Literacy has been shown to have an important and high impact on the core subjects. Literacy strategies are essential for teachers to use in the classroom. Students need a variety of literacy strategies in order for them to truly learn, understand, and apply the subject content. There has been countless research done on the impact that literacy has on the core subjects in elementary school, such as mathematics, science, and social studies. These studies range in perspectives by either focusing on the positives, the negatives, or both the positives and the negatives of the literacy in these content areas. There have also been research studies conducted on a variety of literacy strategies and how they impact classroom instruction in certain subject areas. These research studies led me to conduct my own research on the effect that literacy has on the core subjects, mathematics, science, and social studies. I conducted a qualitative observational research study in three classroom that where third, fourth, and fifth grade. I observed the three research participants twice a month over a two month period. I observed that each of the participants, regardless of teaching different grades, used some form of literacy in their lessons across the curriculum. In the third grade classroom, the participate had more of an emphasis on using trade books and various writing assignment, such as RAFT and journal entries. In the fourth grade classroom, there was still some usage of trade books but
Some literacy issues are becoming more and more prevalent in recent times. In the day and age we live in; we have access to the newest data and notions regarding literacy in the current education
In every school across America, effective practices of reading instruction are being discussed. Calkins (2012) suggests that over 85% of students being tested on grade level literacy standards are non-proficient. Research suggests that students, who are unable to read proficiently by third grade, are not predicted to ever learn to read or have successful lives when they reach adulthood (Martinez, 2008). For these reasons, it is important that districts implement literacy models and instructional reforms that have been well researched and shown to be successful. The instructional reform method of Balanced Literacy is being used throughout the country to meet the challenging standards of the Common Core. Teachers will need
Over all, her work has been cited 440 times in other scholarly works. Considered a reliable source among her peers, her writing consists of analyzing what is hot and not in common core literacy standards, the utilization of pattern books in the classroom, reading techniques for mentally or physically disabled students, utilizing Pinterest as a tool in developing content knowledge, and diagnostic and correction of reading habits. Additionally, in 2007 Grote-Garcia contributed to a scholarly article on professional resources. Furthermore, several of her articles have been published Literacy Today. The submission process for Literacy Today simply involves an individual submitting a question, pitch, or article to the provided email on their website on Literacy Today’s website (December). Overall, Stephanie Grote-Garcia’s professional opinion is that educators need to stay on top of the hottest trends in literacy development and comprehension building in the classroom (Google Scholar). This includes the utilization of pattern books, reevaluating common core’s literacy impact on struggling readers, and developing a student’s knowledge base in struggling readers. Throughout all the material that she has contributed to, all possess the common thread of developing literacy skills in students.
Content area teachers can implement strategies and scaffold learning when planning and designing instruction so that students will actively engage in literacy. According to Dobbs, content area reading instruction includes: the information present in the text, and the instructional plan teachers use to help students understand the content (2003, p.3). Vacca, Vacca, & Mraz explain that in order to plan instruction effectively, teachers must be aware of the explicit and functional dimensions of content literacy. The explicit aspect of content literacy involves the development of skills and strategies that enable students to comprehend what they are reading. Functional instruction focuses more on the application of strategies needed to derive knowledge from a variety of sources of information.” (2014, p. 134). Forget defined literacy as “listening, thinking, reading, and speaking in such a way that information and ideas are processed and communicated to the benefit of self and society” (2003, p. 5). Content area teachers need to plan and design lessons so that students will actively engage in literacy. Forget goes on to discuss that poor performance in schools can be do to a lack of basic literacy skills. Therefore, teachers need to implement the skills and strategies found to be successful in literacy to ensure
Rayen enjoys listening and participating in literacy activities. He often makes personal connections to shared experiences and takes risks by sharing them in the large group. Rayen writes in a small group that focuses on sounding out words and recording ideas in ways that make sense. He has demonstrated growth this term in being able spell some high frequency words and uses them in his writing. Rayen is able to communicate his ideas and experiences through illustrations and oral discussions. He uses sentence starters to organize his ideas and produces simple sentences with support. Also with support, he is able to create a story with a beginning, middle and end. Rayen continues to work on consistently using finger spaces in his writing for
3. Assessment of Literacy Development in Early Childhood is a research that was conducted by Johnson, Peter H, and Rogers, Rebecca. Both authors highly believe in assessing literacy development, since it is a huge aspect in students’ literacy development. Both authors state, “Most literacy assessment occurs in the school years because, at least in most Western countries, literacy learning is considered the responsibility of the school, though when school literacy instruction actually begins…In the United States, since the thirties, literacy-related assessment has occurred in the early years of schooling because of beliefs about the relationship between learning and development” (pg. 1).
For this analysis I used the survey adapted by Patty, Maschoff, and Ransom. This survey helped me realize how my school is achieving in their instructional and literacy program. I talked to my principal at my school (Stetson Hills) and discussed the topic with her and helped get an idea of how the school was doing. I’m a physical education teacher and I’m not in tune as much as I should be with our literacy program so I’m hoping this class will help me learn more about how to help my school improve the literacy program and my own personal understanding.
Mrs. Shirley Faulkner-Springfield made me realize in this literacy assignment the word “important “made me the individual that I am today with a drive to achieve greatness. This assignment revaluated the purpose of reading the word “Important,” represents all the information that needs to be known to achieve anything in
For this assignment, I completed a survey to assess my school’s literacy program by using a survey that was adapted from by Patty, Maschoff, & Ransom (1996) to analyze the instructional program and the school’s infrastructure. To be able to answer my survey, I needed to go colleagues of mine in the English Department and to my administration to help with these questions. Being a math teacher, we hardly ever discuss the literacy and the students’ acquisition of it in our department meeting during staff development days. Since I am not truly current with literacy acquisition in education, I am hoping to understand more from this process so I can help all my students. I want them to be able to read texts related to math and find
As a future teacher of a fast-changing generation that searches restlessly for new interests, I believe that old and new must meet to keep the basic values of a balanced literacy. Focusing on prior knowledge, collaborating with colleagues, peers, families, and community, creating connections with our surrounding, and empowering students’ learning style throughout the process of gaining knowledge of reading and writing. Foremost, my personal philosophy of teaching literacy is based on constructivism and sociolinguistic, where hands on experience and guidance are priority in an informational world. To facilitate a child’s acquisition of literacy skills , as I plan for literacy instruction for my future classroom, I will take into consideration
The need for basic literacy skills is vital in order for our nation to continue to operate successfully. With approximately 5 million students, graduating below the National Standard for Literacy and unable to read, we must take a look at the curriculum and teaching techniques to assess whether the current systems need to be revised to better assure ALL students are successful. (Adolescent Literacy: A Policy Research Belief p. 1) The issue begins first with the definition of “Literacy”, and the fact that there are several aspects of literacy which are not currently included in the curriculum. Another issue is the “old” standards which are in place do not support the level of diversity which is now seen in many school systems. Then
More specifically, the data collected from student work and teacher/student surveys portrays a clearer picture as to necessary interventions and modifications that are needed for our learners. All teachers indicated in their survey responses that they are reading on a daily basis in class. Also, teachers expressed that most of their students do not possess the necessary grade level literacy skills needed to read high school level English and social studies text.
Times are changing. Literacy is not only a problem that the English teacher has to deal with. Literacy is defined as the ability to read and write (Oxford Dictionaries). However, you have to use different skills to read a novel than you do with reading a science question. So it only makes that literacy should be taught in different ways for each different subject. It does a student no good to be able to physically read a science question but have no idea what it’s asking for. The last five years have seen unprecedented attention given to the literacy achievement of adolescents in secondary schools in the United States. Spurred by the release of flat or declining reading scores on national tests. (Donahue, Daane & Grigg, 2003). This could be easily linked to a lack of literacy techniques being taught in schools.
Literacy and student achievement are not isolated to a students’ homeroom or taught by a reading specialist, consider the Art room as a place for inclusion to literacy. In addition to making incredible art, students will have the opportunity to read and write about historical artworks, architecture, and art history. Literacy components such as phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocaburlary, comprehension, motivation, and assessment will be incorporated into the art unit, developing transferable skill sets that can be utilized in multiple disciplines and life outside of the school.
As a child, I never had books read to me. It was not really part of the middle-class lifestyle in Punjab, where I was born and lived for 5 years. In Punjab, I completed two years of early education known as LKG (lower kindergarten) and UKG (upper kindergarten). The school I went to, although a high SES school, did not have a library where we would go to read picture books. Moreover, the books we did have for ‘English’ were a compilation of poems and stories, with very few pictures. Poems or story was read by the teacher, and then told the ‘moral’ of the story. Nothing more. Neither was there any extrapolation nor exploration of character or plots. Although, it was taught in school it was still a second language for me.