Language and Literacy Education Commons^™

Continuous Professional Development: A Case Study Of Foreign English Language Teachers’ Perceptions Of Professional Development In Colleges In Asia, Chance W. Phillips

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

This qualitative case study investigated the experiences of college-level EFL/ESL teachers in Asia. The research sought to identify the gaps in professional development experiences influencing teachers to be better educators, meeting the needs of the English language learners in Asia. Additionally, the research identified how the professional development experiences, or lack thereof, of the college-level EFL/ESL teachers impacted their pedagogical strategies and professional practices. Despite the demand for English language education across Asia, foreign English educators often face limited institutional and administrative support, as well as unequal access to professional learning opportunities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with foreign English language …

How Socio-Political Context Shapes Pre-Service Ela Teachers’ Approaches To Anti-Racist Pedagogy At A University In The Southeast, Mary R. Miller

Senior Theses

This study examines how the current socio-political climate shapes pre-service English Language Arts (ELA) teachers’ understandings of and preparations for anti-racist pedagogy at a public university in the Southeastern United States. Against the backdrop of increasing political polarization, legislative restrictions on discussions of race, and community scrutiny of curriculum content, pre-service teachers must reconcile their ethical commitments to equity with the realities of teaching in contested educational environments. Using a teacher-research case-study design grounded in Critical Theory, Social Justice Theory, and theories of teacher identity and agency, this study draws on survey and interview data from Master of Teaching candidates …

My Mum Sometimes Helps Me With My Writing: Parents' And Children's Perspectives Of Home-Led Writing, Bronte Kelso-Marsh, Anabela Abreu Malpique, Helen Davis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This qualitative study aimed to explore parents' and children's perspectives of parental involvement in children's writing. Theoretical models argue for the benefits of parental involvement to supporting children's learning. Research has placed little attention in examining parental involvement in children's writing. Participants included 27 Australian Year 2 parent-child dyads, who were interviewed about their home-led writing. Results suggested parents and children valued parental involvement. Despite this, parents reported little communication from teachers about supporting their child's writing. Implications include encouraging stronger partnerships and more frequent communication between parents and schools to help support children's writing across home and school fronts.

Better Together: Including Students In High School English Language Arts Course And Curriculum Design, Katelin E. Held

Doctorate in Education

This qualitative action research study examined how having students cocreate secondary English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum alongside teachers influenced student engagement and ownership of learning and staff attitudes toward cocreation. Conducted in a Midwestern U.S. public high school ELA department, the study involved four student and four educator participants, all of whom engaged in restorative-style focus groups with a larger number of students and teachers to collaboratively generate ideas for new course offerings. The study students and adults then participated in small-group semi structured interviews. Data were collected through audio-recorded group discussions, individual interviews, and researcher memos and were analyzed …

Constructing Identities Through Literacy: Channeling The Power Of Interactive Read-Alouds In The Elementary Classroom, Katie Lewis

Michigan Reading Journal

This article explores the often-overlooked potential of interactive read-alouds as a conduit for identity exploration in the elementary classroom. While read-alouds are commonly used to support comprehension and vocabulary acquisition, they can also serve as powerful tools for helping students construct and explore their identities—when implemented with intentionality. Drawing on practical classroom strategies—including rehearsing academic conversations, intentionally introducing unfamiliar vocabulary, and creating a safe, non-judgmental space—this article illustrates how read-alouds can foster both language growth and self-understanding. Designed for elementary educators, the piece encourages teachers to view read-alouds not just as literacy instruction, but as opportunities to empower young learners …

10 Things We Love/Hate About Ai For Writing Instruction, Jenelle Williams, Katherine Cottone, Brian Dalton

Michigan Reading Journal

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the educational landscape, its role in writing instruction elicits both enthusiasm and apprehension among educators. This article, “10 Things We Love/Hate About AI for Writing Instruction,” explores the complex dynamics of integrating AI tools into the teaching of writing. Drawing from classroom experiences, educator reflections, and student interactions, it highlights the benefits of AI—including personalized feedback, increased writing fluency, and support for diverse learners—while also acknowledging concerns such as diminished student agency, ethical implications of authorship, and overreliance on automated systems. By presenting a balanced perspective, the article invites educators to critically examine how …

From Belief To Practice: Building A Culture Of Disciplinary Literacy, Bradley Stabler, Ruth Poulos

Michigan Reading Journal

This article tells the story of how Pontiac High School began building a stronger focus on reading, writing, and thinking in every subject. The work started with a few shared questions, not a detailed plan. A small group of teachers and coaches came together to figure out how to help students think more deeply and express their ideas more clearly. Over time, they led staff-wide efforts that included planning lessons together, visiting each other’s classrooms, and trying out new teaching moves. Feedback from students and staff helped guide the work. Along the way, teachers began to shift their instruction, and …

Language Teacher Agency Of Dual Language Bilingual Education Teachers: Incorporating Translanguaging And Funds Of Knowledge In Blended Learning, Grace Jue Yeon Kim

Faculty Journal Articles

Bilingual teachers enact agency as language policymakers and advocate for

students in providing holistic support. This ethnographic study examines 2nd

and 4th grade Spanish-English dual language bilingual education teachers’

agentive actions in implementing pedagogical strategies informed by translanguaging

and funds of knowledge during blended learning in 2021. The

findings revealed that the teachers identified challenges and posed questions

as they transitioned to blended learning for the first time. They celebrated

the positives of returning to in-person schooling, agentively

navigated the new environment, and provided holistic support for the

students. The teachers also supported emergent bilingual students’ language

and content learning …

A Pre- And Post-Pandemic Analysis Of The Reading College Readiness Of Texas Hispanic Boys By Their Economic Status, Sa’Myra K. A. Bradford, John R. Slate

School Leadership Review

In this multiyear study, we addressed the relationship of economic status (i.e., Economically Disadvantaged, Not Economically Disadvantaged) to the reading college readiness skills of Texas Hispanic high school boys. Texas statewide data on the state-mandated English I End-of-Course exam were obtained for two years pre-pandemic and the last four years post-pandemic. The three grade level standards on the STAAR English I End-of-Course exam (i.e., Approaches Grade Level, Meets Grade Level, and Masters Grade Level) were analyzed by economic status. Inferential statistical analyses revealed that lower percentages of Hispanic boys who were economically disadvantaged met the Approaches Grade Level, Meets Grade …

The Pedagogical Experiences Of Online Correctional Education English Composition Faculty, Candace Chambers

Journal of Prison Education Research

With increasing efforts to expand correctional education college programs, previous research has primarily explored the experiences of instructors teaching in face-to-face settings. However, little is known about the experiences of faculty teaching in online correctional education programs within the United States. This qualitative, transcendental phenomenological study addresses this gap by examining the experiences of five online English composition correctional education instructors. Data collection methods included semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and a focus group. Findings revealed that instructors adapted their teaching practices to accommodate the online format, faced challenges in building relationships with students, and desired more professional development. These insights …

Exploring Identity Through Six-Panel Memoirs With Collegiate And Secondary Students, Ewa Mcgrail, Lisa York

SANE journal: Sequential Art Narrative in Education

Memoir writing helps to provide mirrors and windows (Bishop, 1990) into the larger human experience by conveying narratives that center on actual life experiences. While memoirs are a well-established genre in literature and literary criticism (Aronowicz, 2024; Kleinbauer, 2007), only recently have graphic novels, including graphic novel memoirs, gained popularity and respect not only among teens, librarians and educators but also among the public (Williams, 2022). In this article, we describe a six-panel memoir assignment completed by collegiate and secondary students and analyze a sampling of memoir creations by both groups of students. Specifically, we are interested in the expressions …

Hmongcentric Niche Charter Schools: The Role Of Social Capital On Students’ Perceived Academic Competence, Zha Blong Xiong, Ting Xu, Kyle Nickodem, Malina Her

Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement

Using Coleman’s (1988) social capital theory, this study investigated the connection between family and school social capital and the perceived academic competence of students enrolled in Hmongcentric niche charter schools. The study analyzed 124 participants consisting of third, fourth, and fifth-grade students residing in Minnesota, with 93% identifying as Hmong. Results of structural equation modeling showed that school social capital, as measured by school attachment and school connection, is significantly linked to students’ perceived academic competence. Further analyses suggested that school attachment, especially in charter schools that focus on culture and language, plays a more crucial role in shaping students’ …

Storybook Stem: Integrating Literacy And Stem For Early Learners, Karen Pierce, Jessica Murillo

Presentations

No abstract provided.

From Homeland To Hostland: Language Ownership Of Heritage Dialect And Narratives Of Third Culture Kids Of The Gulf, Maryam Aref

Theses and Dissertations

The main purpose of this study is to examine Arab Adult Third Culture Kids’ sense of heritage language ownership and their identity constructions in relation to their transnational Arab Gulf context. The present study has three main aims: to ascertain their sense of ownership towards their heritage dialects, to understand the basis for their claimed or denied ownership, and to investigate the positions they ascribed to themselves and others in relation to their belonging and transnational and linguistic experiences. The study aims to fill the gap where there is a scarcity of sociolinguistic research around Arab Third Culture Kids in …

“Earth Care, Babes 💚”: Environmental Sustainability In Instagram Travel Narratives, Wawan Eko Yulianto, F.X. Dono Sunardi, Alodia Clea Amanda, Irene Theofine, Pricillia Tamara Damaris

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

Throughout history, travel narratives have taken up various forms and served various purposes. The changes of forms and functions were influenced by the spirit of the age. Today, in the contemporary digital era, social media platforms like Instagram have transformed travel narratives into stories combining images and texts that significantly impact public attitude on travel and tourism. On certain occasions, Instagram travel narratives contribute to the dangerous trend of mass tourism, although there are moments when the same travel writing form advocates sustainability. This study investigates the extent to which travel narratives by prominent Indonesian travel influencers on Instagram advocate …

Morality In The Manuscript Hikayat Prabu Anom Volume 2: A Study Of Immanuel Kant's Deontological Ethics, Dedi Supriadi, Palendika Alandira

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

This study examines the representation of moral values in Hikayat Prabu Anom Volume 2 through the lens of Immanuel Kant’s deontological ethics. The analysis focuses on three main categories of moral values: divine moral values, social moral values, and personal moral values. The method used is descriptive qualitative with content analysis techniques applied to selected passages in the text that reflect ethical dimensions. The data is analyzed by identifying the actions and dialogues of central characters that embody moral principles such as duty, goodwill, and moral autonomy. The findings reveal that divine moral values are reflected in the characters’ submission …

Reimagining Arts Education: Empowering Deaf Learners Through The Visual-Musical Innovation Of Gawang Angklung, Saprudin Saprudin, Yudi Sukmayadi, Julia Julia, Rita Milyartini

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

This study examines the role of the Gawang Angklung (Galung) application, a visual-based digital tool integrating traditional angklung music with interactive visual cues, in supporting inclusive music education for deaf learners. Designed to bridge the gap between sound-based musical instruction and the learning needs of students with hearing impairments, Galung enables ensemble participation through synchronized visual signals. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, data were collected from 24 deaf students, four music educators, and two application developers through interviews, classroom observations, and questionnaires. Quantitative results showed significant improvements in rhythmic accuracy (p < .01) and tempo recognition, while qualitative analysis revealed increased motivation, collaborative engagement, and communicative confidence. The integration of Galung aligns with constructivist and aesthetic …

Comparison Of Javanese Lexicon In Banyumas And Banyuwangi Dialect Bilingual Dictionaries, Muhamad Rizki Darmawan, Satwiko Budiono

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

The Banyumas and Banyuwangi dialects of Javanese exhibit notable lexical similarities, particularly in their retention of Old Javanese vocabulary, consonant endings, the specificity of vowel phonemes, and syllabic structures. These linguistic commonalities necessitate further research at other linguistic levels to substantiate the similarities between these two geographically distant dialects. This comparison also serves as a basis for reinforcing the hypothesis of a historical migration of Javanese speakers from Banyumas to Banyuwangi. Furthermore, this study confirms that the varieties of Javanese spoken in Banyumas and Banyuwangi constitute distinct dialects. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating both quantitative and qualitative methodologies …

Implementing A Questioning Strategy In Teaching Reading Texts In Efl Classes: A Qualitative Study, Mohammed A. Alzahrani Dr.

The Qualitative Report

Developed by Beck and McKeown in the 1980s, Questioning the Author (QtA) emphasises active engagement with texts to construct meaning rather than passive information extraction. Despite numerous studies attempting to solve challenges in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context, there is a lack of interpretive studies that investigate this issue from the actual field. This exploratory study investigated how EFL teachers' implementation of QtA and their perspectives toward the use of the QtA strategy in teaching reading comprehension in Saudi secondary schools through nine interviews and eighteen classroom observations, analysed thematically. Findings showed that effective QtA use requires …

Belonging: Stories From Multilingual Learners In The Linguistic Minority, Riley Stouffer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study examines how multilingual learners in the linguistic minority (MLLMs) experience connection and belonging in a Rocky Mountain middle school. Although multilingual learners (MLs) have received increased attention, MLLMs, whose home languages are not widely spoken in the school context, remain overlooked. Grounded in Krashen’s (1982) Affective Filter Hypothesis and Wills and Shinar’s (2000) Supportive Functions of Belonging, this study explores how MLLMs navigate school, what fosters or hinders belonging, and how these experiences shape engagement.

Data from semistructured interviews, classroom observations, and field notes with eight MLLM students in grades 6–8 revealed that belonging was fostered …

Management Concepts In Shishupalavadha, Sathyanarayanan V

Theses and Dissertations

Management of organizations, people, and entities has been a subject matter of great interest today. Schools of business and management were established in the West about 125 years ago, and countries in other parts of the world, including India, simply followed these practices. Consequently, there is a widespread feeling today that management concepts originated in the West. All Indian business schools teach management concepts propounded by Western scholars in the last 100 years or so.

Going by the first principles, whenever multiple people, resources, entities, and institutions are involved, there is a requirement for Management. This implies that management as …

Experiencing Race, Racism And Racialization In Transnational Contexts: Racial Literacies Of First-Year International Asian Students., Nasiba Norova

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This research focused on exploring the racial literacies of first-year international East Asian (EA) students, specifically examining their perceptions of and experiences with race, racism, and racialized groups in various social and educational contexts in both their home countries and the United States. The study used critical ethnography to examine the perspectives of EA international students and composition faculty. It involved multiple semi-structured interviews, journal entries, racial literacy autobiographies, site document analysis, and class observations to understand how students perceived exposure to race, racism, and racialized groups and how faculty viewed the importance of racial education for international students in …

Advancing Literacy Instruction: Bridging Evidence-Based And Culturally Responsive Practices To Serve All Learners, Jamie L. Nord

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

As Minnesota's student population becomes increasingly diverse, persistent literacy achievement gaps among students of color, multilingual learners, and students from low-income backgrounds demand urgent attention. While the state's READ Act mandates structured, evidence-based literacy instruction grounded in the Science of Reading, its successful implementation must not overshadow the equally vital need for culturally and linguistically responsive pedagogy. This white paper argues for a comprehensive, dual-framework approach that integrates both evidence-based literacy practices and culturally affirming instructional strategies

Unlocking Reading Success: Addressing The Literacy Crisis In The United States, Jennifer Kaczrowski-Taylor

The Interactive Journal of Global Leadership and Learning

This white paper addresses the literacy crisis in the United States. Currently, in the educational system, millions of children lack access to research-based reading instruction and, as a result, struggle to become proficient readers. Despite decades of academic and reform efforts, national reading achievement has been declining. This literacy crisis can be traced back to outdated or inconsistent instructional practices, socioeconomic background, lack of research-based instructional curricula, as well as inconsistent and ineffective implementation of these approaches. Based on recent research and national data, this white paper advocates for aligning teacher education and professional development with the Science of Reading. …

Developing Cross-Cultural Competence And Media Literacy Through Multi-Modal Instruction And Projects, Michelle Verbitskaya, Alla Kourova, Irina Pidberejna

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

We explore the integration of Media Literacy in the 2-year Russian language STARTALK program, “How Words Shape People: Understanding Business Russian Through Proverbs.” Given the current geopolitical climate, particularly the ongoing war in Ukraine, fostering critical engagement with media has become more essential than ever. By encouraging students to interact with multimedia resources—including animated videos, podcasts, news articles, and the Russian National Corpora—the curriculum aims to enhance both language and media literacy skills. Media Literacy’s Five Key Framework is applied to guide students in analyzing media critically while producing academic projects and cultural responses. We present a curriculum that fosters …

The Influence Of Visualization Type And Gender On Multimedia Learning Performance: An Experimental Study, Ziji Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The widespread availability of multimedia learning resources, driven by technological progress, presents both opportunities and challenges in education. While these resources, often designed with animations to aid learning, their effectiveness in learning across STEM and non-STEM fields remains controversial. Besides, researchers have increasingly turned their attention to understanding how individual learner characteristics such as gender and spatial ability influence effectiveness of multimedia learning.

This dissertation examined the impact of visualization type and gender on learning algorithms (STEM) and Chinese characters (non-STEM) after accounting for the effect of spatial ability, focusing on learning outcomes and cognitive load. The fact that males …

Performance-Based Assessment In Refugee Esol Programs: Fostering Real-World Readiness Through Discussions And Presentations, Abdul Mutashobya, Elise Holcomb

MITESOL Journal: An Online Publication of MITESOL

A Performance-Based Assessment (PBA) framework designed to enhance the communicative competence and real-world readiness of adult refugee learners in an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program is described. Grounded in sociocultural and communicative language teaching theories, this approach intentionally blurs the lines between instruction and assessment, using authentic tasks like collaborative discussions and presentations to foster practical skills. The theoretical rationale for PBA is followed by a description of the instructional context and the specific techniques used, including scaffolding strategies, self-assessment and rubric development. Reflecting on the implementation, we share the successes, such as increased learner confidence and …

Reimagining Read-Alouds: Fostering Critical Consciousness And Social Justice Through Children's Literature, Kylie Brigham

Masters Projects

During this era of heightened political and social divides, it is more important than ever to provide elementary students with inclusive and socially conscious literacy instruction. While classroom read-alouds have been long valued for their impact on literacy development, they are often underutilized as tools for fostering student identity, empathy, and social justice. This project, grounded in the frameworks of critical literacy, culturally responsive pedagogy, and Frierian theory, positions the read-aloud as a powerful entry point for critical and age-appropriate conversations about social issues, representation, and power.

Research has shown that many educators lack the training, tools, and confidence to …

“We Are Not Robots”: Elementary Preservice Teachers’ Focus Group Talk About Problems Of Practice Around Literacy Instruction, Jacquelynn S. Popp, Carin Appleget, Tori Golden Hughes, Crystal Dail Rose, Christine Leighton, Kierstin M. Giunco, Poonam Arya, Xiufang Chen

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

The purpose of this study was to examine the nature of elementary preservice teachers’ (PSTs’) problems of practice around literacy instruction and to explore how the PSTs framed/talked about such problems. The study comprised qualitative analysis of data collected from focus group interviews with 21 PSTs from five teacher education institutions across the United States. Analysis of the PSTs’ talk about problems of practice in the focus groups yielded three themes about the nature of their problems and how they defined and discussed strategies or solutions to problems. PSTs expressed concerns about (1) meeting the needs of students below expected …

Bootmaking Before Bootstrapping: Patterns Of Grit And Slack In Multicultural Nonfiction Picture Books, Kristine Mensonides Gritter, Wing Shuen (Alice) Lau, Yaru (Sarah) Zhou, Jiang Pu, Munyi Shea

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This investigation reports the findings of a critical multicultural content analysis of recent-award winning Orbis Pictus (non-fiction) picture books. The analysis examines patterns of grit and slack strategies across race and gender for historical characters of color as they overcame boundaries and accomplished long-term goals. Findings suggest that the concept of “grit” is not merely a universal construct of an outstanding individual who lifts themself up by their own bootstraps but that systems are important in allowing an individual to succeed to overcome boundaries. The bootstrap myth can be contested by critical readers, even young readers of picture books, as …