'Do I Have to Leave?' Beyond Linear Text: Struggling Readers' Motivation with an Innovative Musical Program

In this mixed method research, we examined the effects of reading and singing software program (RSSP) as a reading intervention on struggling readers' reading achievement as measured by the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, the high stakes state test administered in the state of Florida, at one elementary school. Our team defined struggling readers as students who performed below grade level on the FCAT in the previous year. We investigated student engagement with the program and teacher support and guidance through quantitative and qualitative methods. From our observations, we synthesized and describe our findings below into two over categories: program implementation and student motivation and engagement.