Language and Literacy Education Commons^™

English Language Arts (Ela) Strategies For Teaching Students How To Disagree Productively, Adam V. Piccoli

New Jersey English Journal

This article utilizes research from educators, psychologists, and neuroscientists to derive strategies on how to disagree more productively. Explicit examples of applying these strategies in the English Language Arts classroom are provided. The areas of focus include Rogerian rhetoric, anger management, demonstrating empathy and using open-ended questions to persuade.

Community Building Through Classroom Routine: A Language Arts Class Opener, Deborah Overstreet

New Jersey English Journal

Classroom community is a key component in building the kind of environment where students thrive. Specific academic routine can be an effective method of both creating a supportive classroom community and teaching language arts content.

An Argument For Simplicity: Have Learning Systems Become Too Complicated?, William A. Mesce

New Jersey English Journal

COVID has made higher education institutions more reliant on remote learning platforms, but there is little standardization between institutions, and some of these systems may be unnecessarily complex. This article argues for asking not what such systems could do, but what educators and students need them to do.

Identity Development To Support Disenfranchised Student Engagement, Jessica Hadid

New Jersey English Journal

A challenge for many secondary educators is fostering student engagement. This challenge is enhanced by pandemic related constraints. Although not intuitive at the onset, an effective approach to address waning engagement involves facilitating students’ identity exploration and development. This article explains how identity work connects with task engagement, and presents a model for successfully integrating an identity development program into an existing ELA curriculum.

Writing Our Climate Future: A “Cli-Fi” Writing Process For Students In The Anthropocene, Shannon Falkner

New Jersey English Journal

Like Covid, climate change causes many students to feel afraid and powerless. By studying infographics on climate change, we can help students develop their 21st century literacy skills while educating them about climate change and its solutions. As students draw on that knowledge to write their own “cli-fi” stories, they practice their narrative writing skills and learn how fiction writers address real-world issues in their work. As a result, students come to understand the power of literature to make abstract world issues feel personalized and meaningful to readers and the power they have as writers to effect change.

Professional Development, John Chorazy

New Jersey English Journal

Written from the perspective of a teacher, this poem reflects on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Social Distancing: Closing The Gap Between Digital And Social Media Literacy Practices And Literacy Instruction, Rachel Besharat-Mann

New Jersey English Journal

As adolescents increasingly navigate texts through digital and social media, educators have the crucial task of understanding text production and consumption and bridging these literacy practices into classrooms. This article will discuss the different skill components for digital and social media literacy and application in the classroom.

Cover, Editors' Note, Front Matter, Lauren Zucker, Susan Chenelle, Katie F. Whitley

New Jersey English Journal

No abstract provided.

An Application Of Tajfel’S Social Identity Theory To Understand Gamer As A Social Identity Among Saudi College-Level Students, Mohammad M. Assiri

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

Understanding the social identity construction of Saudi college-level students who self-identify as gamers in Saudi Arabia is essential when designing a student-centered education. Although support exists within the literature for exploring what it means to be a gamer from the perspective of gamers, a review of the literature revealed a gap in this regard in the context of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this grounded theory study explored self-identification as a gamer in Saudi Arabia using Tajfel's (1981) three tenets of self-identification with a group. A social identity framework was used to understand the characteristics of Saudi gamers, their positive or negative …

Engl 3360 - Introduction To Language Studies, Régine Pellicer

Open Educational Resources - Books

Language studies cover a large variety of situations as language is embedded in every aspect of our lives. Finding a book that would study all the possible topics related to language is impossible. Therefore, with our UTRGV librarians, we have assembled a free book that covers the basic linguistics concepts you need to know for this course and other linguistics courses. Linguistics concepts such as phonology or language acquisition are not subject to last minute discoveries and the principles remain the same. We hope you enjoy learning more about linguistics thanks to this free resource.

Ell Cultural Inclusion Initiative, Julia L. Gidley

Masters Theses

This project draws on Maslow’s theory of motivation using his hierarchy as a framework, as well as Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory. This project aims to engage and involve English Language Learners (ELL) in the classroom by informing educators of strategies that help to find commonalities among students and cultivate communication between Native English Speakers and ELLs thus developing a culturally inclusive classroom. By building the relationships between the two student subgroups (ELLs and NESs) teachers will gain a class of students who have a well-developed world view, increase language acquisition, and develop a deep appreciation and respect for other cultures. Through …

Multimodal Vocabulary Instruction: An Approach For Supporting Reading Comprehension, Mary K. Van Singel

Masters Theses

Children bring a wide range of vocabulary knowledge and prior experiences with them when they enter school. Research suggests that in order to bridge childrens’ word knowledge and the word knowledge needed for academic success, teachers must take on a multimodal instructional approach to foster vocabulary development and reading comprehension in students. This project explores how word knowledge develops in children as well as various research based features of vocabulary instruction to support word learning in the classroom. The project is designed to offer teachers professional development that works to grow teacher expertise for what effective vocabulary instruction is, the …

Addressing Disengagement In Text Through An Increase In Autonomy, Access, And Relevant Text Selection, Amanda L. Saffian

Masters Theses

This project proposal employs a broad range of research to design a plan of implementation that would address the effectiveness of increased permanent exposure to more diverse text sets. The essential components of this design are to investigate the efficacy of increasing access to multimodal, high-interest, and responsive texts in closing educational equity gaps as a substantive conceptual model of educational effectiveness and theory-based approaches to increase engagement in literacy and learning. This work would include developing a comprehensive catalog of texts which would allow for the most significant impact on student engagement. The literature used to justify design includes …

Professional Development Through Literacy Coaching: Tools To Assist Literacy Coaches In Self-Reflection To Build Capacity, Rose M. Brooks

Masters Projects

Professional development should be job-embedded, focused on the context of the work and allow ample time for practice and application. Recently, literacy coaching has been more widely implemented as a way to improve professional development for teachers. While there is a great deal of research around effective coaching practices, few resources to assess the implementation and quality of literacy coaching exist. This project explores the features of high-quality professional development and literacy coaching in order to develop self-reflection assessment tools for literacy coaches. This project offers a rubric, along with other supporting documents, to assist literacy coaches in reflecting, goal …

Critical Conversations In A Second-Grade Classroom Using Diverse Literature, Joanne Susan Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the effects of reading diverse texts during SEL morning meeting time and observe how 2nd grade students engage in conversations. Diverse texts were selected related to themes of identity, race, poverty, gender, sexual identity, and gender identity. Data collected included student conversations and journals. After analyzing the data collected, it was found that the inclusion of diverse texts during SEL morning meetings yielded positive results. Students engaged in more personal conversations when they could connect to the text and speak freely, students spoke more when they had control of the conversations, …

Spa203. ¿Qué Hacemos Con La Lengua? Lenguaje, Diversidad Y Derechos Humanos, Juan Jesús Payán

Open Educational Resources

Descripción del curso

SPA203 - (For native or near-native speakers.) The grammatical structure of today's standard Spanish. Intensive practice in reading, speaking, and elementary composition.

En SPA203 vamos a explorar la relación entre el lenguaje y la diversidad en el marco de los derechos humanos fundamentales. El título del curso, “¿qué hacemos con la lengua?”, nos pregunta dos cosas: qué tipo de prejuicios perpetuamos por medio del lenguaje y cómo hacer para que la lengua albergue de manera efectiva la diversidad de nuestra sociedad. En un contexto actual, sorprendente estancado en la indiferencia, la ignorancia, el prejuicio y estigmatización de …

Developing Teacher Knowledge Of The Science Of Reading: Phonemic Awareness & Phonics, Megan Erin Dziedzic

Masters Projects

In 2000 the National Reading Panel addressed the low reading proficiency of students in the United States with a report detailing the result of many meta-analysis studies regarding five key areas of literacy: literacy, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension (Report of the National Reading Panel, 2000). Through compiling research regarding literacy teaching practices, the panel concluded that to improve literacy scores, we need to focus on research-based, systematic, and explicit instruction, especially in the foundational years of lower elementary (Report of the National Reading Panel, 2000). The science of reading is a broad heading that incorporates neuroscience research …

Every Good Thing: Promoting Culturally Relevant Education And Early Literacy Skills Of Young African American Boys Living In Poverty, Laura Thormann

Masters Projects

Research has shown a persistent literacy achievement gap between African American males and their peers. This problem has its roots in historical inequity within urban schools serving students living in poverty, as well as gaps in school readiness and learning related skills among many young Black boys. This project seeks to understand the various components affecting emergent literacy within these communities and seeks to better understand how teachers and schools can form meaningful and productive partnerships with families. For too long these children and families have been viewed through a deficit model and have struggled to form positive self-identities as …

Improving Writing Instruction Through Professional Development, Katherine Irene Miller

Masters Projects

Educators have many demands placed on them that influences classroom instruction and the amount of time spent on each subject area. Teachers typically spend a large part of the day focusing on reading. However, they are less likely to spend the same amount of time on writing instruction. This project states the importance of writing instruction having an equal amount of time devoted to it as reading and should be taught in coordination with reading. It is important for students to receive quality writing instruction because it is a skill they will need to develop to become successful in post …

Professional Learning Communities: A Way To Provide General Education Teachers With Strategies To Support Fluency, Meredith Skorupski

Masters Projects

General education teachers are tasked with the important and challenging job of teaching a diverse group of students each school year. Students’ struggles range and are influenced by environmental and social factors. To meet the needs of their students, teachers must be provided with instructional guidance for using research-based strategies to combat areas of concern. Professional learning communities on the topic of fluency provide a space for these conversations to happen within schools. Fluency is an overlooked aspect of reading, but it vital for a student’s reading growth. This project will provide the framework needed for professional learning communities on …

An Instructional Framework To Building Comprehension And Engagement Through Dialogic And Metacognitive Inquiry, Alicia Eileen Wells

Masters Projects

The highly Anglicized cannon of literature found in American high schools, combined with an antiquated and oversimplified literacy pedagogy, is leaving students disengaged and lacking a nuanced understanding of the literature. Consequently, intermediate and novice learners fail to develop proficient comprehension of assigned materials. This is due to two significant problems: (1) a lack of culturally relevant pedagogy and cultural responsiveness, and (2) a lack of historical, social, and cultural schema. By examining and connecting sociocultural theory, reader response theory, and schema theory, this project will create an instructional framework to facilitate student engagement within an English language arts classroom. …

Editorial Review Board

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

No abstract provided.

Problem Solving Like A Mathematician: Disciplinary Literacy Instruction In Elementary Mathematics, Charlotte Frambaugh-Kritzer, Stephanie Buelow

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This study aims to grow the literature by examining the how of disciplinary literacies (DL) elementary mathematics instructional practices in teacher education, which is under-reported. Using qualitative case study methods, we examined how one cohort of elementary preservice teachers (PTs) enacted the DL instructional practices in their field practicum K–6 classrooms. Using a social constructivism perspective, we combined directed content analysis with real-time dialogue and the writing process as analytical tools to examine our data. Data sources included observation notes from the mathematics methods course, observation notes from the field practicum, and multiple artifacts (e.g., post observation oral and written …

Developing Preservice Teachers’ Critical Literacy Praxis In A Rural Teacher Education Program, Vera Sotirovska, Margaret Vaughn

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This research examined preservice teachers’ beliefs about critical literacy praxis in a rural teacher education program. Using qualitative methods, preservice teachers participated in interviews, reflective engagements, and picture book analysis. Thematic analysis was used to understand preservice teacher reflections on critical literacy, structured around discussions about multicultural literature, and preservice teacher experiences with critical literacy practices in their coursework. This article presents preservice teachers’ beliefs on critical literacy praxis.

Teacher Agency As A Route To Adaptive Expertise: Relational, Informed, And Reflective Action, Jennifer Sharples Reichenberg

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This case study of two fourth-grade teachers explored teachers’ literacy instructional practices and perceptions of their professional agency during the hybrid synchronous teaching of the COVID-19 pandemic. In anticipation of the challenges of hybrid synchronous instruction, these teachers combined their classes to co-teach 39 students. Analysis of observation and interview data showed that the co-teachers acted as adaptive experts. They reflected on challenges such as maintaining students’ focus, developing rapport, and gaining active participation. Their collaborative reflection informed adaptations to increase students’ access to learning by employing multiple modalities, developing community, and enacting inclusive practices. Teachers also supported students’ agency …

Shifting Beliefs About The Teaching Of Reading: Teacher Candidates’ Responses To The Book Whisperer, Kathleen M. Crawford, Michelle Reidel

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

In this document analysis, the authors explored if and how Miller’s (2009) The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child served as a symbolic model of a reading teacher who teaches her students not just the technical aspects of reading, but also how to enjoy reading. Drawing on social learning theory, the authors investigated how the selected text connected to elementary preservice teachers’ personal reading experiences with reading and learning to read, their preexisting beliefs about teaching reading, and their current observations of reading instruction in field placements. Written reflections, which served as the data source for this …

Applying The Dialogic Method In An Eighth Grade English Curriculum, Maggie Repko

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In this thesis, I provide an analysis of Paulo Freire’s (1973) dialogic method for language education. I then synthesize his theories with the work of sociocultural and linguistic researchers who have determined the strongest activities to bring about student language development. Finally, I apply these theories to my appendices of created works that might be utilized in an eighth-grade creative writing course. This thesis demonstrates the similarities between Freire’s students and our students in the USA today and the ways that a critical dialogic pedagogy will meet their language learning needs while also inspiring their creative, critical conscientização. Paulo Freire …

Language Ideologies In First Year Composition Textbooks, Joanna Clevenger

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This thesis examines how standard language ideologies are perpetuated in the five most frequently assigned first year composition textbooks from four higher education institutions in Southern California’s Inland Empire. Standard language ideologies position one variation of a language as superior, correct, appropriate and the normal variation of a language which everyone should be able to speak. Using Critical Discourse Analysis, the five textbooks were analyzed in order to uncover the embedded power and hegemony over women, people of color, and those from a lower socioeconomic status which are prevalent throughout society because they are unchallenged and widely accepted as the …

Valdosta State University's Odum Library & Women's & Gender Studies Program Receive Grant For Women's Suffrage Book Discussion Project, Emily Rogers, Robert Taylor

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Immersive Virtual Environments On Motivation, Oral Communication, And Instructional Strategy In Efl Classrooms, John Martin Shipko

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The creation of web-based real-time computer simulations has given language educators incredible new opportunities to create immersive experiences for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. This thesis reviewed 12 empirical studies, 3 previous literature reviews, 3 non-empirical journal articles, and 23 additional background sources investigating the impact of Immersive Virtual Environments (IVE) on EFL learners’ motivation and oral communication in EFL learning. 12 empirical studies were analyzed closely while other sources were used to provide additional information and theoretical insights. The findings indicate that IVEs offer novel ways to connect EFL learners to native-speaking communities where they can acquire …