Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC)

Title:	Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC)
Description:	The WWC's report on CIRC has been updated to include reviews of 27 studies that have been released since 2007. CIRC is a reading and writing program for students in grades 2-6. The program has three principal elements: story-related activities, direct instruction in reading comprehension, and integrated language arts/writing. In a team setting, mixed-ability students work together to read, clarify unknown vocabulary, reread for fluency, understand the main idea, comprehend stories, and work through the writing process. Students are rewarded on the basis of the team's performance to provide motivation to work together and help one another. The WWC reviewed 38 studies that investigated the effects of CIRC on beginning readers. One study is a randomized controlled trial that meets WWC evidence standards without reservations, and one study is a quasi-experimental design that meets WWC evidence standards with reservations. These two studies included approximately 700 students in grades 3 and 4 who attended elementary schools in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Based on these two studies, the WWC found CIRC to have potentially positive effects on comprehension and no discernible effects on general reading achievement for beginning readers.
Online Availability:	Download, view and print the report as a pdf file. (423KB)
Cover Date:	June 2012
Web Release:	June 26, 2012
Publication #:	WWC IRL109
Center/Program:	WWC
Associated Centers:	NCEE
Authors:	WWC
Type of Product:	Intervention Report
Keywords:	Curriculum • elementary school Reading Writing
Questions:	For questions about the content of this Intervention Report, please contact: Erin Pollard.