Digital Commons Network^™

Problems And Possibilities: Emergent Bilinguals And Multimodalities, Kathy Marie Bussert-Webb

TAPESTRY

This commentary and review focuses on my teaching and research experiences with Mexican-heritage youths in the lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, alongside Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico. Most of these youths were emergent bilinguals of poverty. I argue that high-stakes testing environments limited their experiences in diverse sign systems, including technology, in and out of school. These youths engaged in entertainment and friendship uses of technology outside of school, even though most had access to up-to-date digital tools at home for more higher-order technology use. They did not appear to have mentors or teachers who taught them to use …

Tapping The Potential Of El Paraprofessionals Through Professional Development, Michaela Colombo, Qing Zhao, Heidi Perez

TAPESTRY

Many paraprofessionals provide instructional support to English Learners (ELs), yet little research exists regarding their preparedness. Research on paraprofessionals in special education suggests that paraprofessionals are often under-prepared for their responsibilities. This paper explores ongoing professional development (PD) for paraprofessionals using findings from a study of the first year of a 5-year PD initiative for 109 paraprofessionals who worked with ELs in a high-poverty, high-minority urban district. Study findings are derived from the analysis of 57 participant reflection journals, interviews with 12 paraprofessional participants, a focus group with six PD providers, and de-identified observation and focus group data provided by …

Classroom Assessment Of Language Levels: A Quick Formative Assessment Tool, Paul Boyd-Batstone

TAPESTRY

When a newly arrived English learner (EL) enters the classroom, time is not on the teacher’s side. It is not uncommon for the EL to arrive far ahead of assessment data, such as a standardized measure of language level. Yet, the teacher is obliged to immediately provide instruction. Time is not on the student’s side either. English learners need immediate and appropriate instruction. This calls for a quick, formative assessment tool for identifying language level and appropriate accommodations. The purpose of this article is to present the Classroom Assessment of Language Levels (CALL) a tool for teachers to identify an …

Dramatic Differences: The Power Of Playbuilding For Young English Language Learners, Jamie Simpson-Steele, Daniel A. Kelin Ii

TAPESTRY

Through a combination of anecdotal stories, the findings of a qualitative evaluative study and overview of experiential activities, this article outlines how a group of 4th and 5th grade English Language Learners benefited from a drama-based project focused on building student confidence, collaborative and communicative skills and facility with drama processes to engage interest and stimulate a sense of investment with the ELL participants. A portion of the article focuses on one participant who experienced a particularly intriguing journey that stimulated both discoveries and questions about the drama program.

Benefits And Challenges Of Co-Teaching English Learners In One Elementary School In Transition, N. Eleni Pappamihiel

TAPESTRY

This article reports the findings of a case study centered upon the implementation of a coteaching model in an elementary school with a mixed (EL and non-EL) population. In the co-teaching model examined, ESL teachers were embedded in the general education classroom, collaborated on instruction, and taught in cooperation with general education teachers. In addition to presenting the outcomes of the examined co-teaching model, the article outlines several key conditions for the successful application of this model to various teaching environments.

Preparing Teacher Candidates To Meet The Needs Of English Language Learners: The Tells Certificate, Martha Castañeda, Jeannie Ducher, Amy Fisher-Young, Bruce E. Perry

TAPESTRY

A report on the development and implementation of the Teaching English Language Learners (TELLs) certificate program at Miami University, in Oxford Ohio.

Infusing El Content Into A Foundations Course, Cynthia J. Hutchinson

TAPESTRY

An article describing the author's experiences with ELs as well as with infusing EL content within a foundations course.

Infusing El Content Into A Sociocultural Studies In Education Course, Lauren B. Isaac, Richard A. Quantz

TAPESTRY

An article describing the process of embedding English learner topics in the sociocultural studies in education course the authors teach.

Book Review Of "Differentiating Instruction And Assessment For English Language Learners: A Guide For K-12 Teachers", Melanie Gonzalez

TAPESTRY

Text: Fairbairn, S. & Jones-Vo, S. (2010). Differentiating Instruction and Assessment for English Language Learners: A Guide for K-12 Teachers. Philadelphia: Calson.

Editor's Note, Tapestry Staff

TAPESTRY

From the Editors

A Study Of Optimism Among Latinos In A Successful Urban School, Kathleen A.J. Mohr

TAPESTRY

This quantitative study investigated the levels of optimism and self-concepts of 76, fourth-sixth graders who attend an academically successful, English immersion, private school serving a majority Latino and urban population. Two instruments measured the students' self-perceptions with expected and unexpected results. Although academically successful and functioning as the majority, these Latinos were not particularly optimistic. Gender, language proficiency, and grade level were all factors related to the significant findings. The related discussion challenges educators to explore the various aspects contributing to positive self-concepts and to better understand how to develop and sustain optimism among students often considered academically at-risk.

Editor's Note, Tapestry Staff

TAPESTRY

Notes from the editor

Happiness In Giving And Receiving, Peggy L. Nuhn

Illuminations

As I prepare to renew my Florida Library Association membership dues, I’m reminded of how much I’ve benefitted from being an active member in a professional organization, and how many wonderful opportunities have been available because of this connection.

An Interview With Tracy Wharton, Carrie Moran

Illuminations

Tracy Wharton is an Assistant Professor in the Social Work department.

What You Know Now That You Wish You Knew Then, Part One

Illuminations

An Interview with Melody Bowdon, FCTL Executive Director Melody Bowdon might just be one of the busiest and most visible faculty members at UCF. In addition…

The Center For Success Of Women Faculty

Illuminations

The Center for Success of Women Faculty (CSWF) promotes the success of all women faculty on campus through advocacy, networking, mentoring,…

Student Leadership: How To Leverage Peer-To-Peer Outreach On Campus, Aubrey A. Kuperman, Valerie Kessler

Florida Statewide Symposium: Best Practices in Undergraduate Research

The Office of Undergraduate Research has three separate opportunities for current undergraduate researchers to assume a leadership role and assist their peers in getting started in research. This presentation will lay out three models for student leadership in undergraduate research: peer mentors/student teaching assistants in a three-day introduction to research course, student assistants who host peer mentor advising hours throughout the academic year, and a Student Council who focus on outreach across campus and advisory capacity. This session will provide an overview of these programs, and students will share their experiences as mentors in the programs.

Promising Practices In Mentoring Minority Undergraduates In Research, Floralba Arbelo

Florida Statewide Symposium: Best Practices in Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate research opportunities have been linked to outcomes produced from undergraduate student engagement in research activities are associated with gains in writing, cognitive, and personal skills, enhanced self-concept, and academic achievement (ASHE Higher Education Report, 2007; Estepp, Velasco, Culbertson, & Conner, 2016). Research experiences allow students to engage in deep learning, helping them learn to link ideas and identify patterns using evidence and logic by examining arguments; ultimately developing their own ideas about a particular problem through reflection (Entwistle, 2006). Research demonstrates that this high impact practice enhances a student’s link to the campus, faculty, and peers, which in turn …

The Identification And Differentiation Of Festival Stakeholders: A New Perspective, Mathilda Van Niekerk, Donald Getz

Rosen Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This article sets out to identify, differentiate, and categorize festival stakeholders by means of a multidimensional approach. Festivals are coproduced by a collection of stakeholders, and festival organizers facilitate the festival outcomes by interpreting stakeholders' contributions, aims, and concerns. Based on an extensive literature review, a theoretical framework was developed that illustrates how previous studies have typically identified and differentiated festival stakeholders by listing them or by means of a one-dimensional approach. For this study, an online survey was developed and administered to festival organizers in the US, testing the possibility of identifying, differentiating, and grouping festival stakeholders from a …

The National Anthem, Richard C. Crepeau

On Sport and Society

It has been over a week now since Colin Kaepernick sat during the playing of the National Anthem prior to an NFL Exhibition game. He was protesting discrimination against African Americans and police brutality in the United States. These issues have been in the forefront of public discussion since the shooting of Michael Brown just over two years ago. At various points and venues since the Brown shooting athletes have protested and offered various forms of support directly and indirectly to the “Black Lives Matter” movement. Kaepernick’s action joins a long list of protests, and as has often been the …

Ucf Forum's New Opinion Columnists To Begin Wednesday, Gene Kruckemyer

UCF Forum

The UCF Forum opinion series welcomes nine new columnists Wednesday to share their thoughts on local and world affairs, social issues, personal challenges, life lessons and other commentaries.

What If We Stopped Speaking Negatively And Instead Used Words Of Kindness?, Elizabeth Santiago

UCF Forum

Children usually begin speaking their first words about 11 or 12 months old. From “mama” and “dada” come more complex words and thoughts.

Press Release - 2016-17 June S. Stillman Memorial Endowed Scholarship Winner, Ucf Libraries, Libraries Dean's Advisory Group

Libraries' Documents

Press Release announcing the winner of the 2016-2017 June S. Stillman Memorial Endowed Scholarship, Melissa Franco.

New Florida Predator Needs To Be Stopped Now Before Problem Worsens, Elizabeth Santiago

UCF Forum

It’s official: Florida has been invaded. Not by aliens or soldiers with guns, but by something that has no natural predators within our Sunshine State borders. This danger lurks where few people go, but its disruptive presence affects us just the same.

University Of Central Florida Graduate Catalog, 2016 - 2017, University Of Central Florida

UCF Catalogs

No abstract provided.

University Of Central Florida Undergraduate Catalog, 2016 - 2017, University Of Central Florida

UCF Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Tapping Into The Issue Of Phone Privacy, Elizabeth Santiago

UCF Forum

Technology has brought us so much innovation the past few years. We now have the ability to stream movies from our cell phones and contact people across the globe. We can send important messages in a matter of seconds and essentially pack our entire lives into one small device.

Grow Your Own Academic Library Scholarly Communication Program, Barbara G. Tierney, Lee Dotson, Buenaventura (Ven) Basco, John Venecek, Sarah A. Norris

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

How does an academic library go about growing its own Scholarly Communication (SC) program with no budget, no staff, no dedicated office space, no partners, and no experience? The University of Central Florida Libraries responded to such a challenge during 2012-15 by creating a grassroots SC program staffed by a volunteer 20-member library faculty advisory group and creating an innovative “Research Lifecycle” model to help define an evolving menu of SC resources and services that could be turned on, as available, to UCF constituents.

Presentation for the Florida Library Association 2016 Annual Conference.

Minutes 2016-01-21, Staff Advisory Council

Staff Advisory Council Meeting Documents

No abstract provided.

Minutes 2016-01-21, Staff Advisory Council

Staff Advisory Council Meeting Documents

No abstract provided.