Secondary Education Commons^™

When Memories Make A Difference: Multimodal Literacy Narratives For Preservice Ela Methods Students, Kate Hope

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

This article examines multimodal literacy narrative projects designed by students in a methods of teaching course for secondary preservice English Language Arts teachers. For the multimodal project, preservice teachers infused written, audio, and visual text using a variety of creative mediums. Through combined theoretical frames, the researcher explores semiotics and preservice teachers’ use of multiliteracies as they shift their conceptions of what it means to compose. Finally, this article explores how the act of reflection through the literacy narrative influences preservice teachers’ notions of teaching composition through a variety of mediums.

Exploring The Impact Of Teacher Collaboration On Student Learning: A Focus On Writing, Shannon M. Pella

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

In this yearlong case study, six English teachers in an urban high school in Northern California engaged in sustained collaboration focused on developing and enacting strategies to improve the writing skills of their culturally and linguistically diverse freshmen. The study was conducted between August 2018 and June 2019, to determine the connections, if any, between teacher collaboration and student learning. Qualitative data were analyzed from teacher collaboration and observation of classroom practices, focus groups and teacher-created artifacts. Students’ on-demand writing assessments in fall and spring were compared with instructionally supported writing. Student surveys were analyzed in a mixed methods approach. …

Arkansas High School Graduation Rates: 2013/14-2017/18, Martha Bradley-Dorsey, Sarah C. Mckenzie

Arkansas Education Reports

This report examines trends in high school graduation rates for the state of Arkansas. Graduation rates are evaluated at the school level for students overall and for students who face economic disadvantages. Earlier research by the Office for Education Policy (2014) found that larger high schools and schools serving more economically-disadvantaged students have lower graduation rates. We update the report by examining graduation rate trends across the five-year period of 2013-14 through 2017-18. We consider the relationship between graduation rate and variables of interest including school-level indicators of geographic region, achievement in literacy and math, proportion of racial minority and …

Challenges For Beginning Secondary Technology Education Teachers, Sally E. Arnett-Hartwick, John Cannon

Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe challenges faced by beginning technology education (TE) teachers in [state]. Background: The highest attrition rates are among beginning teachers and with a continued shortage of TE teachers, identifying the problems new teachers encounter need to be identified for retention and the sustainability of the TE profession. Method: A qualitative research design using an online questionnaire was completed by 27 [state] TE teachers who had taught four or fewer years. Results: Qualitative analysis revealed four themes: facility management, student management, external relations, and instruction management. Each theme contained subthemes; the predominant subthemes …

Exploring Innovative Ways To Incorporate The Association Of College And Research Libraries Framework In Graduate Science Teacher Education Eportfolio Projects, Alison Lehner-Quam, Wesley Pitts

Publications and Research

This article investigates ways in which student voice informed design research into information literacy instruction in a year-long graduate science education ePortfolio culminating project. Library and science education faculty partnered in a two-year project to create communities of secondary science education students, in two cohorts, who used the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education to support their own research and reflections into information literacy. The overarching goal was to improve the course design to help science teachers develop their professional competencies in information literacy to conduct research to support their practice. Examination of students’ responses to research experiences …

Rethinking Constitutionality In Education Rights Cases, Joshua E. Weishart

Arkansas Law Review

Education rights cases often devolve into a farce of constitutional brinkmanship played by a miserable cast of reluctant courts and recalcitrant legislatures. Between successive rounds of litigation and tepid legislative fixes, come threats of impeaching judges, closing schools, stripping courts of jurisdiction, and holding legislators in contempt. Despite all the bluster, judges and legislators both anxiously await the curtain call, when they can bow out and terminate the matter. In the end, what passes for constitutionality in the successful cases is a school funding scheme judged “reasonably likely” or “reasonably calculated” to achieve an adequate or equitable education—as opposed to …

In The Room Where It Happens: Including The “Public’S Will” In Judicial Review Of Agency Action, Twinette L. Johnson

Arkansas Law Review

In the context of higher education reform, the people need to be in the important rooms where the decisions are being made. One such room is the courtroom. This essay elaborates on this premise, previously written about in an article I wrote entitled, 50,000 Voices Can’t Be Wrong, But Courts Might Be: How Chevron’s Existence Contributes to Retrenching the Higher Education Act. That article was the second in a series of three articles on the retrenchment of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (“HEA”) using the William Eskridge and John Ferejohn statutory entrenchment model.

Enforcing The Right To Public Education, Areto A. Imoukhuede

Arkansas Law Review

This paper suggests that although each state within the United States currently recognizes a right to public education, the states do not provide meaningful and consistent judicial enforcement of the right. Recognizing a federal fundamental right to public education would be a step towards ensuring meaningful and consistent judicial enforcement of the right.

Charter Schools, Academy Schools, And Related-Party Transactions: Same Scams, Different Countries, Preston C. Green Iii, Chelsea E. Connery

Arkansas Law Review

In the course of the last quarter century, governmental entities in both the United States and England have sought to encourage educational innovation by creating publicly funded schools that are independent from many of the rules that apply to locally controlled schools. These schools are called charter schools in the United States and academy schools (academies) in England. Private companies run a high percentage of these charter schools and academies. In the United States, these companies are commonly referred to as educational management organizations (EMOs). In England, these organizations are called academy trusts (ATs).

Unchartered Territory For The "Bluegrass State": Lessons To Be Learned From Over A Quarter-Century Of State Charter School Legislation, Kevin P. Brady, Wayne D. Lewis Jr.

Arkansas Law Review

Charter school success or failure is not simply a matter of chance. Both the existence and aggregate quality of charter schools in a state depend on the provisions of state charter school laws. These laws address a wide range of issues and vary from state to state. But the experiences of states with significant charter sectors, as well as those with innovative charter policies, provide important lessons for the charter school movement as a whole.

Perversity As Rationality In Teacher Evaluation, Scott R. Bauries

Arkansas Law Review

Rational basis review is broken. Consider a vignette: Imagine a student, Lisa, who is about to graduate high school. Lisa has already completed all of the graduation course requirements early and is spending her time during her senior year taking interesting electives and dual-enrollment college courses. The state has a statute that requires school districts to deny a diploma to any student “who, during the final year of school attendance, fails to achieve a passing score on the state-approved, end-of-course exams in the courses of Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies in which that student is then-currently enrolled.”

Breaking The Norm Of School Reform, Derek W. Black

Arkansas Law Review

Major school improvement efforts have failed in recent decades for two reasons. First, the endless pursuit of reform for reform’s sake over the last few years undermines school improvement.1 Second, we have abandoned or, at least, lost our focus on the fundamental educational goals that animated education policy decades—and sometimes centuries—ago. Those goals, while never fully attained, have always sought to move us to a more just system of public education. By losing that focus, our education systems remain wedded to practical norms that consistently undermine equal and adequate educational opportunities.

The State Of Education Reform, Danielle Weatherby

Arkansas Law Review

From the earliest days of the common school to the present struggle to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse population, the country has expected that education will equip citizens for economic survival and growth; prepare them for an increasingly global marketplace; strengthen the bonds among people from different racial, ethnic, cultural, and social class groups; and sustain the nation’s democratic institutions. If schools are to do their part in contributing to fulfilling these goals, they need to be extraordinarily resilient and resourceful, and they need to be open to change.

On The Field Of School Choice: Conversations Capturing White Middle Class Maternal Privilege: A Case Study, Jill Tabachnick Levi

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the results of high school choice in a small community through the experiences of White Middle class mothers. In capturing the conversations of these mothers I aimed to make explicit the implicit structures of power inherent in the school choices of this small community. Using a Bourdieusian framework I was able to document ways that the White Middle Class strategize within these structures for their own gains. I was also able to document the ways that these structures advance these strategies often at the expense of those in subordinate positions, and in this country subordinate positions are …

Lesson Plan Template, Karen Escalante

Q2S Enhancing Pedagogy

Lesson planning supports beginning teachers in their development as an educator and it helps to ensure PK-12 students are being taught to think and engage with the content area, with the ultimate goal of transferring that knowledge to global understandings and patterns. Becoming an effective teacher takes time, preparation, purposeful planning and deep knowledge of your students and the content / curriculum.

Measuring The Mathematical Problem Solving And Procedural Skills Of Students In An Irish Higher Education Institution – A Pilot Study, Fiona Faulkner, Mark Prendergast, Cormac Breen, Michael Carr

Articles

In 2010 the Irish second level mathematics curriculum underwent a period of significant change when a new mathematics curriculum was introduced. Some preliminary research has been carried out into the impact, if any, that this mathematics curriculum is having on students mathematics performance which have suggested that students’ procedural skills are declining year on year however their problem solving skills may have improved (Treacy and Faulkner 2015). Additional research in this area also highlighted that students willingness to engage in problem solving activities may have improved (Prendergast et al 2017). However preliminary analysis on the impact of the reformed mathematics …

Teaching Tolerance Through English Language Arts, Samantha Casarella

Master of Arts in English Plan II Graduate Projects

This portfolio examines the ways in which tolerance can be taught and reinforced through English Language Arts. Substantive research is presented justifying the urgency of teaching tolerance at the high school level and the role that English Language Arts teachers play in the process. Methods of practical application are presented through three separate unit plans, each focused on elevating students’ social consciousness.

Heritage Language Maintenance: Research Review And Reflection Of One Family Case, Josiah Chan

ECTESOL Review

Heritage Language maintenance provides learner tangible benefits in academic achievement, language acquisition, and career opportunity. Intangibly, it enhances the learner’s self-esteem and cultural identity. The case here reflects the Mandarin Chinese learning experience of three children who were born in the United States of a migrant family from Hong Kong where the Cantonese Chinese dialect language is more predominant. The learning effort was complicated by the parents’ native Cantonese Chinese dialect. The parents and children strived to balance the learning dynamics between Mandarin and Cantonese. The results of the study indicate that successful heritage language maintenance can be achieved with …

Syntactic Accidents In The Spontaneous Speech Of English And Armenian Speakers, Karen Velyan

ECTESOL Review

Fragmented syntax or a break of the flow of surface syntax is well known to be an indispensable part of spontaneous spoken language. Interruptions in the flow of speech may be triggered by pragmatic reasons, changes in syntactic planning and performance errors, which results in syntactic fragments. Syntactic accidents may take different forms in the actual flow of speech. This study presents a cross-linguistic comparative analysis of the cases of syntax in the speech of low socioeconomic status speakers of English and Armenian. Based on data from informal interviews with native speakers, the analysis presents a variety of syntactic accidents, …

The Reflective Approach To Teaching Culture Within The Efl Classroom, Lucia Schiopu

ECTESOL Review

This article examines the reflective approach in the teaching of culture in the EFL classroom, which is not just a mere gathering of information, but is the creation and construction of discourses that break or maintain cultural stereotypes. This is also an approach where meaning is constructed that is shaped by the quality and depth of cultural sensitivity and awareness. Teaching and learning a culture reflectively does not necessarily mean that the learner is taught to behave in accordance with specific social norms but to introduce an acceptable and appropriate conduct for the use of language in terms of intelligibility, …

From The Editor, Laureen Fregeau

ECTESOL Review

No abstract provided.

Prism Intro Student's Book With Online Workbook Listening And Speaking, And Reading And Writing, Robert Leier, Laureen Fregeau

ECTESOL Review

Prism Intro books use American English along with international and American topics to teach reading, writing, listening and speaking in English. Videos and American college life sections keep student interest.

Student-Directed Esol Family Literacy Program Design, Laureen Fregeau, Robert D. Leier

ECTESOL Review

ESOL Family Literacy programs for Hispanic immigrants have proliferated over past decades to serve the increasing population of ELs needing services. Several factors can disrupt or prevent participation in ESOL Family Literacy programs designed to enhance the academic success of Latin American adult and child immigrants. This qualitative case study set in the Deep South examined a student-directed design process to gain understanding of what would constitute an ideal program for the participating ELs, their families and their community. Emergent categories identified areas of design importance including site locations, time and frequency of class scheduling, curricular design, instructional materials, instructor …

The Benefits Of Implementing Cognitively-Demanding And Context-Embedded Language Translation In The El Classroom, Timothy Rodriquez

ECTESOL Review

The role of the first language in English Learner (EL) programs has been a historically controversial one. In addition, how the first language should be used is not without controversy. This article examines the role of translation in the EL classroom and how teachers should employ it. One approach, concurrent translation, may be considered to be cognitively-undemanding and context-reduced. The author argues that purposeful translation should be cognitively-demanding and context-embedded.

11th–12th Grade: English Level 2, Learning Packet #1 • Theme: U. S. Bill Of Rights, Trevin Wurm, Aaron P. Johnson, Alexa Yunes

ICMEE Learning Packets: Level 2 of English Proficiency (K-12)

Day 1 • What is the Constitution?, Your rights in the United States, Science: water cycle

Day 2 • Your rights in the United States: journal, What is the Bill of Rights?, Bill of Rights chart, Condensation and precipitation

Day 3 • Your rights in the United States: protest, Using your vocabulary, Opinion writing, Clouds

Day 4 • Your rights in the United States: journal, Vocabulary review, States of water

Day 5 • Your rights in the United States: draw a picture, How does your picture show equality?, Solids, liquids, and gas examples

My Packet Journal

Reference Sheet

Answer Keys

11th–12th Grade: English Level 2, Learning Packet #3 • Theme: Susan B. Anthony, Trevin Wurm, Aaron P. Johnson, Alexa Yunes

ICMEE Learning Packets: Level 2 of English Proficiency (K-12)

Day 1 • Journal: in your opinion, why is it important to vote?, Who was Susan B. Anthony?, Science: climate and biome where you're from

Day 2 • Journal: what are some things you are good at?, Past and present tense, Past and present tense: play, Science: weather near the equator, Biomes

Day 3 • Journal: what was your favorite day of school?, Picture analysis, Science: climate far from the equator, Forests, Draw a picture

Day 4 • Journal: what is a time you convinced someone to do something?, The 19th Amendment, Science: clothes near the equator, Grasslands, Deserts

Day …

11th–12th Grade: English Level 2, Learning Packet #4 • Theme: Martin Luther King, Jr., Trevin Wurm, Aaron P. Johnson, Alexa Yunes

ICMEE Learning Packets: Level 2 of English Proficiency (K-12)

Day 1 • Journal: who is an important person from your country's history?, Who was Martin Luther King, Jr.?, Science: Draw a picture of your favorite animal, Animal adaptations

Day 2 • Journal: who inspires you in your life?, Compound sentences, Science: Physical adaptations: camouflage

Day 3 • Journal: what is a dream you have for your life?, Analyzing a quote, Science: Butterflies from Wappingers Schools

Day 4 • Looking at a protest, The March on Washington, Science: Great white shark, elephants

Day 5 • Journal: what is an important event in the history of your country?, Drawing a protest, …

11th–12th Grade: English Level 2, Learning Packet #5 • Theme: Dolores Huerta, Trevin Wurm, Aaron P. Johnson, Alexa Yunes

ICMEE Learning Packets: Level 2 of English Proficiency (K-12)

Day 1 • Journal: think about a job you have or want to have, Who was Dolores Huerta?, Science: What are landforms?

Day 2 • Journal: what are some ways you can help the students in your school?. Strikes and boycotts, Compare and contrast, Science: Landforms, adjectives

Day 3 • Journal: how is Dolores Huerta similar and different from Susan B. Anthony?, Strike or boycott?, Is and are, Science: Landforms, adjectives

Day 4 • Journal: what is an example of a job many people have?, Strike and boycott: draw a picture, Science: identifying and describing landforms

Day 5 • Journal: …

11th–12th Grade: English Level 2, Learning Packet #2 • Theme: Frederick Douglass, Trevin Wurm, Aaron P. Johnson, Alexa Yunes

ICMEE Learning Packets: Level 2 of English Proficiency (K-12)

Day 1 • Frederick Douglass: journal, Who was Frederick Douglass?, Math: story problems

Day 2 • What is something you had to work hard for?: journal, What is a quote?, Math: story problems

Day 3 • Tell me a story of a time when you helped someone: journal, Draw a picture, Using "a" and "an," Math: story problems

Day 4 • Contribute/contributed/contribution, Math: story problems

Day 5 • What can you contribute to your school?: journal, Math: story problems

My Packet Journal

Reference Sheet

Culturally Familiar Texts To Improve Reading And Writing Outcomes For High School English Language Learners: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study, Taryn Courtney Robertson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research suggests that culturally relevant pedagogical strategies are essential for improving culturally and linguistically diverse student achievement. However, there is little research about which specific strategies provide the largest impacts. And there is even less research on which strategies help LatinX English Language Learners achieve academic success in the areas of reading and writing. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of utilizing culturally familiar text, as compared to culturally unfamiliar text, on reading comprehension and summary writing outcomes for secondary LatinX ELL students. This study sought to determine if there were statistically significant differences in reading …