Language and Literacy Education Commons^™

Designing Effective Library Treasure Hunts: Theory, Practice, And Framework Alignment, Ellwood Colahan

University Libraries: Faculty Scholarship

Treasure hunts have long been employed in academic library instruction as an interactive method for fostering information literacy skills through active learning, exploration, and adventure. This essay offers a comprehensive analysis of the theory and practice of library treasure hunts. It begins by distinguishing treasure hunts from scavenger hunts and emphasizing the importance of accurate terminology. The pedagogical principles underlying their effectiveness are then examined, followed by a review of the relevant literature. The essay also addresses the challenges associated with the labor-intensive process of designing and implementing these activities. A separate analysis course alignment, learning outcomes, and how the …

Reexamining The Relationship Of Georgia’S Rural World Language Teachers’ Efficacy To Teacher Attrition, Shannon Borum, Peter B. Swanson

The Rural Educator

U.S. schools, including those in rural America, have struggled with a shortage of world language teachers for decades. Using Bandura’s framework of self-efficacy teaching languages, the researchers conducted a study using the same methods as an earlier study of rural world language teacher attrition in Georgia. Contrary to those findings, results in the present study indicate that teacher efficacy is not a factor in one’s decision to remain in or leave the teaching profession in Georgia; environmental factors appear to be a stronger indicator of rural world language teacher attrition. The study also has implications for teacher and administrator preparation …

Rooted Writing: The Role Of Place In Rural Writing Identities, Layne Elise Ilderton

The Rural Educator

This article investigates the intricate dynamics of writing relationships among rural students, highlighting the profound impact of place and identity on their writing experiences. Using a mixed methods approach, the study explores how rural settings influence students’ self-perceptions, apprehensions, and preferences in writing, as observed through a survey administered in three rural high schools. Central to the findings is the observation that students demonstrate a notable decrease in writing apprehension when engaging with topics rooted in their personal and rural experiences. They also have auditory and social preferences for writing environment and feel restricted with stringent grammar requirements in writing. …

El Deafo Bibliotherapy, David S. Wolff

OER Materials

The goal of this assignment was for preservice teachers to practice writing a chain of questions that focused on the social and/or emotional needs of young learners. Bibliotherapy is therapeutic in nature to help individuals understand themselves and the world around them through guided reading experiences (American Library Association, 2025; Delisle & Galbraith, 2002). Further, bibliotherapy allow individuals to identify a personal problem mirrored by a character in a book. As the reader connects with the character, the reader experiences the emotions expressed by the character. Finally, the reader applies the character’s experience to their own personal problem (American Library …

Horrible Harry In Room 2b Bibliotherapy, David S. Wolff

OER Materials

The goal of this assignment was for preservice teachers to practice writing a chain of questions that focused on the social and/or emotional needs of young learners. Bibliotherapy is therapeutic in nature to help individuals understand themselves and the world around them through guided reading experiences (American Library Association, 2025; Delisle & Galbraith, 2002). Further, bibliotherapy allow individuals to identify a personal problem mirrored by a character in a book. As the reader connects with the character, the reader experiences the emotions expressed by the character. Finally, the reader applies the character’s experience to their own personal problem (American Library …

Literacy For All: A Phenomenological Study On The Application Of Massachusetts Informational Reading Standards In Massachusetts Public High School Content-Area Disciplines, Abby S. Gillis

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to describe the lived experiences of Massachusetts public high school content-area teachers with applying Massachusetts informational reading standards in their instructional practices to support reading development for all students. This qualitative study utilized data collected from six Massachusetts public high school content-area teachers through one-on-one semi-structured interviews. The literature review applied the theoretical framework of SFL which focuses on the practice of studying texts through the social and cultural context of the text, in this case, in content-area curricular texts and resources. Themes focused on national and local informational reading standards, reading …

Motivations For Authentic English Use And L2 Identity Expression Through Content Sharing And Commentary On Social Media, Paul Mcentee

Japanese Society and Culture

This essay explores the intersection of second language acquisition, social media engagement, and identity construction among language learners at a private university in Tokyo, Japan. Focused on understanding motivations for using English in online spaces, the research employs mixed methods to analyse social media use and motivations.

The study reveals that while students are active consumers of social media, they can use these platforms as a productive tool for language expression with proper guidance. It highlights the potential for social media to enhance language learning beyond the classroom, offering insights for educators to incorporate digital spaces into curricula effectively.

Key …

Cultivating Community: A Mixed-Methods Study Examining Community Literacy Practices In The Secondary Ela Classroom, Anna Heilers

Undergraduate Theses

Past research on the relationship between community literacy and schooling has emphasized how educators can use community-based prior knowledge to teach students the privileged literacies associated with academia. Some researchers have discussed the potential for university-community partnerships that are mutually beneficial, but few have explored possibilities for change in the high school setting. Utilizing 24 survey responses and 2 interviews, this study sought to answer the following questions: Do high school class experiences have any impact on students’ community literacies? If they do, do they support or hinder their growth? I analyzed data using a combination of correlational analysis, axial …

Examining Rural High School Students’ Perceptions Toward And Experiences With The Reading Plus Intervention Program: A Qualitative Case Study, Deshonda Wolfe

Dissertations

Reading is the gateway to all other academic skills and across all disciplines of learning. Content courses at the high school level central focus are on reading to learn core curriculum verses learning to read. However, research shows that if students read significantly behind their typical peers, the reading gap widens throughout high school. Learning is stalled, and access to other contents, curriculums, and instructions becomes limited. To address the reading proficiency gap of high school students struggling to read in grade level, school districts have turned to computer assisted interventions programs, such as Reading Plus, to combat the reading …

An International Framework And A Local Standardised Test: A Former Item Writer’S Autoethnography, Xuan Minh Ngo

The Qualitative Report

A recent trend dominating education worldwide is the enactment of external accountability frameworks and standards-based assessment. Likewise, in language education, international standards like the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) have been increasingly used for local standardised test development and alignment. However, there has been little research into the application of the CEFR in item writing, the activity of creating new items and associated materials, in local standardised testing contexts. To bridge this gap, this autoethnography shares my firsthand experience of writing items for a locally-developed, CEFR-aligned standardised English test in Vietnam. By combining evocative and analytic autoethnography, I aim …

Unlocking Ela For All Students With Drama Activities, Natalie Tasillo

Virginia English Journal

Introducing drama activities into ELA classes can spark creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration for all students. They offer inclusive alternatives to traditional ELA activities and support successful learning experiences for all students. Several drama activities that are accessible to many students experiencing challenges are provided with suggestions for how they can benefit ELA classrooms.

Poem: "Meditation On Glass (Or, The Necessity Of English Teachers)", Joseph M. Jablonski

Virginia English Journal

A poem about English Teachers from a street poet.

The Badge He Wore, Kaya L. Klein

Virginia English Journal

"The Badge He Wore" is a poignant reflection on sacrifice, duty, and love. Through vivid imagery, the poem portrays the badge as more than metal—a symbol of a protector’s unyielding promise to serve others. It explores the weight of responsibility, the courage to face fear, and the ultimate act of laying down one’s life for another. The badge becomes a testament to a life of selflessness, a bond with the people it protects, and a legacy of a hero who gave all. This piece honors the humanity behind the badge, reminding us of the cost of true bravery.

Literacy Warriors: Engaging Our Community In The Fight For Literacy, Monica Rene Manns, Diane Saunders

Virginia English Journal

The Literacy Warriors initiative is designed to address the pervasive issue of illiteracy in underserved communities through innovative, community-driven strategies. Rooted in the evidence-based methodologies of Marva Collins and Orton-Gillingham, the program equips community members—referred to as Literacy Warriors—with the skills to teach foundational literacy, including phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Recognizing literacy as a tool for equity, empowerment, and social justice, this initiative emphasizes culturally affirming practices that resonate with the lived experiences of Black and marginalized students. The program also addresses a critical gap: many Literacy Warriors themselves were not taught phonics due to past whole-language initiatives, which …

Volume 73: Issue 1 - Letter From The Editor's Desk, Cinde Wollenberg

Virginia English Journal

No abstract provided.

Finding “Heart, Hope, And Humanity” At The 2024 Ncte Annual Convention, Hermione Dewitt, Ellie Fisher, Zoe Mcdowell, Kaleigh D. Phelps, Liz Shanks, Haley Smiley, Mark A. Lewis, Melanie Shoffner

Virginia English Journal

Six teacher candidates from James Madison University’s secondary ELA teacher education program reflect on their take-aways from the 2024 NCTE Annual Convention through the lens of the convention theme: Heart, Hope, and Humanity.

Call For Submissions: Volume 73: Issue 2

Virginia English Journal

No abstract provided.

Avoiding The Dreaded Packet: The Impact Of Guided Notes On Student Confidence And Quality Of Poetic Annotations In An 11th Grade Ap Language And Composition Classroom., Kaleigh D. Phelps

Virginia English Journal

This article presents findings from an action research study conducted in a 11th Grade AP Language and Composition classroom on the impact of guided notes on confidence and quality of student work. The data indicates a substantial need for transfer skills in the English classroom.

Reading The Players: Developing Critical Consumers Of Sports Media, Katie Dredger, Katherin Garland, Crystal L. Beach

Virginia English Journal

Sports media is ubiquitous, and English Language Arts (ELA) teachers can use topics around current sporting activities and events in the classroom to engage readers and to teach skills of critical media literacy. Serving as a primer on critical media literacy, this article, grounded in educational theory, gives practical and easily accessible texts and creative lesson ideas to spark engagement, build community, encourage collaboration and foster achievement in secondary ELA classrooms.

Enhancing Students' Lampung Language Pronunciation Through Audio-Visual Folk Story Media, Farida Ariyani, Mulyanto Widodo, Dwi Yulianti

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

Lampung language is currently experiencing a decline in usage, increasingly being supplanted by other languages. This trend can be attributed to students' waning interest in learning Lampung, which is partly due to the lack of innovative teaching approaches. Additionally, the complexity of Lampung pronunciation, further complicated by the existence of Dialect A and Dialect O, presents another challenge. To address these issues, there is a need for accessible and easy-to-use audio-visual media, particularly those focused on folklore, which can be widely utilized by educators. This study employed a comparative descriptive approach to investigate the impact of folklore-based audio-visual media on …