Language and Literacy Education Commons^™

Literacy For All: A Phenomenological Study On The Application Of Massachusetts Informational Reading Standards In Massachusetts Public High School Content-Area Disciplines, Abby S. Gillis

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to describe the lived experiences of Massachusetts public high school content-area teachers with applying Massachusetts informational reading standards in their instructional practices to support reading development for all students. This qualitative study utilized data collected from six Massachusetts public high school content-area teachers through one-on-one semi-structured interviews. The literature review applied the theoretical framework of SFL which focuses on the practice of studying texts through the social and cultural context of the text, in this case, in content-area curricular texts and resources. Themes focused on national and local informational reading standards, reading …

Motivations For Authentic English Use And L2 Identity Expression Through Content Sharing And Commentary On Social Media, Paul Mcentee

Japanese Society and Culture

This essay explores the intersection of second language acquisition, social media engagement, and identity construction among language learners at a private university in Tokyo, Japan. Focused on understanding motivations for using English in online spaces, the research employs mixed methods to analyse social media use and motivations.

The study reveals that while students are active consumers of social media, they can use these platforms as a productive tool for language expression with proper guidance. It highlights the potential for social media to enhance language learning beyond the classroom, offering insights for educators to incorporate digital spaces into curricula effectively.

Key …

Cultivating Community: A Mixed-Methods Study Examining Community Literacy Practices In The Secondary Ela Classroom, Anna Heilers

Undergraduate Theses

Past research on the relationship between community literacy and schooling has emphasized how educators can use community-based prior knowledge to teach students the privileged literacies associated with academia. Some researchers have discussed the potential for university-community partnerships that are mutually beneficial, but few have explored possibilities for change in the high school setting. Utilizing 24 survey responses and 2 interviews, this study sought to answer the following questions: Do high school class experiences have any impact on students’ community literacies? If they do, do they support or hinder their growth? I analyzed data using a combination of correlational analysis, axial …

Examining Rural High School Students’ Perceptions Toward And Experiences With The Reading Plus Intervention Program: A Qualitative Case Study, Deshonda Wolfe

Dissertations

Reading is the gateway to all other academic skills and across all disciplines of learning. Content courses at the high school level central focus are on reading to learn core curriculum verses learning to read. However, research shows that if students read significantly behind their typical peers, the reading gap widens throughout high school. Learning is stalled, and access to other contents, curriculums, and instructions becomes limited. To address the reading proficiency gap of high school students struggling to read in grade level, school districts have turned to computer assisted interventions programs, such as Reading Plus, to combat the reading …

An International Framework And A Local Standardised Test: A Former Item Writer’S Autoethnography, Xuan Minh Ngo

The Qualitative Report

A recent trend dominating education worldwide is the enactment of external accountability frameworks and standards-based assessment. Likewise, in language education, international standards like the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) have been increasingly used for local standardised test development and alignment. However, there has been little research into the application of the CEFR in item writing, the activity of creating new items and associated materials, in local standardised testing contexts. To bridge this gap, this autoethnography shares my firsthand experience of writing items for a locally-developed, CEFR-aligned standardised English test in Vietnam. By combining evocative and analytic autoethnography, I aim …

Avoiding The Dreaded Packet: The Impact Of Guided Notes On Student Confidence And Quality Of Poetic Annotations In An 11th Grade Ap Language And Composition Classroom., Kaleigh D. Phelps

Virginia English Journal

This article presents findings from an action research study conducted in a 11th Grade AP Language and Composition classroom on the impact of guided notes on confidence and quality of student work. The data indicates a substantial need for transfer skills in the English classroom.

Volume 73: Issue 1 - Letter From The Editor's Desk, Cinde Wollenberg

Virginia English Journal

No abstract provided.

Literacy Warriors: Engaging Our Community In The Fight For Literacy, Monica Rene Manns, Diane Saunders

Virginia English Journal

The Literacy Warriors initiative is designed to address the pervasive issue of illiteracy in underserved communities through innovative, community-driven strategies. Rooted in the evidence-based methodologies of Marva Collins and Orton-Gillingham, the program equips community members—referred to as Literacy Warriors—with the skills to teach foundational literacy, including phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Recognizing literacy as a tool for equity, empowerment, and social justice, this initiative emphasizes culturally affirming practices that resonate with the lived experiences of Black and marginalized students. The program also addresses a critical gap: many Literacy Warriors themselves were not taught phonics due to past whole-language initiatives, which …

Unlocking Ela For All Students With Drama Activities, Natalie Tasillo

Virginia English Journal

Introducing drama activities into ELA classes can spark creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration for all students. They offer inclusive alternatives to traditional ELA activities and support successful learning experiences for all students. Several drama activities that are accessible to many students experiencing challenges are provided with suggestions for how they can benefit ELA classrooms.

Reading The Players: Developing Critical Consumers Of Sports Media, Katie Dredger, Katherin Garland, Crystal L. Beach

Virginia English Journal

Sports media is ubiquitous, and English Language Arts (ELA) teachers can use topics around current sporting activities and events in the classroom to engage readers and to teach skills of critical media literacy. Serving as a primer on critical media literacy, this article, grounded in educational theory, gives practical and easily accessible texts and creative lesson ideas to spark engagement, build community, encourage collaboration and foster achievement in secondary ELA classrooms.

The Badge He Wore, Kaya L. Klein

Virginia English Journal

"The Badge He Wore" is a poignant reflection on sacrifice, duty, and love. Through vivid imagery, the poem portrays the badge as more than metal—a symbol of a protector’s unyielding promise to serve others. It explores the weight of responsibility, the courage to face fear, and the ultimate act of laying down one’s life for another. The badge becomes a testament to a life of selflessness, a bond with the people it protects, and a legacy of a hero who gave all. This piece honors the humanity behind the badge, reminding us of the cost of true bravery.

Poem: "Meditation On Glass (Or, The Necessity Of English Teachers)", Joseph M. Jablonski

Virginia English Journal

A poem about English Teachers from a street poet.

Finding “Heart, Hope, And Humanity” At The 2024 Ncte Annual Convention, Hermione Dewitt, Ellie Fisher, Zoe Mcdowell, Kaleigh D. Phelps, Liz Shanks, Haley Smiley, Mark A. Lewis, Melanie Shoffner

Virginia English Journal

Six teacher candidates from James Madison University’s secondary ELA teacher education program reflect on their take-aways from the 2024 NCTE Annual Convention through the lens of the convention theme: Heart, Hope, and Humanity.

Call For Submissions: Volume 73: Issue 2

Virginia English Journal

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Students' Lampung Language Pronunciation Through Audio-Visual Folk Story Media, Farida Ariyani, Mulyanto Widodo, Dwi Yulianti

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

Lampung language is currently experiencing a decline in usage, increasingly being supplanted by other languages. This trend can be attributed to students' waning interest in learning Lampung, which is partly due to the lack of innovative teaching approaches. Additionally, the complexity of Lampung pronunciation, further complicated by the existence of Dialect A and Dialect O, presents another challenge. To address these issues, there is a need for accessible and easy-to-use audio-visual media, particularly those focused on folklore, which can be widely utilized by educators. This study employed a comparative descriptive approach to investigate the impact of folklore-based audio-visual media on …

Language In Context: Exploring The Learning Experiences Of Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Students In Stem After-School Program, Gulnara Kussainova

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

This study examines how language shapes interactions and learning outcomes for culturally and linguistically diverse middle school girls and their facilitators in an after-school STEM program. Grounded in the multiple identities approach, it explores how participants navigate hierarchies, build relationships, and engage through their multiple identities. Using Systemic Functional Linguistics, it analyzes linguistic strategies to reveal how language empowers or marginalizes. Focusing on interpersonal meanings of tenor, it examines expressions of authority and autonomy. The findings emphasize how participants’ multiple identities—such as gender, race, language, and cultural background—shape their STEM learning experiences. By exploring the intersection of linguistic and social …

Field Notes In Professional Development: Science Of Reading (Sor), Bob Gallagher

Journal of Inquiry and Action in Education

In this Field Notes, Bob Gallagher—a seasoned educator whose journey spans classroom teaching in Buffalo Public Schools, shaping professional growth at Sweet Home Schools, steering curriculum as Assistant Superintendent at Niagara Wheatfield Schools, and now mentoring future teachers at Buffalo State University—casts a seasoned eye on the Science of Reading (SoR). Likening its hype to a library book or movie trailer that overpromises and underdelivers, he questions the SoR’s claim that phonics-first unlocks reading for all. Teachers, he finds, are split: some cheer progress, others hesitate, untrained or unconvinced. Reviewing *Fact-Checking the Science of Reading* (2024) by Tierney and Pearson, …

Mitigating The Negative Effects Of Over And Early Exposure To Media With Joint Media Engagement: A Literature Review, Mary K. Littlepage

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

This paper examines the negative impact of over and early exposure to media on children’s developmental domains. Among other deleterious effects, early and over exposure to media has been associated with attention deficits, language delays, and interrupted social interactions. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) addresses these concerns with recommendations, discouraging the use of screens for children birth to eighteen months and recommends that children over two years old limit their viewing to one to two hours or less per day (AAP Council on Communications and Media, 2016). For children within the recommended viewing and age parameters, many studies have …

Teacher Decision Making In Guided-Reading, Brittany Worthen

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Guided reading provides teachers the opportunity to support students in literacy learning. When planning for and implementing this instructional approach, teachers are required to make various in-advance and in-the-moment decisions that involve responding to students’ instructional needs through adaptive teaching. Grounded in sociocultural and social constructivist theories, this study was designed to understand teacher decision-making within the context of guided reading instruction.

This research was a collective case study aimed at providing a better understanding of the various decisions teachers make when teaching in a guided reading context. Findings pertaining to in-advanced decisions that emerged from the data can be …

Power Of Partnerships, Joni Meade

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

No abstract provided.

Using Diverse Picture Books To Strengthen Social And Emotional Skills, Jessica L. Edwards

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Social and emotional learning skills are inherently interconnected with culturally responsive teaching, as any progress with equity and justice requires intrapersonal, interpersonal, and cognitive competence. This article discusses the significance of this connection, providing numerous ideas for using diverse picture books to establish and further strengthen social and emotional learning skills within any classroom environment.

Teaching Vocabulary Graphic Organizers To Students With Disabilities Using The Constant Time Delay Procedure, Kera B. Ackerman, Channon K. Horn

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

This study examined the effectiveness of constant time delay (CTD) as a systematic instructional technique to teach three elementary-aged students identified with mild to moderate disabilities how to complete a vocabulary graphic organizer using words identified from their grade level social studies textbook. The researcher used CTD to teach the participants how to complete the graphic organizer while embedding instructive feedback. A multiple probe design across three participants was used to examine the effectiveness of the intervention. Results indicate that CTD was effective in teaching participants how to complete the graphic organizer. Additionally, participant acquired information through instructive feedback (e.g., …

Difficulties And Challenges Facing Use Of Interactive Multimedia Applications (Imms) To Develop The Skills Of Reading And Writing In English From The Visually Impaired Students' Points Of View At The Syrian Governmental Universities, Hala Muhammad Sulieman, Nadim Badie Mustafa

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

The article aimed to identify the challenges and difficulties associated with the use of interactive multimedia applications (IMMs) for developing the skills of reading and writing in EFL (English as a foreign language) from the perspective of visually impaired students at the Syrian governmental universities, considering their gender and academic year as variables, on which the article problem relies on. The researcher developed a questionnaire of 43 questions, and divided them into three sections and two main themes. After the validity of the questionnaire had been verified, and its stability had been calculated as well, it was applied to gather …

Sustained Effects Of Reading Recovery®: Beyond The Intervention, Dr. Lisa A. Fisher

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to conduct a longitudinal analysis of the sustained effects of Reading Recovery® on literacy achievement beyond the initial intervention period. It examines the program’s long-term effectiveness, assessing whether early literacy gains are maintained and identifying key factors that contribute to sustained progress. This study, titled “Sustained Effects of Reading Recovery®: Beyond the Intervention,” seeks to fill a critical gap in existing research by providing insights into the extended impact of this early literacy intervention.

A longitudinal, mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating quantitative data analysis and qualitative insights from educators and administrators. The study was …

Linguistic Differences Between Spanish And English: Challenges For Native Spanish Speakers And Instructional Strategies For Effective Language Learning, Allison Kassing

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This research article presents a contrastive analysis of Spanish and English, highlighting key linguistic differences that contribute to common grammatical errors among Spanish-speaking English learners. The study examines these differences across four linguistic layers: phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Through error analysis, patterns of language transfer were identified and used to develop four 50-minute lesson plans tailored for English Language Learning (ELL) classes with native Spanish speakers. By recognizing students’ prior linguistic knowledge, ELL teachers can anticipate and address common errors more effectively. Special emphasis is placed on phonemes, morphemes, cognates, and sentence orders that do not exist in both …

Teachers’ Perspectives On Incorporating Moodle In A Ninth-Grade Reading Classroom, Cathy Miamba

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Effective technology use in the classroom can help stimulate a variety of learning styles and engage students through fun and exciting activities that help the students comprehend the content. Although research reported the benefits of technology in the classroom, there is a lack of knowledge of the effects of technology like Moodle on students’ academic scores, engagement, motivation, and overall achievement. As such, the problem addressed in this study was the lack of effective use of technology that affects students’ motivation, engagement, and achievements in the classroom. Using Vygotsky’s constructivism theory as the theoretical foundation and qualitative case study as …

The Expression Of Emotional Creativity Of Senior High School Students In Art Appreciation Text, Elvira Kurnia Ramadhani, Zulfi Hendri

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

This research aims to explore: 1) the profile of emotional creativity expression in art appreciation texts; 2) how emotional creativity expression varies by grade levels; and 3) how emotional creativity expression differs by gender. The research belongs to the type of mixed methods research that utilizes the survey method. The research sample was 569 students of SMAN 4 Jember consisting of class XI and XII. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests with the help of SPSS, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The results showed: 1) The majority of tends to be rational-analytical, simple vocabulary with …

Exploring The Field Of Cultural Production: The Development Of Pentigraf In Indonesia, Melania Shinta Harendika, Aprinus Salam, Sudibyo Sudibyo

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

This research examines the development of Pentigraf, an Indonesian minifiction form with a three-paragraph structure initiated by Tengsoe Tjahjono to suit modern, fast-paced culture. The emergence of Pentigraf and its community, i.e., KPI (Kampung Pentigraf Indonesian or the Indonesian Pentigraf Village), influenced the dynamics of the Indonesian field of cultural production. Using Bourdieu’s theory, it analyses Pentigraf’s position in cultural production from 2016-2023 based on literature reviews, media content analysis, competition records, and participatory observations in KPI. By studying the legitimacy and consecration of Pentigraf in the cultural production field, the research provides insights into how this literary format …

Mapping Early Childhood Phonological Abilities In Paud Tasikmalaya: A Qualitative Descriptive Study, Anggia Suci Pratiwi, I Dewa Putu Wijana, Adi Sutrisno, Endang Nurhayati, Rahil Rohimah Nurdin

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

This study maps the phonological abilities of early childhood in PAUD Tasikmalaya, focusing on language sound acquisition and use. Using a descriptive qualitative method, data were collected through classroom observations and interviews with 4- to 6-year-old students in various PAUD institutions, including state-owned, private, Islamic, and Christian schools across Tasikmalaya. The study involved 315 children from RA Baiturrahman, TK Negeri Pembina, TK Cangkurileung, TK IT Ihya As-Sunah, and Joykids.Speech data were analyzed through reduction, display, and verification, ensuring validity through expert judgment. Findings reveal that vowel mastery progresses with age. At four years old, children fully master initial and final …

Reflection Of World Views In The Speech Discourse Of Fishermen Community, Akhmad Dzukaul Fuad, Anang Santoso, Yuni Pratiwi, Roekhan Roekhan, Sainee Tamphu

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

Language reflects the logical structure of reality and shapes how speakers perceive themselves and their surroundings. Language relativity reinforces the connection between language and cultural behavior. This study examines the worldview of the Puger fishermen community, a speech community within Jember Pandhalungan culture, through their language use and discourse patterns. Their linguistic repertoire, shaped by coastal life in south Jember, East Java, influences their speech behavior. Using ethnographic communication methods, this study classifies and analyzes their speech discourse based on six worldview elements. Each discourse conveys meaning that defines their identity and perceptions of outsiders. Puger fishermen see themselves as …