post-training surveys about their experience. The student sample was compiled of 350 middle and high school students from Mexico who completed four or more Lecciones Guiadas.

Key Finding #1: Students of teachers participating in professional development on the use of Lecciones Guiadas outgrew students in the comparison group.

Growth from pre- to post-assessment was greater for students whose teachers participated in the professional development intervention, compared to those in the comparison group. The effect size difference between the two groups was +0.29 standard deviations. Reading comprehension scores of students with teachers receiving professional development increased +0.22 standard deviations. On the other hand, reading comprehension growth of the comparison group was near zero.

Growth in Reading Comprehension in Treatment and Comparison Groups

Students in the treatment group significantly outgrew students in the comparison group in terms of reading comprehension. The effect size difference was +0.29 standard deviations.

Treatment and Comparison Group Average Pre- to Post-test Reading Comprehension Scores

Reading comprehension of students in the treatment group was lower than that of students in the comparison group on pre-test and higher than that of the comparison group on post-test.

Key Finding #2: Teachers reported that Lecciones Guiadas increased student motivation and engagement.

On the teacher surveys, over 79% of teachers reported that student engagement increased since they started using Lecciones Guiadas.

Teacher Perception of Student Growth in Engagement (Treatment)

In the treatment group, 79% of teachers reported an observable increase in student engagement.

Teacher surveys revealed a common theme: teachers felt student motivation and engagement had increased with the use of CommonLit. One teacher explained: “They like the topics that have been chosen. They find them interesting and especially the readings at their comprehension level.”

Another teacher explained that their “students participate and exchange points of view. They learn to make use of their electronic devices, for example when choosing arguments. There is a lot of willingness to do the exercise where you have to read.”

Key Finding #3: Teachers reported that completing the Lecciones Guiadas increased students’ reading comprehension and students’ self-efficacy for reading.

Over half of the teachers surveyed, or 63%, reported that their students’ reading comprehension increased since using the Lecciones Guiadas. Additionally, 54% of teachers reported that students’ belief in their ability to read, or the students’ self-efficacy, increased.

This is impressive considering that only five Lecciones Guiadas were required, and already teachers noticed over half of the students’ self-efficacy and reading comprehension increased.

Teacher Perception of Student Growth in Reading Comprehension (Treatment)

In the treatment group, 63% of teachers reported an observable increase in student reading comprehension.

Teacher Perception of Student Growth in Confidence (Treatment)

In the treatment group, 54% of teachers reported an observable increase in student confidence to read.

A teacher surveyed stated “students understand texts more quickly and easily.” Another explained “The time spent working with the students has been improving, as has their reading comprehension.” Clearly, teachers agrees that Lecciones Guiadas helped students' reading growth and increased their confidence.

Next Steps

Want to learn more? Read the full report here.

Interested in implementing CommonLit Español in your classroom? Browse the CommonLit Español Library here or register for a free webinar.