Language and Literacy Education Commons^™

Democratizing Knowledge In Plurilingual Education, Angelica Galante, Yunjia Xie

Dimensions

T his article reports efforts to mobilize and democratize research-informed knowledge and resources for plurilingual education through the Plurilingual Lab, a research laboratory based in Canada. Situated in the highly multilingual city of Montreal, Quebec, the Lab showcases findings from research on plurilingual education and fosters collaborative knowledge mobilization among researchers and educators. Grounded in principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and decoloniality (EDID), the Plurilingual Lab’s initiatives seek to advance and inform both plurilingual research and pedagogical practices. Moreover, by making resources openly accessible, the Lab helps democratize knowledge production and dissemination, extending its reach to communities that might otherwise …

Texas Secondary Spanish Teachers’ Perceptions Of Factors Influencing Instructional Self- Efficacy, Satisfaction, And Effectiveness, Tana Verlane Palafox

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ongoing shortages of certified world language teachers and declining enrollment in secondary language programs have intensified concerns about teacher burnout, professional isolation, and instructional quality. Research has indicated that collaboration, targeted professional development, and supportive leadership influence teachers’ instructional self-efficacy, job satisfaction, and instructional effectiveness. However, limited research has examined how secondary Spanish teachers in Texas experience these issues. This qualitative collective case study explored how Texas secondary school Spanish teachers perceive the impact of their professional experiences on instructional self-efficacy, job satisfaction, and instructional effectiveness. Grounded in Bandura’s social cognitive theory and Vygotsky’s social constructivism, the study examined how …

Pennies In The Bank: Building Background Knowledge, Brooke Lee Webster

Journal of English Learner Education

Abstract

Across the United States, teachers are met with stringent time requirements that may not align with the needs of the students inside the classroom. This paper explores the efforts of condensing and prioritizing in a diverse classroom. Through a reflective narrative of teaching comprehension to emerging bilingual students, this paper presents a structure that leverages morning meetings and discussion as prongs for maximizing the benefit of students within limited instructional minutes. Tasks that build competence, confidence, and connection cycle to foster the environment that students need to thrive. Additionally, this paper investigates the role of building background knowledge in …

Supporting English Language Learners: A Comprehensive Guide For Long-Term Success, Yana Shifrina-Piljovin

Journal of English Learner Education

Abstract

This literature review provides a thorough examination of the various multifaceted challenges encountered by Long-Term English Language Learners (LTELLs) in educational settings. It critically analyzes the effectiveness of current support systems and instructional strategies, synthesizes relevant recent research findings, and offers targeted recommendations aimed for educators and policymakers striving to improve educational outcomes for LTELLs. The review evaluates the efficacy of existing support frameworks and teaching methodologies, synthesizes contemporary research findings, and presents actionable recommendations for educators and legislators to enhance the learning outcomes of these students.

Supporting English Language Learners LTELLs) in classroom settings requires a deep understanding …

Are Testing Accommodations Helping Or Not? A Review Of English Learner (El) Accommodations On Standardized Tests, Cole Forbes

Journal of English Learner Education

This paper examines and critiques English Learner (EL) testing accommodation policies. They have been ineffective at increasing test scores and accessibility. The policies have mandated that EL students participate in high-stakes assessments with accommodations, and sometimes without them. The purpose of the accommodation is to create an even playing field for all test-takers, so that no subgroup is put at a disadvantage, which would compromise their scores and lead to misclassification of students. Laws and Acts such as the Bilingual Education Act of 1968, No Child Left Behind, and the Every Student Succeeds Act have updated and mandated a more …

Differentiated Instruction For Multilingual Learners: A Thematic Analysis Of Research And Practice, Mohsine Bensaid, Jiayuan Jiang

Journal of English Learner Education

Differentiated instruction (DI) is widely promoted as a means of supporting diverse learners, yet its enactment for multilingual learners (MLs) remains uneven and under-theorized in mainstream classrooms. This study examines how DI is conceptualized and implemented to support MLs by attending to learners’ linguistic, cultural, and academic profiles. Using reflexive thematic analysis, this qualitative synthesis examines 20 peer-reviewed empirical studies published between 2010 and 2024 in English-medium K–12 contexts in the United States, with particular attention to elementary settings when specified. Analytic interpretation was supported by practitioner-based reflection functioning as an interpretive lens rather than a separate data source. Four …

A Quasi-Experimental Study On The Effectiveness Of Achieve3000 On The Reading Comprehension Scores Of Ells With Ld, Paula P. Fields

Journal of English Learner Education

The purpose of this quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study was to determine if a significant difference existed in the comprehension scores of secondary English Language Learners with learning disabilities after treatment. The problem addressed is that a significant correlation exists between English language learners and learning-disabled students’ low reading proficiency scores and student achievement, leading to decreased graduation rates. Schema theory served as the theoretical foundation of this research because when the appropriate schema is activated, it helps increase comprehension. The research question guiding this study was: Is there a significant difference between the reading comprehension scores of high school English language …

Reading Comprehension Interventions For Multilingual Learners With Disabilities: A Systematic Review, Sariya Shabnam, Jennifer E. Smith, Samiratu Bashiru

Journal of English Learner Education

Multilingual learners with disabilities (MLWDs) face substantial barriers to reading comprehension given the intersecting challenges of language acquisition and disability (Artzi et al., 2022; Frates et al., 2024). Students with disabilities often need explicit, strategy-based instruction with modeling, guided practice, and scaffolding (Frates et al., 2024; Wawire et al., 2024; Moura, 2024). When learners are also multilingual, interventions must be linguistically accessible and responsive to diverse cognitive profiles (Moura, 2024; Sarisahin, 2020). MLWDs comprise 15.8% of English learners in U.S. public schools (NCES, 2024), yet research on effective comprehension interventions remains limited; most studies treat multilingual learners or students with …

The Labor Of Reading: A Personal And Pedagogical Exploration, Alisha Goldblatt

Wellspring: A Practitioner-Oriented Journal of Literacy and Language Education

While teachers bemoan the decrease in students’ ability to sustain interest in reading, and phones dominate over plain text, I have been wrestling with two questions that predate the current ubiquity of screentime: Why are some people more capable of reading fluently and with passion than others? Why can’t every person easily “lose” themselves in a text? As an English teacher and avid reader, I investigate the mechanisms of the act of reading (mainly fiction and creative nonfiction), the well-intentioned efforts of educators, and the question of whether reading itself is absolutely necessary to produce an informed, empathetic, and educated …

Investigating The Impact Of Gamification And Humor On Student Engagement In An Esl Classroom, Joshua F. Filipowski

Wellspring: A Practitioner-Oriented Journal of Literacy and Language Education

This study explores the impact of gamification and humor on middle school students' engagement, participation, and learning outcomes. The researcher, an ESL teacher, sought to address students' boredom and disengagement by introducing games and humor into the classroom. The study involved 12 middle school English learners and employed both qualitative and quantitative methods, including journal entries, focus groups, and participation tracking. Findings indicated that students were more engaged and willing to participate during gamified activities, with slight but significant improvements in quiz scores. Students expressed a preference for jokes and games over traditional methods. The research suggests that incorporating humor …

The Impact Of The Alabama Literacy Act On Rural Third-Grade Students, Autumn F. Blalock

College of Education

Low third-grade reading proficiency rates in Alabama prompted the passage of the Alabama Literacy Act (ALA) in 2019, which mandates systematic, explicit literacy instruction grounded in the Science of Reading. While the Act represents a substantial shift in instructional practice and state education policy, limited empirical research has examined its impact across school contexts, particularly in rural settings. The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental study was to examine whether third-grade reading proficiency rates changed following implementation of the ALA and to compare outcomes between rural and non-rural schools and among rural students by socioeconomic status. Guided by the Simple View …

The Contribution Of Local Wisdom In The Nagasasra Textbook As Support For The Pancasila Student Profile Strengthening Project (P5), Nurhidayati Nurhidayati, Suwarna Suwarna, Sri Hertanti Wulan, Nujumun Niswah, Laura Zarbaliyeva

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

The Merdeka Curriculum places strong emphasis on students' character development, which is operationalized through the Pancasila Student Profile Strengthening Project (P5) comprising six core dimensions. As one of the primary curricular resources, textbooks are expected to reflect and mediate these character values in classroom learning. This study aims to examine the contribution of Javanese local wisdom represented in the Nagasasra textbook to supporting the implementation of P5. Employing a qualitative descriptive design, this research adopts a document-based analysis of the Nagasasra Javanese language textbooks for grades X, XI, and XII. Data were collected using a read-and-record technique and analyzed through …

Author Talks In A Virtual Graduate Literature Course, S. Rebecca Leigh

Michigan Reading Journal

In a graduate, online course, seven invited guests – a combination of authors and illustrators, some of whom are Michiganders – spoke to 18 graduate students and practicing teachers, about books, writing, illustrating for children, and trends in education today. This is a literature course that is guided by the questions, “What are current topics and issues connected to literature today?,” and “How might we rise above these challenges that puts contemporary literature in the hands of students?”

Development Of Animation-Based Cooperative Learning Media On Lampung Folk Tales To Improve Learning Outcomes In Elementary School Students, Aprilia Nursanti, Farida Ariyani, Ryzal Perdana, Hendri Firmansyah

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

This study aimed to develop and examine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an animation-based learning medium integrated with Cooperative Learning for teaching Lampung folk tales in elementary schools. The study was motivated by low student achievement and the limited availability of culturally contextualized digital media in local language instruction. Using a Research and Development (R&D) approach, the learning media was developed through the ADDIE model, encompassing Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. The participants consisted of 25 fourth-grade students from SDN 3 Rajabasa, Bandar Lampung. Expert validation indicated a high level of feasibility, with an average score of 88%. …

Visual Healing In Visual Communication Design: Exploring Calm Aesthetics For The Psychological Well-Being Of Urban Society, Siti Indah Lestari, Ivo Ramadhani

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

This study investigates the concept of visual healing from a Visual Communication Design (VCD) perspective, focusing on its potential contribution to emotional comfort and psychological well-being among urban office workers. Contemporary workplace environments are increasingly characterized by prolonged screen exposure, dense visual information, and sustained cognitive demands, conditions that intensify visual fatigue and psychological strain. In this context, the study positions visual design not merely as an aesthetic practice, but as a psychologically responsive medium capable of shaping users' emotional experiences in everyday work settings. Employing a qualitative Research through Design (RtD) methodology, the study treats the design process as …

Discourses On Homosexuality And The Paradox Of The Closet In The New Life (2023) By Tom Crewe, Paramita Ayuningtyas, Shuri Mariasih Gietty Tambunan, Asri Saraswati

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

This article offers a critical examination of Tom Crewe's biographical novel The New Life (2023), focusing on its representation of homosexual subjectivity in Victorian England—a historical context defined by restrictive moral norms and punitive legal regimes that criminalised same-sex relationships. Drawing on Michel Foucault's theory of discursive power, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick's concept of the closet, and Michael Boucai's topology of the closet, the study demonstrates that the novel portrays the closet not merely as a private site of concealment but as a complex social mechanism shaped by legal regulation, gender norms, and class-based power relations. Building on this theoretical framework, …

A Learning Model For Effective Literacy Instruction In Diverse Papuan Contexts, E. Oos M. Anwas, Anggi Afriansyah, Muhammad Mulyadi, Dwi Purwoko, Zulfikri Anas, Virgiawan Listanto, Dini Dwi Kusumaningrum, Fikri Muslim, Dayu Rifanto

The Qualitative Report

This study seeks to address the persistent challenge of low literacy rates among Papuan primary school children by answering the research question: What factors hinder literacy development, and how can a holistic learning model improve literacy outcomes in this context? Conducted in Keerom and South Manokwari Regencies, the research adopts a qualitative approach to design an inclusive and effective learning model. The study involved a multi-stakeholder approach, engaging primary school students, educators (teachers and principals), parents, community leaders (village heads, religious leaders, and traditional leaders), government officials (education office and local government), legislative representatives (DPRD members), and academic experts from …

Structural Relationships Between Classroom Social Climate, Affective Factors And Willingness To Communicate Among International Mandarin Learners In Shandong, China, Muzi Li

Student Works (2020-2029)

This study addresses a critical gap in second language acquisition (SLA) research by investigating effects of classroom social climate (CSC) and affective factors on willingness to communicate (WTC) in both non-digital and digital contexts among international Mandarin learners. Although L2 Mandarin is expanding globally, limited research has examined the joining effects of CSC and affective factors on WTC across different learning environments. Employing a cross-sectional correlational dedign based on Self-Determination Theory and Broaden-and-Build Theory, data were collected from 390 L2 Mandarin learners in Shandong province, China, with 360 valid responses. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the relationships …

International Students In Early American Forensics: Notes On The History Of The U.S.-Japan Forensics Relationship During The Late 19th And Early 20th Centuries, Satoru Aonuma, Junya Morooka, Tomohiro Kanke

Studies in Debate and Oratory

Ending 215 years of “national seclusion,” in 1854, Japan ratified the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United States and opened its doors to the rest of the world. Because of this special bilateral relationship, between the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, more Japanese began traveling to the U.S. than to any other country. Focusing on young Japanese who went to the U.S. as students and participated in debate and oratorical education during this period, this essay will re-examine the history of the U.S.-Japan relationship in terms of academic debate and oratory. During this period, American …

Teaching The Science Of Reading Critically, Cheu-Jey Lee

Mid-Western Educational Researcher

In light of the increasing popularity of the science of reading (SOR) and its influence on literacy education, this paper is concerned with how to teach SOR critically without embracing it blindly. The definition of SOR, along with its limitations, is presented first. Then, critical reading is argued to be missing in SOR and its broadened/improved variations. Finally, an instructional example is provided to illustrate how to teach SOR critically through a whole-part-whole hermeneutic reconstructive process. This example demonstrates that the foundational literacy skills emphasized in SOR and the critical reading skills fostered through the four dimensions of the critical …