Language and Literacy Education Commons^™

Teaching Social Justice In Kindergarten To Reduce Bias In Children, Deanna Marie Villari

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand what happens when students in a Kindergarten classroom participate in learning about social justice to create a culture of empathy. Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (Ladson-Billings, 1995) serves as a theoretical framework for implementing mini-lessons using the 2020 Teaching Tolerance's Anti-Bias Framework and social justice standards to create an inclusive kindergarten environment. The objective was to increase engagement in the classroom and create a more positive and comfortable environment for students during play group and class discussions around picture books. Qualitative research was used in this study, which focused on read-alouds, class discussions, and …

Yolkkh: The Story Of My People, Amna Zelimkha Yandarbin

Theses and Dissertations

The name of my project is: Yolkkh, The Story of My People. With this project I present a series of scarves each one bearing an illustrated scene in order to tell a story – my story and the story of the Noxci people. Noxci are the people who are referred to as “Chechens” by Russians and are generally known by that title. As a Muslim, I have witnessed the way Western media tend to dehumanize my community. In order to contrast this dehumanizing process, I thought that telling the story of my family would help reverse Islamophobic tendencies and raise …

A Discourse Analysis Of The Science Of Reading Through The Lens Of A Social Media Twitter Hashtag, April Darlene Evans

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative virtual ethnographic study was conducted to explore the discourse around the science of reading topic through the lens of a social media Twitter hashtag known as #scienceofreading. Participants for this study consisted of any person that had an account on Twitter and entered into the discourse of the topic of the science of reading using the #scienceofreading contained within their tweet or attached to their tweet. Participants were observed in the public social media platform of Twitter. Three research questions were used to explain the phenomenon: 1) What are the roles of the participants involved in the discourse …

Understanding Classroom Teachers' Knowledge And Practices For Teaching Reading To Students At-Risk For Dyslexia, Amanda Mccaleb

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examined the knowledge base of 130 elementary classroom teachers for teaching reading to students at-risk for dyslexia. A multiple-choice knowledge survey included items situated in classroom contexts and assessed participants’ knowledge about the five components of reading including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Additionally, qualitative data were collected to better understand what is informing classroom teachers’ knowledge and practices for teaching reading to students at-risk for dyslexia. Overall, participants obtained the highest scores on the knowledge survey subscale involving fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension and the lowest subscale involving phonemic awareness and phonics. Mean percentages correct …

Exploring Initiation As A Predictor Of Acceleration For Emergent Readers: A Mixed Methods Study, Tracee Cay Farmer

Theses and Dissertations

Using an exploratory sequential research design, this research was conducted to explore whether the emergence of initiation predicted whether students reach grade-level literacy expectations by the conclusion of their Reading Recovery intervention. Reading Recovery is a research-based short-term intervention developed by Marie Clay with the goal to help the lowest-performing students accelerate their reading progress so that they can reach the average of their class. The following questions were the focus of research: 1) What is the behavioral structure of initiation as part of the problem-solving process in reading? 2) Does the emergence of initiation, as recorded on running records, …

Literacy Based Behavioral Interventions: A Review Of The Literature, Shannon R. Eshman

Theses and Dissertations

In this systematic review of the literature on literacy-based behavioral interventions (LBBIs), ten selected articles were compared to the Quality Indicators prescribed by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). There were eight main categories of standards which included 1) context, 2) participant characteristics, 3) description of the intervention, 4) how it was implemented, 5) if the implementation had fidelity and 6) validity, 7) outcome measures, and 8) data analysis. Each of the studies was evaluated according to these indicators by using a coding chart. Results indicated that LBBIs can be considered an evidence-based practice according to the CEC standards.

Reading Conferences And Impact On Literacy Learning, Ashley Butenewicz Danter

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how student discussions during reading conferences impact literacy learning in the areas of student comprehension and motivation. Surveys, interviews, audio recorded discussions, and notes in a teacher research journal were all analyzed for emerging themes. The findings show that reading conferences have a positive impact on student literacy learning, specifically that there was an increase in reading comprehension and motivation. The data also revealed the major role that critical, multicultural texts have on reading comprehension and motivation for reading when coupled with reading conferences. Implications for future research are discussed.

A Quest To Understand The Literacy Practices Of Homeless Children Who Are Living In Extended-Stay Motels, Suzanne Curry Thomason

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative ethnographic study was conducted to explore the literacy practices of children who are homeless. Participants included six emergent readers from four families living in extended-stay motels. The participants were observed during interactive writing and shared reading lessons during a summer program hosted at a cooperating nonprofit agency. Three research questions were used to explain the phenomenon: 1) What literacy activities are a part of families who are homeless? 2) How does a child who is homeless respond to the structure and availability of a summer literacy program as a writer? 3) How will a homeless child’s attitudes towards …

Implementing Writing In Content Areas: Teachers’ Perceptions As Writing Instructors, Matthew Davis Shemwell

Theses and Dissertations

Teachers across content areas have a shared responsibility to incorporate writing instruction into the curriculum; however, analysis of needs assessment survey data collected during Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant application in 2014 revealed that the faculty of the participating high school did not embrace writing instruction responsibility. The purpose of the study was to investigate teachers’ perceptions, confidence, and use of writing instructional strategies throughout content areas at the conclusion of implementation of the five-year grant. The researcher conducted an explanatory sequential mixed methods design that utilized a survey, interviews, and lesson plan document analysis. The survey sample consisted of …

Transcultural And Translinguistic Latinx Discourses: Challenging Raciolinguistic Discourses In A School Community - Towards A Frame Of Resistance, Madjiguene Salma Bah Fall

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study grounded in ethnographic methods examined how transcultural and translinguistic students responded to ideological discourses in their school community. I explored the discourses of social power and hierarchical structures and ideological discourses present in the students' experiences, and investigated how they accepted or rejected the ideologies exhibited in these discourses. This research was motivated by three questions: (1) What are the discourses of social power and hierarchical structures present in the experiences of middle-school Latinx transcultural and translinguistic students in their school community? (2) What ideological discourses are enacted in these experiences? (3) How do these students …

Utilizing Multicultural Literature To Foster Critical Literacy In A Secondary English Classroom, Denise Giaimo Mcnaughton

Theses and Dissertations

The overall purpose of this study was to research the impact of multicultural literature on secondary students' abilities to employ critical literacy techniques and develop empathy towards groups of people from marginalized and oppressed communities. Students in a 10th grade, Academic level classroom self-selected independent readings texts about multicultural social groups and engaged in small group discussions centered on questioning text through the lens of critical literacy throughout the semester. Small group discussions focused on identifying trends of inequality. Findings of this study include patterns in student book selection, trends in student understanding of identity and the implications of identity …

Teachers' Sensemaking: Middle School And High School Language Arts Grading And Assessing Practices For Writing, Lana Michele Cook

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study will examine how middle and high school language arts teachers in a single school district make sense of their grading practices. This paper explores how Language Arts teachers at different grade levels may be faced with a variety of contextual factors that influence their grading practices. In order to do justice to this topic, a literature review will situate and contextualize writing instruction, learning standards, and assessments. Using a qualitative single case study design, this study will present the findings from nineteen in-depth teacher interviews, document analysis, and field notes.

Are You A Boy Or A Girl?: Representations Of Transgender Children In Picture Books, Joshua Hill

Theses and Dissertations

This research was a critical content analysis of picture books that contained transgender children utilizing Butler’s (2004, 2006) performativity of gender and recognizability of gender alongside Engdahls’s (2014) wrong-body discourse. The question was, how do picture books about transgender represent various versions of queerness in children? This analysis was done by examining 20 total picture books which included 10 books about trans girls, six books about trans boys, and four books about nonbinary children. These 20 books were then broken down into eight books for a deeper analysis of the ways that queerness was represented. The findings included the ways …

The Impact Of Multicultural Books In A First Grade Classroom, Lindsay Fox

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of the study was to examine how first grade students build on their understanding of culture through the use of multicultural literature. Students were engaged in read alouds of quality multicultural texts that included texts that represented the Native American, transgender, African American, Mexican, Chinese and Indian cultures. Data collection consisted of questionnaires, reading responses during interactive read aloud, anecdotal records, and a teacher note-taking journal. An analysis of the data revealed that students were able to learn about cultures different from their own and see their own culture reflected in multicultural literature they were exposed to.

The Use Of Culturally Relevant Picture Books To Enhance Social And Emotional Learning In A Fourth Grade Classroom, Kelly Livingston

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using culturally relevant picture books to enhance social and emotional learning in a fourth grade classroom. The study utilized the expertise of three different educational professionals, the literacy coach, the school social worker and the fourth grade teacher. Two Social Emotional Learning competencies were paired with three multicultural picture books. Students followed the procedure of discussion based upon what they already knew, what they wanted to learn and finally, after the reading and dialogue, what they learned. Students were asked about their prior knowledge of particular cultures and what …

Reading Conferences To Support 5th Grade Independent Reading, Kaitlyn Carter

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to document how reading conferences can support students while independently reading. The specific goal was to focus on how reading conferences can help students become aware of their reading choices and text selection. Questions that guided my research included: How can reading conferences help hold students accountable for their independent reading? How are students selecting independent reading books? How can reading conferences encourage conversations when the text connects to the student's Funds of Knowledge? Do students make more connections to a text if they have prior background knowledge on the topic? Data was collected …

Using Families' Funds Of Knowledge Literacy To Enhance Family-School Relationships, Kaitlyn Greenwood

Theses and Dissertations

This paper presents the initial findings from an ethnographic case study, in a small South Jersey town. Using a socio-cultural framework and drawing from Moll and Gonzalez's funds of knowledge study, the specific aim of the study was to investigate the literacy practices students bring to the classroom, families' views of home to school connection, educators' impression of the family school partnership, and the role of student's funds of knowledge in the classroom. Three second grade families participated in home visits which involved in-depth interviews detailing family literacies including culture, traditions, family background, early literacy practices, and value of education. …

Using Multicultural Read Aloud Books To Support Student Understanding Of Character Education Themes, Elizabeth A. Somers

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using multicultural read aloud books during character education lessons in a second grade classroom. Six character education themes were paired with six multicultural picture books. Prior to reading these texts, students were asked to explain what they already knew about the targeted character traits in a writing activity. After reading, students discussed with a partner and then shared their thoughts with the whole group. Students completed a post-reading activity, by writing to explain what they learned about that character trait from the story. It was found that utilizing multicultural …

An Awakening Awareness: Exploring Teachers Understandings Of Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy In The Diverse Classroom, Lauren Zorzi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine what teachers know (and still need to know) about culturally sustaining pedagogy and what happens when practitioners try to implement culturally sustaining pedagogies within their classrooms. A pre-question, survey, teacher readiness scale, recorded discussions, notes in a teacher research journal, and a post question were all analyzed to determine how five teachers who are completing their MA in Reading: Reading Specialist, incorporated culture into the classroom as well as their and their students openness and views of culturally sustaining pedagogy. Findings were that these five teachers who are completing their MA in …

Engaging Students In Culturally Relevant Morning Meetings, Melissa A. Vandine

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to understand what happens to student participation when the student's Funds of Knowledge are used in Morning Meeting. Prior to this research, Morning Meeting was not inclusive of all of its participants and left the researcher wondering what components were missing to the current Morning Meeting framework. What motivates and engages students to participate in Morning Meeting guided the research study. Qualitative research was utilized in the study, which focused on student talk within Morning Meeting. A teacher's research journal, audio recordings, surveys, student interviews, and student journal responses were used to collect and …

The Benefits Of Examining Multicultural Literature With A Critical Lens In Elementary School, Nicole Stamato-Pasaniello

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze the ways second grade students respond to multicultural literature when using a critical literacy approach. Three different multicultural text were chosen that contained familiar and unfamiliar social and cultural topics for students to discuss in a literature circle setting. Their conversation, questions, and connections to the literature were studied and analyzed for trends and evidence of change in students' beliefs and cultural and social competence.

What Happens When Emergent Readers Use Talk And Reader Response Journals To Comprehend Text?, Sarah E. Wint

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine what happens when emergent readers use talk and reader response journals during interactive read-aloud experiences. Student-teacher interviews, audio recorded conversations, student work and notes in a teacher researcher journal were all analyzed to determine if using talk and reader response journals led to a deeper understanding of text and impacted motivation and engagement in the classroom. The data was also analyzed to determine which teacher behaviors foster a stronger understanding of text. Findings were that using dialogue and writing in reader response journals can lead to a deeper understanding of text and …

The Effects Of Movement Breaks In The Classroom On Reading, Kelly A. Simon

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of an increase in physical activity in the classroom on (a) the on-task behavior of special education students and (b) the reading comprehension scores in a READ 180 classroom. The aim of this study is to identify teaching strategies that impact the behavior and academic success of students with special needs. Five sixth graders, three males and two females, with learning disabilities participated in the study. A single-subject ABAB design was used. During the baseline phases, students did independent reading and a reading comprehension assignment without movements immediately beforehand. During …

Direct Instruction In Blending And Segmenting Phonemes, Stephanie D. Minosse

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine how third grade special education students' reading abilities were affected after receiving direct instruction in phoneme segmentation and blending. During the study students spent an average of two weeks practicing segmenting phonemes and another two weeks blending phonemes utilizing various activities. The last weeks of the study focused on applying the skills into actual reading situations. The study showed benefits in various areas including the utilization of manipulatives in relation to phonemes. Students were also positively impacted directly after receiving the direction instruction and practice activities, as there was an increase in …

Third Grade Students Collaborate And Construct Meaning Using New Literacies, Amanda Marie Mazzella

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to study how students collaborate and construct learning using new literacies to understand literature. Specifically, this study investigated how responding to literature digitally shapes students' responses and what students perceive to be effective forms of collaboration. Surveys, interviews, students' constructed responses, anecdotal notes, and a teacher research journal were all analyzed and coded for emerging themes. The findings show that responding to literature digitally can increase classroom efficiency, student engagement, and student motivation. Online discussions also provided opportunities for students to effectively communicate and increased their ability to collaborate. As the study progressed, it …

Multicultural Literature In The Elementary Classroom: A Comparison Of Traditional And Dual Language Classroom Teachers, Virginia Massaro

Theses and Dissertations

The number of English learners in the United States continues to increase and these students’ literacy scores are dramatically lower than their native English-speaking peers. White, female teachers dominate the teaching workforce, creating a cultural mismatch between teachers and students. Culturally relevant education can benefit student outcomes and incorporating multicultural literature is one way to do so. This non-experimental quantitative study examined the relationships between teachers’ multicultural characteristics, teachers’ use of multicultural literature, classroom level factors, and teacher demographics. A total of 35 teachers participated in an online survey and completed a book log, indicating texts used in their instruction. …

From Small Beginnings To Large-Scale Harm: On Demagoguery And Misogyny In The Classroom And Writing Center, Shannon Roberson

Theses and Dissertations

My project is grounded in the rhetorical concept of aretê—excellence or virtue—as it relates to education and educational spaces within demagogic and misogynist cultural forces. The problems of demagoguery and misogyny stem from small-scale perpetuation of agonistic norms that go unaddressed in U.S. culture, a culture that is deeply identity-driven. These forces persist on social media platforms and within patriarchal systems of education.

For my project, I suggest rhetorical media literacy education of small-scale demagoguery moments on social media as a way to bring awareness to larger-scale events. On a micro-scale, social media influencers cultivate behaviors that mimic demagogic …

Writing Talk: Examining Dialogue Shared Among Sixth Grade Writers, Babette A. Griffith

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated how teacher-led and student-led conversations held within writing groups in one sixth grade class helped to support the acquisition of writing discourse and impact the writing decisions made by middle level writers. Additionally, a pre/post survey was implemented to investigate the writing dispositions held by writing participants by exploring the feelings, beliefs, and attitudes associated with writing. The survey provided additional insight into individual writer perspectives.

Analysis of the data showed that dialogue facilitated understanding and helped to encourage students to verbalize confusing concepts, clarify ideas, and utilize content terminology as thinking was made visible while conversations …

Determining Support Needed For Implementation Of The Balanced Literacy Framework In High School English Classrooms, Emily Kimpton

Theses and Dissertations

This study used Action Research methods to explore how an English language arts coordinator housed at the district office could employ an administrative model of coaching. The purpose of this study was to discover what a coaching model of administrative support reveals about high school English teachers' beliefs and practices and what support teachers needed in order to implement a balanced literacy framework of instruction. Teachers engaged in this study over the course of one semester. Semesters in this context encompass an entire course of English literature. Cycles of coaching were initiated that began with a pre-conference followed by observation, …

An Analysis Of High School Students' Self-Efficacy In Second Language Acquisition Through Digital Language Lab Learning: Exploring New Pathways To Proficiency, Lorna A. Fairess

Theses and Dissertations

Students are often faced with barriers acquiring a second language due to various factors such as language anxiety, learning differences, and a lack of speaking time with the language. The purposes of this qualitative study were to: a) determine students' perceptions of the effectiveness of a digital language lab on their self-efficacy in second language acquisition at the secondary level, and b) discern teachers' perceptions of the effectiveness of the lab as well as recommendations for best practices in teacher training and implementation. Twenty-seven Italian and Spanish students and 12 world language teachers from two fairly rural high schools in …