Learning to Teach Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Through Research and Practice

Structured Literacy: An Effective Approach for All Students

Kristie Stu-McCarthy — 2023-12-15

Learning to read is an essential skill that allows students to increase their knowledge of any topic they desire. Many students struggle to learn to read and teachers are tasked with the challenge of ensuring all students, including students with reading disabilities, are successful readers. This paper examines the structured literacy approach as a successful method to teaching all students to read. It gives a clear description of the components of a structured literacy approach and the benefits it has over using typical literacy practices, such as balanced literacy or whole language approaches, to teach reading. Teachers are responsible for ensuring that all students succeed and are called to advocate for the structured literacy approach in their schools.

Keywords: structured literacy, phonics, explicit & systematic, typical literacy practices

The Correct Way to Use Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom

Tara Parker — 2023-12-15

Technology use in the education setting is an ongoing controversy and there are mixed reviews on its positivity and negativity of exposure and use in early childhood classrooms. Because technology is prevalent in society today, exposure at young ages is important for children to succeed. Instead of asking if technology should be used in early childhood classrooms, we should model the correct way to use it there. The use of technology in the early childhood classroom should include tools and experiences used to prepare students for formal classroom instruction and the development of their different domains of learning. It will additionally help facilitate scaffolding and extension of learning while supporting connections between school and home.

Keyword: DATU

The Benefits of Interdisciplinary Instruction in English Language Arts and Social Studies Classrooms

Richard Coehrs — 2023-12-15

Interdisciplinary instruction using objectives based on English language arts and Social Studies standards has many benefits for students. It strengthens their content area knowledge through inquiry, close reading, the interpretation of multiple sources, authentic writing tasks for an audience or purpose, and critical thinking. Examples of strategies that have produced positive results are presented here in the form of data and analysis from previous case studies. The results of these studies demonstrate how this specific type of interdisciplinary instruction can help students understand that content area knowledge can be transferred and used in innovative ways in fields that may not seem obviously related. This contributes to the advancement of research-based instruction in each of these core content areas of education.

Methods for Teaching Literacy to Early Elementary English Learners

Brianna Gilbert — 2023-12-15

This paper focuses on the need for current and pre-service educators to learn how to effectively use instructional strategies to teach literacy to English learners. Research centers on methods that target the emergent literacy skills of English learners enrolled in kindergarten through grade three. Currently, data demonstrates that English learners are entering American public schools at an increasing rate. Early elementary educators are the first teachers that will encounter the new influx of these students. The following information examines two methods that early elementary educators can use to instruct English learners effectively and improve their language and literacy capabilities. English learners require strong emergent literacy skills to find academic success as they ascend grade levels and encounter more advanced texts.

Cultivating Empathy in Students Within an English Language Arts (ELA) Classroom Through Literary and Narrative Texts

Emily Smith — 2023-12-15

The relationship between empathy and literature is understudied in the English language arts context. English language arts (ELA) educators wonder if reading can produce skills beyond those of comprehension and other ELA skills within students. Although empathy can be difficult to measure, some in the English language arts education community have begun to investigate whether they can cultivate empathy, perspective-taking, and open-mindedness within their students. Through research of some studies and articles surrounding this topic, it appears that empathy can be cultivated within students through literature when paired with discussion, writing, and reflection, and that cultivating empathy within students is integral to developing critical thinking, informed, and open-minded individuals.

The Academic Benefits of a Play Based Pedagogy in Elementary Education

Mary Anne Langton — 2023-12-15

Children learn naturally through exploring their environment. There are many academic benefits for young children in a play-based classroom. The benefit of play supports children’s development in five domains: physical, language, social, emotional, and cognitive. Teachers can support a deeper level of learning by implementing a play-based learning classroom. A teacher’s perspectives and roles have a significant impact on their student’s learning. There are many innovative types of play that can be implemented in the classroom. When children can make choices in their learning it will indirectly increase their cognitive academic skills. Play is holistic and supports the whole child and their individual needs.

Keywords: play-based pedagogy, developmental domains, implementation and facilitating play, teachers’ perspectives and roles, theorists

Improving the Writing Process and Making it Accessible to All

Drew Longmore — 2023-12-15

We live in a time where writing is ever-present in our world. Communication often happens in the form of writing and the majority of jobs require the skill of writing. The problem at hand is that not everyone has equal access to formal writing. In the history of education, writing has been taught as a corrective process, in which some students are “called out” for writing and speaking improperly. Most often these students are those who speak a stereotyped language, such as African American Vernacular. The corrective method creates further roadblocks for students to grow in their writing. The solution to this problem is the teaching of code-switching, in which students learn to “flip” from the informal to the formal.

Dyslexia Dilemma

Monica Cook — 2023-12-15

More than 70 million Americans have learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia - that’s 1 in 5 people who learn and think differently (Understood For All, 2014). Dyslexia is a disorder characterized by reading below the expected level for one’s age. Problems may include difficulties in reading, rhyming, spelling, identifying common words, phonetic pronunciation and comprehension, or struggle with writing assignments. This paper will examine the history of dyslexia, successful intervention programs for dyslexic learners, and discuss the need for adequate training programs for teaching personnel.

Culture’s Place in the Foreign Language Classroom

Amanda Parent — 2023-12-15

This paper will first outline what culture is and what exactly is meant by intercultural communication in the foreign language (FL) classroom by analyzing theoretical texts on the topic. Then, this paper will discuss many studies on learning tasks that integrate culture from both foreign language classrooms in English-speaking countries as well as English as a foreign language (EFL) classrooms in other countries. This paper will describe each task and then demonstrate how they bolster students’ proficiency in writing or listening and speaking. Additionally, this paper will show that these tasks create a marked increase in students’ motivation and excitement to learn a new language.

Using Student-Generated Artwork as a Form of Social Studies Assessment

Danica Zink — 2023-12-15

Making visual artwork like paintings, photographs, and prints can act as a valuable assessment tool in the social studies classroom. Secondary social studies educators can implement art creation to assess students throughout the learning process, in both formative and summative assessments. Art creation has unique benefits, and it can be a supplement or replacement to traditional written assessments. It offers opportunities for differentiated instruction, where students interact with the material in different ways. Art also gives an outlet for students to make new connections without the use of text. Educators can also design and implement art-based assessment as an authentic form of assessment in a visual world. Social studies teachers should implement art as an assessment tool at the secondary level.

Social Action Activities, Service Projects, and Civic Engagement

Rachelle Donnelly — 2023-12-15

Social studies educators need to understand the impact or assigned social action activities and service projects on student learning so they can best meet the goals of social studies education. A major goal of social studies education is to create good citizens, and a key aspect of being a good citizen is being civically engaged. Studies show that assigned social action activities and service projects can positively impact civic engagement in the areas of community issue awareness, character development, and social responsibility. Assigned social action activities or service projects should be utilized in the secondary social studies classroom to improve civic engagement and achieve a major goal of social studies education, creating responsible citizens.

Navigating Discourse through Controversy in the Classroom

John Scott — 2023-12-15

Social studies is an evolving subject that encompasses controversial issues including abortion, gun control, substance legalization, LGBTQ, civil rights issues, and more. To elevate discourse, teachers have a myriad of ways to elicit thought-provoking discussions among students. Strategies for discussing controversial issues include creating a positive environment where students do not feel judged for expressing their views, cooperative learning, reciprocal teaching, debate, and discussion. Cooperative learning forces individuals to respect the viewpoint and work habits of classmates. Debate and discussion are also effective discourse methods because students must accurately represent positions on issues. This is done through research of reputable sources guided by teacher instruction and moderation to facilitate an inclusive and productive discussion. Instruction and moderation are demonstrated below.

Science Labs and Their Positive Impacts on Students’ Understanding of Science Concepts

Eve Sroczynski — 2023-12-15

Laboratory experiments are an important aspect of science students' educational journeys. This paper demonstrates that when students perform labs in their science classes, they have an increased understanding of the associated science concepts, and they are better able to learn science as a result. Laboratory experiments give students the opportunity to enhance their discourse skills, work collaboratively with their peers, and connect science concepts to real life scenarios. Furthermore, laboratory experiments are learner-centered, and they are a tool science teachers can use that result in their students having increased understanding of abstract science concepts. All these aspects of laboratory experiments result in students having a better understanding of the content and an increased ability to learn science effectively.

The Impact of Experiments on Students

Joshua Steele — 2023-12-15

Experiments engage students and improve their academic performance. Studies support this claim through the use of qualitative and quantitative methods. Research also suggests that there is an emotional component to the benefits of experiments. Qualitative results showed an increase in student interest and engagement for students that participated in the experiment. Quantitative results showed an increase in academic achievement for students that participated in the experiment. Scientific discourse also showed to be a valuable component of experiments as the scientific discourse creates a stronger scientific discipline. New programs and research are also generating new ways to analyze the scientific discourse, turning qualitative data to quantitative data. Overall, experiments are useful tools to generate interest and increase academic success.