Language and Literacy Education Commons^™

Motivation In Guided Reading: Effects On Upper Grade Readers, Margie Jordan, Stephanie Galt

The Utah English Journal

After coaching teachers on ways to improve guided reading practice for the last two years and watching both teachers and students as they struggle and succeed in increasing reading awareness, we began to notice a pattern. It wasn't a pretty one.

Book Review: The Start Of Me And You, Adrianne Larsen

The Utah English Journal

Paige believes that if she could just check each item off of her to-do list, then things could be normal again; she could be normal again. Included on the list are dating, traveling, finding new friends, and swimming. While the to-do items may look simple, they prove to be more elusive than Paige thought. Making changes and moving forward are the lessons Emery Lord grapples with in her novel, The Start of Me and You. As Paige, the protagonist, attempts to clear her "begin again" check list, as she calls it, she realizes that some things in life are a …

The Q-Back Task: A Student-Managed Tool To Improve Reading Comprehension In Students With Low Working Memory, Chelsie Lynn Thielen

Theses and Graduate Projects

This paper focuses on developing a student-managed tool to improve reading comprehension across the curriculum in students with low working memory. Chapter One includes a summary of the issue and presents a possible solution. A review of the literature in Chapter Two explores the link research has established between working rnemory and reading comprehension, existing interventions for each, as well as indirect and direct assessments. Chapter Three describes the developed product. Chapter Four outlines the development process and proposes avenues for a pilot study and future research.

The Impact Of Oral Language Instruction On Student Reading Development, Susan Sivongsay

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the effects of an oral language curriculum on student's reading development specifically in the areas of reading engagement, vocabulary and comprehension. Students in a second grade classroom participated in various oral language lessons. Throughout the lessons data was collected through observation and field notes. Data was also collected on student's oral language growth and reading development through formal assessment. From the data indicators of student growth in both oral language and reading were identified. The data indicated that the amount of student talk time had the greatest impact on student's oral …

Independent Reading: Effective Student Assessment In Middle School, Simone Simon

Theses and Graduate Projects

The findings of the current literafure suggest that encouraging independent reading and cultivating lifelong readers, as the state standards require , are best served by activities and assessment that differ from traditional summative assessments. This paper examines current strategies and evaluates practices in teaching and assessing independent reading, and provides a toolbox for how a district can incorporate those recommendations into a revised curriculum.

Motivating Reluctant Middle School Males To Read: The Perspectives Of Middle School Teachers, Angela Watters

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose for conducting this study was to find ways to motivate reluctant middle school males to read. To do this qualitative research methods were used. Data was collected through participant interviews. Four teachers who teach English, Language Arts, or Communications were interviewed to find out what strategies they have used to change the attitudes of their male middle school aged students have about reading. The problem is that many middle school males struggle to be motivated to read. The three major themes that emerged from the research data were book choice, promotion of books, and knowledge of books.

The Effects Of Fluency And Close Reading Upon Comprehension, Victoria A. Lee

Theses and Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to discover how focused instruction on fluency and close reading influence student comprehension. The study used qualitative methods to observe eight eighth grade students as they developed fluency through repeated readings and learned close reading strategies in order to evaluate what impact these skills had on their comprehension. Direct participant observation, passive observation, and teacher field notes were utilized in data collection. The frndings suggest that, despite the use of close reading strategies, students need the building of background knowledge prior to reading a complex text, as well as explicit instruction in vocabulary considered …

Teacher Perspectives On Reading Instruction In The Primary Grades, Emily K. Crook

Theses and Graduate Projects

Research shows that teachers have both a passion and desire to teach reading feel conflicted by their pedagogical education, the district in which they teach, and government policies. Research suggests political agendas drive reading programs, reading curriculum, and teacher evaluations. The objective of this qualitative action research paper is to gain insight into primary grade teachers' perspectives on their reading instruction. The teacher participants in the study feel ready and eager to teach reading. However, they routinely feel they are not supported by their individual school district, including the state and local governments, to teach reading effectively. The data collected …

Comparing The Receptive Vocabulary Knowledge Of Intermediate-Level Students Of Different Native Languages In An Intensive English Program, Anas Alkhofi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Because most–if not all–intensive English programs (IEP) assign students to specific levels based on a placement test that does not involve any form of explicit vocabulary testing, some degree of variation in lexical knowledge of students within an individual class should not be surprising. However, very little research has ever quantified this variation. The current study fills the gap in this important area of TESOL research by investigating vocabulary variation among intermediate-level students at one IEP. Participants (N=79) were split into two main proficiency groups, high intermediate (N=28) and low intermediate (N=51). The 2K, 3K, and 5K levels from the …

Hi/Lo Books: Making Struggling Readers Stronger?, Catherine Crosby

The Utah English Journal

For the last two years I've taught an eighth grade reading intervention class to struggling readers who mostly hate reading and only open a book if a teacher or a parent makes them. Students in this age group should be reading in the 925 to 1185 Lexile range, but in our school, students in Reading SA range from 300 to 900 Lexile. They can graduate out mid-year if they can bring their Lexile score up to 1050, and while this motivates some students, others have had such negative reading experiences that they have given up on reading. The books written …

Book Review: Magonia, Amanda Garlock

The Utah English Journal

At one point or another, everyone feels like they don't belong. But in Maria Dahvana Headley's soaring fantasy, Magonia, Aza Ray Boyle actually doesn't belong. At least, not on earth.

Book Review: In The Best Interest Of Students, Kasey Hammer

The Utah English Journal

With the nearly nationwide adoption of the new Common Core Standards, educators, parents, legislators and students find themselves ensconced with a new fervor int he age-old scholastic debate: What is the bets method for teaching students? In his newest book, In the Best Interest of Students, Kelly Gallagher sifts through the varied voices int eh common Core discussion and presents his readers with a real, in-depth look at both the strengths and weaknesses of the ELA Common Core Standards.

Book Review: Black Dove White Raven, Johnny Allred

The Utah English Journal

Life is complicated, challenging, and often unfair. Understanding your family, your friends, or even yourself-especially while trying to grow up-can be a difficult task. Throw in racism and gender biases, and you'll catch a glimpse of the challenges faced by the two young protagonists in Black Dove White Raven by Elizabeth Wein. Mixing together American and Ethiopian history from the 1930s, Wein tells the story of Em, a young white girl, and Teo, a young black boy, who grow up together in an unconventional family and in an unforgiving world.

The Utah English Journal, Volume 43, 2015: Full Issue

The Utah English Journal

No abstract provided.

The Tale Of Two Attici: What To Make Of Harper Lee's "New" Novel, Joseph Wiederhold, Chris Crowe

The Utah English Journal

Kristin and I met for lunch, but neither of us had the stomach for food. My tattered copy of To Kill a Mockingbird sat on the table between us. Gregory Peck lay cradled in her arms, forever smiling from the cover of LIFE Magazine's special issue: "The Enduring Power of To Kill a Mockingbird:, And Lee,s new/old novel, Go Set a Watchman, rested face down on the edge of the table. I had unconsciously placed the novel in time-out.

Beyond The Informative Essay: Getting Nonfiction Student Writing To Shine, Sara Strachan

The Utah English Journal

When I was in third grade, my family moved to a small rural town with a small rural school. The school district must have been afraid the population in that community couldn't be sustained, because it hadn't invested much money in an infrastructure. Almost all of the school buildings were portables, including the doublewide library. I visited that library once a week with my class, shuffling down the dusty sidewalk and up the clanky metal steps where I sat on the floor listening to Mr. Weeks, our librarian, drone about things, like how to use the Dewey Decimal System, how …

The Classroom Graphic Novel: Helping Struggling Students Move From Text Completion To Text Engagement, Stephen Nothum

The Utah English Journal

I love comic books and graphic novels. I love the art. I love the power they have to transport me into another world. I savor the moments I get to use my teeth, tongue, and lips to sound out zany onomatopoeias like "FSSTZZZAMM!" Unlike most comic book enthusiasts, my relationship with the genre began not in my childhood, but during my junior year at Brigham Young University. My young adult literature course required us to read Gene Luen Yang's American Born Chinese (2006), and I was immediately impressed with how the genre could fuse language and images to explore complex …

Book Review: Audacity, Amy Banks

The Utah English Journal

Life is full of injustice and inequality that is often easy to ignore. We placate ourselves with the idea that someone else will bear the burden of righting the wrong. But how many assume this responsibility themselves? Who will fight in the name of what is right, no matter what the sacrifice?

Cognitive And Emotional Effects Of Learning Chinese By Playing An Online Game, Shuyi Guan

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

ABSTRACT

Eighth Grade Girls' Knowledge Building With Narrative Texts, Julie Smit

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study focused on the knowledge building work of eighth grade female avid readers who were invited to discuss their experiences with reading narrative fiction. The study examined the kinds of knowledge these students drew on and constructed and the processes they used to do so. The following research questions were asked: What kinds of experiences do eighth grade female avid readers have with narrative works? What kinds of knowledge were being built? How do these avid readers arrive at new understandings? How do these eighth grade female avid readers transform their individual and collective understandings?

Prospective Secondary Teachers' Conceptualizations Of Literacy And Literacy In Their Content Areas, Jane Costello Bonacci

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Abstract

The Effect Of A Dual Coding Elucidation Technique On Idiom Comprehension In Esl And Efl Learners, Denis Samburskiy

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study relied on the assumption that literal meaning of some idiomatic expressions (i.e., their conceptual motivation) could have a positive effect on the comprehension of their correct figurative sense. To test this hypothesis, a Dual Coding elucidation technique, in which important elements of correct figurative meaning were mapped onto literal ones, was designed to facilitate the comprehension of 15 highly imageable idioms. This technique was administered in the form of an online questionnaire to Russian- and Korean-speaking EFL and ESL learners. The facilitative effect of this technique was assessed taking into account several relevant variables: the learners’ levels of …

Leadership And Its Ripple Effect On Research, Aleidine Kramer Moeller, Sheri Hurlbut

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

In this chapter we would like to address the impact visionary leadership can have on a field of research. Through forward-looking ideas and projects, an organizational leader’s influence on those who test, research, and inquire into issues that build and deepen the knowledge base in second language acquisition and foreign language education is illustrated through an innovative professional development program that was developed during Helene Zimmer-Loew’s tenure as executive director of the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG). The ripple effect of progressive leadership that inspires others to contribute actively to the well-being of a profession, or an organization, …

First Year Teachers' Use Of Technology In Literacy Instruction: A Case Study, Emily Kearns Burke

Educational Studies Dissertations

The purpose of this case study is to determine how first year teachers describe their teacher preparation and use of technology to teach literacy. This is achieved by considering how teachers’ descriptions demonstrate self-efficacy, identify challenges and obstacles, and distinguish benefits of technology integration in literacy instruction. As the understanding of literacy broadens to include alternative forms of print and technology, school districts are investing significantly in technology and yet teachers are often not using technology in their practices. For these reasons it is necessary to examine first year teachers’ perceptions of their own prior training, their current technology use …

Coaching Stances : Changing Practice Through Self-Reflection, Patricia D. Foster

Graduate Research Papers

Literacy coaches must understand the sometimes subtle nuances in the language used to guide teachers in order to build their instructional capacity and ultimately increase student achievement. This article examines the coaching stances of "coaching, teaching and telling" that move along a continuum of support provided through a coaching framework for a literacy coach and her elementary teachers. Analysis of coaching practice was accomplished through a process of self-study and reflection that examined language over a three month period of coaching cycles. Rodgers and Rodgers outline three characteristics of effective coaching conversations that provide the catalyst of action to move …

Teacher Librarians & Literacy Coaches: Their Roles In Reading Support, Nicole N. Ruthaivilavan

Graduate Research Papers

According to AASL (2010), multiple research studies have confirmed that there is a correlation between school library programs staffed by certified school librarians and increased student achievement; yet, many schools are also beginning to employ literacy coaches to improve reading achievement. With the teacher librarian being a well-established part of the school system, and playing a vital role in supporting students’ reading achievement, a clear definition of roles is needed. The purpose of this case study was to analyze roles and responsibilities of teacher librarians and literacy coaches and to determine how schools can utilize one or both of these …

Effective Professional Development For Elementary Teachers : Creating Dialogic Classrooms To Improve Reading Comprehension, Amanda J. Mroch

Graduate Research Papers

Understanding the importance of teacher language, literacy discussions, and teacher questioning on students' literacy development in the classroom is important in order to facilitate deeper understanding by students. This research project first describes what dialogic classrooms are and how teachers can create more dialogic spaces for students. The paper also focuses on research that looks at the importance of literacy discussions and teacher questioning in creating classrooms that are open to student ideas.

A professional development program is then developed that will help teachers learn the importance of teacher language and creating dialogic spaces for students to explore complex ideas. …

Caught In The Tractor Beam Of Larger Influences: The Filtration Of Innovation In Education Technology Design, Justin Olmanson, Fitsum Abebe, Valerie Jones, Eric Kyle, Lyrica Lucas, Katie Robbins, Guieswende Rouamba, Xianquan Liu

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

While emerging technologies continue to emerge, research into their use in learning contexts often focuses on a subset of educational practices and ways of using technologies. In this study we begin to explore the extent to which educational designs are influenced by larger societal and education-related factors not usually explicitly considered when designing or identifying technology-supported education experiences for research study. We examine patterns within and between factors via a content analysis across ten years and 19 different journals of published peer-reviewed research on technology-supported writing. Our findings have implications for how researchers, designers, and educators approach technology-supported educational design …

Learn Languages, Explore Cultures, Transform Lives, Aleidine Kramer Moeller

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

Selected Papers from the 2015 Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

Aleidine J. Moeller, Editor

1. Creating a Culture-driven Classroom One Activity at a Time — Sharon Wilkinson, Patricia Calkins, & Tracy Dinesen

2. The Flipped German Classroom — Theresa R. Bell

3. Engaging Learners in Culturally Authentic Virtual Interactions —Diane Ceo-Francesco

4. Jouney to Global Competence: Learning Languages, Exploring Cultures, Transforming Lives — J. S. Orozco-Domoe

5. Strangers in a Strange Land: Perceptions of Culture in a First-year French Class — Rebecca L. Chism

6. 21st Century World Language Classrooms: Technology to Support Cultural Competence — …

Exploring Culturally Relevant Teaching: Lessons From A Middle School Classroom, Kristen H. Gillaspy

Theses and Dissertations

In the public school setting and beyond, African American males are often positioned as a problem. Educators have implemented and studied the use of culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) in an effort to shift this deficit perspective of African American male students, as well as other students of color. CRP positions all students as knowledgeable and capable of learning while valuing their cultural backgrounds and experiences. CRP also provides an opportunity to explore issues around race and culture. Though some research has been done in the area of CRP, very little focuses on the students’ experiences in culturally relevant classrooms, and …