Education Commons^™

Global Learning Community Network: Heritage Language Learning Project Using Social Interaction Software, Melda N. Yildiz

NERA Conference Proceedings 2008

This paper presents the study called "Global Learning Community Network." The project promotes teaching language, culture, history and literacy through media production in teacher education. It focuses on: (1) examining cultural and linguistically responsive curriculum designed for K12 students who were in the US as heritage language learners; (2) multilingual tutoring and mentoring to K12 students about culture, language, and history of the US and Turkey using Web 2.0 technologies; (3) indentifying teacher candidates' reactions, discoveries, and experiences with the project; and (4) the process of developing learning objects such as digital storytelling projects focusing on across cultures throughout history.

Just Google It-Bringing Students’ Information Literacy To The Composition Classroom, Susanna Coleman

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

See presentation description.

Information Literacy In Library Spaces And Interfaces: Exploring The Libraries Of Seattle, Megan J. Kelly

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

See presentation description.

Literacy And Ideology: A Qualitative Research Study Of A Language Arts Class Of Language Minority Students Using The Scripted Curriculum High Point, Elizabeth Osorio-Arzate

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative research study inquired about the literacy experiences of language minority students in a middle school language arts classroom using the scripted program High Point. In addition, the study inquired about the ideology present in the curricular program High Point. Using qualitative methodology and an inductive analysis approach to the data, the findings of this study were alarming. The study found that there was no literacy or learning occurring in the classroom. There was not even functional literacy occurring in the classroom. On the contrary, students were being assimilated into a dominant culture different than their own, leading to …

In Other Languages: Toward A Critical Pedagogy Of Visual Discourse, Patricia Holland Webb

Adult Education Research Conference

The language of visuality, despite its ubiquitous “voice” in contemporary global life, is all but ignored in education theory. This paper proposes a theoretical framework for critical pedagogic study of visual meaning structures and interpretation, drawing on psychoanalytic theory, critical theory, and notions of multiliteracy.

So Deeply Embedded: Using Inquiry To Understand The Influence Of Popular Media In The Classroom, Christa Boske, Susan Mccormack

Educational Considerations

This inquiry originated with discussions among a group of colleagues’ after viewing Happy Feet, a Warner Brothers film released in November 2006. This film, like many other animated films aimed at preschool and school-aged children, contained hidden messages.

Enhancing Students' Science Content Knowledge Through Text Structure Awareness, Jamie Lynn Christensen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of teaching text structure as a tool to assist first grade students' understanding of science content in a unit of study on plants. A quantitative analysis was performed to reveal any difference in mean post-test scores between a control group and a treatment group. Results indicated that the treatment group students' science content knowledge was increased significantly more than students in the control group. Usage of specific text structure keywords did not increase. However, students did use synonyms of keywords. Recommendations for further research are discussed.

Using A Balanced Reading And Spelling Approach To Enhance The “Spell To Write To Read” Program For Preschool To Fifth Grade, Dawn A. Heer

All Graduate Projects

Reading is the foundation of much that society aspires to, even now in the age of technology. The teacher plays a key role in facilitating the learning of reading in an elementary school. By using a balanced reading approach through the use of spelling, phonics, writing and language, teachers will be able to apply user-friendly principles of reading with the curriculum, Spell to Write to Read. A handbook will be used to present this information during a workshop for teachers and para-professionals of preschool to fifth grade students.

Community Collaboration Using A Unique Gallery As A Literacy Resource (Features The Ruth E. Engle Memorial Collection Of Children's Book Illustration), Anita N. Voelker

Friends of Murray Library

A classroom of fourth graders, a group of preservice teachers, and a professor become an ecological literacy community when they tap into a unique local resource: a gallery of original illustrations from children's books.

Features the Ruth E. Engle Memorial Collection of Children's Book Illustration at Messiah College's Murray Library. All are welcome to visit this collection during library hours. Free.

Literacy Center Initiative, Sandra G. Flank

Cornerstone 2 Reports : Community Outreach and Empowerment Through Service Learning and Volunteerism

Literacy Center Initiative

Sister Delaney (Associate Professor and Director of The Center for Literacy Enrichment at Pace)

Mohana Mukherjee (Graduate Assistant)

School of Education

Initial Plan: Select a student to be the pilot pupil, analyze his needs, engage him in interesting topics on the website, record his progress on a weekly basis, and interact with his guardians to record his performance at home.

Future Plans: Broadening the target audience at the Literacy Center, a number of courses in teaching of reading at both the graduate and undergraduate level, as well as exploring a course in Literacy and Technology for the …

The Act Of Writing A Children's Book, Alexandra Mancini

Senior Honors Projects

Literacy is one of the most important aspects of teaching and education for young children and old in the US and across the world. There have been numerous studies indicating the profound impact that reading has, not only in academia but also in the workforce later on in life. The earlier children are exposed to literacy topics, the better success they demonstrate in the future. It is for these reasons that I selected a topic concerning literacy. The purpose of my project was multifaceted. I had purposes for young children ages 3-5. The essence of my project was to write …

Building Literacy Through Literature, Elvina Tong

Graduate Student Independent Studies

A study of literacy and literature in the early and middle childhood years. Models of teaching literacy are examined and cooperative learning, in place of ability grouping, is recommended.

Promoting Literacy Initiatives Abroad Through Rotary Partnerships, Carol Walker Jordan

The Southeastern Librarian

In the Spring of 2005, on a trip to Atlanta, an article in the US Airways Magazine, August 2005, p. 75, caught my attention, "Universal Literacy: And How Room to Read Contributes To That Goal," by Michael Ybarra. Michael described how John Wood in 1998 quit his job as a marketing director at Microsoft to go trekking in Nepal. Invited by a local teacher to visit a classroom of a village school at Bahundanda, Wood described the conditions to be appalling--80 kids in one grade with 20 books described as backpacker castoffs-for example. Danielle Steel and Lonely Planet's guide to …

Farmer Literacy Practices: A Comparative Study Of Farmers In Kurnool District Of Andhra Pradesh, India, Konda Reddy Chavva

Master's Capstone Projects

ABSTRACT The goal of the study was to understand farmer literacy practices, and how farmer participants perceive the usefulness of Farmer Water School (FWS) training. Studying the farmer literacy practices was to help identify farmer friendly methods, and design effective messages for dissemination on crop choices, decisions, and sustainable groundwater management. To understand the usefulness of FWS training to farmers, a comparative study of FWS participants and non-FWS pa11icipants' perceptions on crop-water management, crop choices, and agriculture practices was undertaken. The study focused on the farmers of Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, India.

The research questions driving this study included: …

A Guide To Balanced Literacy—Pertaining To Reading—For The Intermediate Elementary Teacher, Meghann Finn Mcdonald Martin

All Graduate Projects

This project is a resource that offers information on how to implement, plan, and assess reading using the instructional strategies of balanced literacy. A review of the literature on all four instructional strategies of balance literacy is included. This guide will aid intermediate elementary teachers in planning effective instruction. The intent of this project is to provide a realistic and useful source for classroom teachers to utilize when planning and assessing reading instruction. Finally in addition to the sample lesson plans are examples of texts used for each lesson.

Preservice Literacy Teachers In Transition: Identity As Subjectivity, Mindy Legard Larson

Faculty Publications

This research addresses the complexities of identity development of elementary and middle school preservice literacy teachers during their teacher education program using a poststructural feminist theoretical lens. This research investigated two questions: 1) How do preservice teachers develop their identity as teachers of literacy in the midst of authoritative discourses? 2) What kinds of strategies and discourses do preservice literacy teachers use to negotiate the competing discourses of literacy during student teaching? The results indicated that the identities of the preservice literacy teachers were in transition during their teacher education program and authoritative discourses were at work constituting their subjectivities …

Prácticas De Lectoescritura En Los Exvotos, Maria Eugenia De Luna Villalón

Maria Eugenia De Luna Villalón

Prácticas de Lectoescritura en los Exvotos Abstract Maria Eugenia de Luna University of Western Ontario mdelunav@uwo.ca En este trabajo estudio las prácticas de lectoescritura en los exvotos, su producción y usos, tomando en cuenta que las prácticas de lectoescritura nos ayudan a tener una mejor idea del concepto de cómo se unen en la práctica la escritura y la lectura con las estructuras sociales. Un exvoto es un documento lleno de información tanto visual como narrativa y gracias a estos se puede decir que se tienen un acervo histórico popular, donde a través de los siglos podemos ver ilustrados y …

Key Issues And Future Directions In The Nexus Of Literacy Research, Policy And Practice., Pauline J. Harris

Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)

Relationships among literacy research, policy and practice continue to constitute a contentious issue in the context of literacy policy reforms in Australia and overseas. Referring to these relationships as the Literacy Nexus, this paper explores the nexus in terms of research/policy relationships; policy/practice relationships; and practice/research relationships. The paper provides a review of related literature on these relationships, based on Australian and U.S. research studies and reports published since 2000; and highlights key issues inherent in these relationships. These issues include ways in which literacy research is used in literacy policy and the consequences of this use for the fields …

Teaching Cultural Awareness Using The Four Skills, Alison Garza

MA TESOL Collection

The following project examines the validity of teaching cultural awareness in a language classroom and includes five readers’ theatre plays that help students explore five different countries from around the globe. The countries were determined by the nationalities of the students that participated in the project. The setting for this study was a pull out ESL program in a public school with a large multi-ethnic population. Besides the plays, there are lesson plans, activities sheets and a biography of multi cultural books for children. All activities are designed to incorporate the four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening.

The paper …

Digital Storytelling As A Literacy-Based Intervention For A Sixth Grade Student With Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Case Study, Brent A. Daigle

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigates the use of Digital Storytelling as an intervention to improve the academic performance and social interactions of a sixth grade student with High-Functioning Autism. Qualitative methodology, using an inductive approach informed by grounded theory, was employed throughout this exploratory case study. Three separate data sources, consisting of document analysis, interviews, and participant observation, contributed to the findings of this study. Triangulation of inquiry methods enhanced the validity and rigor of this investigation. The findings from this inquiry indicate that Digital Storytelling was beneficial to the participant in this exploratory case study. Engaged student processes and critical analysis …

The Influence Of Kindergarten And First-Grade Literacy Instruction On The 3rd- And 5th-Grade Students' Reading Achievement : Findings From The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class, 1998-1999, Shu Yu Sophia Huang

Doctoral Dissertations

unavailable

A Content Analysis Of The Two State-Approved Kindergarten And First Grade Reading Programs In California, Elizabeth Anne Presley

Doctoral Dissertations

unavailable

Synthesizing Synthesis: A Unique Step Beyond Summary, Melissa A. Leblanc

Honors Projects

Analyzes the concept of synthesis, often referred to as a higher order thinking skill or an advanced form of reading comprehension strategy, and how the ability to synthesize can be incorporated into classroom and everyday life. Compares a survey of professionals to a model of how synthesis works to help generate methods for teaching students/thinkers to synthesize.