Purpose: This study examined the impact of a case-based professional development program on teachers’ foundational literacy knowledge and skills, teaching efficacy, and the reading outcomes of elementary students with reading difficulties. Method: T...
Purpose: This study examined the impact of a case-based professional development program on teachers’ foundational literacy knowledge and skills, teaching efficacy, and the reading outcomes of elementary students with reading difficulties. Method: Twelve pre- and in-service teachers and fifteen at-risk students participated. After a 12-hour pre-training, teachers provided 40-minute literacy instruction twice weekly for at least 25 sessions under expert supervision. Teachers’ literacy knowledge and skills, and efficacy, along with students’ Hangul decoding, word recognition, fluency, and comprehension, were assessed pre- and post-instruction. Results: Teachers significantly improved in literacy knowledge and skills, and efficacy. Students likewise showed notable gains across all reading areas. Conclusion: The program effectively enhanced teachers’ instructional competence and improved students’ foundational literacy, indicating its potential as a viable intervention model.