gjl: A Pathfinder

This is a computer-generated pathfinder created against the Distant Reader study called gjl.

Each Distant Reader study carrel is composed of many individual items. Each item is bibliographically described with author, title, date, summary, and keyword values. Below is a list of the items' most signficant keywords as well as lists of the items themselves. Purpusing the content of this pathfinder provides the student, researcher, or scholar with one way to get their heads around the scope of the carrel. The keywords include:

Reading; Literacy; Teachers; Education; Learning; Children; Story; Text; Language; Texts; Knowledge; Feedback; Class

Depending on how this pathfinder was created, many of the bibliographic sections will include elaborations on the meaning(s) of the given keywords. These elaborations were generated by feeding the items' summaries to a large langauge model and asking the model to address the question, "What is X?", where "X" is the keyword. The result will be a few sentences of elaboration. Be forewarned. The elaborations are often plausible, but they should not be take as truth. Instead, they should be taken as points for consideration.

• Teaching to the Test from a Parent’s Perspective by Kettle, Amy; Miller, Melinda (2018) - The author reports that students in the latter category score better on standardized writing tests. The unfortunate result is that groups that have traditionally fallen behind such as minority groups, students with special needs, and english language learners, may be falling further behind (national Center for fair and open Testing, 2007). Keywords: reading; students; teachers; test; time; writing
• Exploring the Reading Motivation of Less-Motivated Adolescent Latinx English Learners by Griffin, Robert A. (2019) - Abstract This qualitative study explored reading motivation among high school English learners whose first language was Spanish. Trends in Prior Research Past research into reading motivation among Latinx students has primarily concentrated on the cognitive processes of individual students, but there is a growing trend toward viewing reading motivation through a sociocultural lens. Keywords: achievement; children; engagement; english; family; home; interview; journal; latinx; learners; motivation; parents; que; reading; research; school; students; study; u.s; work
• Reading-Aloud to Children: A Cautionary Tale with Recommendations for Success by Bintz, William (2023) - Over the years, I have conducted hundreds and hundreds of read alouds in K–12 classrooms and in my own graduate courses. Reading Aloud with Older Readers. Keywords: aloud; children; experience; fox; good; literacy; picturebooks; readers; reading; scholastic; story; students; teachers; text; time; voices
• Ready, Set, Grow: Exploring the Readiness and Preparation of Kindergarten Students within a Title 1 School by Mitchell, Morgan; Keesbury, Sybil; Luther, Vicki (2019) - Kindergarten Concepts or % of Students: ELA Students Who Met or Exceeded Skills ● Can describe the role of the 91% author and illustrator in a text ● Can identify the front cover, back cover, and title page ● Recognizes and names both upper and lower case letters adequately ● Demonstrates basic knowledge of consonants and vowels ● Recognizes common types of texts 80% ● Actively engages in group reading activities ● Can read commonly used high- frequency words ● Demonstrates appropriate 70% questioning skills ● Demonstrates ability to work independently ● Can capitalize words and can 61% name ending punctuation ● Recognizes and produces rhyming 50% words ● Orally produces and expands complete sentences ● Demonstrates ability to use affixes 41% as a clue to word meanings with teacher support GEORGIA JOURNAL OF READING 34 VOLUME 42, NUMBER 1 2019 This information displays the percentage of Daycare Kindergarten Concepts or % of Students: ELA Students Who Met or Exceeded Skills ● Can identify the front cover, 95% back cover, and title page ● Recognizes and names both upper- 84% and lowercase letters adequately ● Can describe the role of the author 63% and illustrator in a text ● Demonstrates basic knowledge of consonants and vowels ● Recognizes and produces rhyming 42% words ● Recognizes common types of texts ● Demonstrates appropriate questioning skills ● Demonstrates ability to work independently ● Can read commonly used high- 32% frequency words ● Orally produce and expand complete sentences ● Actively engages in group reading activities ● Demonstrates ability to use affixes 21% as a clue to word meanings Daycare Learning and Personal/Social Development Fourteen of the 19 students (74%) consistently demonstrated that they were able to seek help when needed. Keywords: ability; children; education; georgia; kindergarten; learning; pre; reading; skills; students
• The Open Mind Portrait: An Innovative Method to Promote Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking by Soares, Lina (2023) - Employing visual art projects to promote reading comprehension and critical thinking offers classroom teachers an innovative reading response method to the standard constructed response. KEYWORDS critical thinking; young adult literature; Keywords: art; character; mind; portrait; reading; students; thinking
• A Structured Literacy Approach to Support Striving Readers in Secondary Grades: Meaningful Transactions through Morphological Awareness and Fluency Building by Bart-Addison, Samantha; Griffin, Robert (2021) - Creating support networks for striving teachers who are working to support striving students—what this piece attempts to do in some small way—is a matter of social justice and more urgent now than ever before (Cochran-Smith, 2020). Because of this misguided assumption about student skill, educators do not recognize they should provide direct instruction in morphology. Keywords: classroom; comprehension; fluency; literacy; questions; readers; reading; students; teacher; text; volume
• Reading-Aloud as Complex Art, not Simple Activity: A Cautionary Tale, Part II by Bintz, William P. (2024) - Then, I briefly review research on reading aloud, highlighting five major categories: picturebooks, picturebooks and reading aloud, research on reading aloud, reading aloud picturebooks to older readers, and reading aloud to emergent bilingual students and special needs students. (Bader, 1976, p. 1) Picturebooks and Reading Aloud Traditionally, reading aloud has been associated with picturebooks, often referred to as children’s literature. Keywords: adult; aloud; children; literacy; picturebooks; reading; story; students; teachers
• Bridging the Divide: Advancing the Science and Art of Teaching Reading in Diverse and Inclusive Classrooms by Griffin, Robert; Scullin, Beth (2023) - The content serves not just as a timely response to ongoing debates in literacy education but also as a catalyst for future innovations that harmonize the science with the art of teaching reading. KEYWORDS science and art of teaching reading; diversity and inclusion; multimodal literacies s we usher in the fall season, we are reminded that the landscape of literacy education, much like the leaves that are metamorphosing around us, is in a constant state of change. Keywords: literacy; reading; science; teaching
• Using Companion Texts to Widen Student Perspective Across the Curriculum by Bintz, William P.; Parker, Lisa (2024) - Table 2 presents companion texts on the Lewis and Clark expedition, while Table 3 features additional companion texts covering various Social Studies topics. This experience sparked a collaborative inquiry project that explored companion texts as a new way to develop paired texts. Keywords: american; baseball; book; clark; companion texts; connections; curriculum; expedition; extend understanding; lewis; life; loving; marriage; math; perspective; professional; pythagoras; reading; story; students; war; way; world
• A Psychometric Review of Universal Reading Screeners Approved by the State Board of Education by Morgan, Lindee; Wenke, Joseph; Dandy, Kristina (2024) - Screener domains are sets of related skills or information classified together for assessment purposes. Universal reading screeners identify students in need of additional evaluation, while assessments give insight into specific abilities and competencies (Moodie et al., 2014). Keywords: evidence; k–1; k–3 k–3; literacy; psychometric; reading; reliability; review; screener; sensitivity; specificity; tools; validity
• The Effects of Question-Answer-Relationship (QAR) Instruction on Standardized Reading Comprehension Test Scores of Third-Grade Students by Green, Susan; Mraz, Maryann (2024) - Students in this study who used the QAR strategy were more successful in answering reading comprehension questions than students who did not receive QAR strategy instruction. Quantitative data analysis involving descriptive and inferential statistics was used to examine student scores and draw comparisons between groups. Keywords: comprehension; instruction; qar; questions; reading; scores; strategy; students; study; test
• Igniting the Fire Within: Culturally Relevant Expository Writing by Whitaker, Adam (2024) - He suggested that using popular culture music and communication practices congruent with the lives of students increased students’ writing capacity. The next step in engaging in relevant instruction involved assessing student writing interests. Keywords: culture; english; experiences; expository; figure; instruction; literacy; reading; students; text; writing
• From Paired Text to Blended Genres: Pairing Picturebooks with Poems by Bintz, William P.; Galeza, Abbey (2024) - Poem A Library Nikki Giovanni 2022 Fiction “Library Poem” Julia Donaldson 2015 Poem An unnamed apostrophe speaks to other letters, words, and punctuation marks, thanking them for his popularity but feels the need to set the record straight. Keywords: bintz; books; cinderella; connections; dictionary; fiction; figure; genres; intertextuality; learning; librarians; library; literacy; poem; reading; school; students; table; text; words
• Connecting a Community through a Family Literacy Project and Virtual Writing Collaboration: University Students Facilitate Access to Literature during the Pandemic by Katz, Anne; Sledge-Tollerson, Alexandra (2021) - A family literacy project and a virtual writing collaboration with middle school students sheds light on how university students facilitated access to literature for their local community during the pandemic, helping local students thrive. A second community literacy project embedded in the course involved reading and discussing Look both ways: A tale told in ten blocks (Reynolds, 2019), short stories that detail experiences of middle school students on their walk home from school. Keywords: activity; book; family; feedback; hair; letter; literacy; memories; reading; school; students; writing
• Culturally Relevant Teaching for the 21st Century: The Success and Challenges of Pre-Service Teachers When Using Technology in Critical Ways by Jackson, Virginie; Delacruz, Stacey; Harry, Dominique (2021) - Findings provided evidence that as pre-service teachers experienced authentic and engaging learning experiences within a supportive space, they emerged equipped to teach in culturally responsive ways that supported student learning and deeper levels of engagement. Rather than recognizing cultural differences as a hinderance to student learning, culturally relevant teaching views those differences as areas of opportunity for learning (Chuang, 2016). Keywords: century; head; instruction; integration; learning; lessons; literacy; pre; reading; research; service; student; teachers; teaching; technology; use
• Dyslexia and Georgia Senate Bill 48 by Schlesinger, Nora W. (2020) - The new law defines dyslexia as a neurobiological- based disorder and provides definitions and characteristics of dyslexia and disorders, as well as terminology associated with dyslexia and dyslexia intervention. Dyslexia Provisions for Accommodations and Interventions Starting in the academic year 2020-2021 a three year pilot program will be established to demonstrate and evaluate the effectiveness of early reading support for students with dyslexia concerns. Keywords: concerns; dyslexia; education; georgia; individuals; instruction; intervention; journal; language; learning; legislation; literacy; reading; shaywitz; students
• Authoring Counter-Narratives: Showcasing Student Voice through Critical Stance by Soares, Lina; Ameduri, Ali (2024) - Giving students the opportunity to think differently or critically about an issue further gives students a voice and, in turn, promotes student agency (Craddock & Pettit, 2023). It is important to note that students may have diverse perspectives, and this group discussion time will help amplify students’ voices, which is a protocol for student agency. Keywords: biases; literacy; reading; stance; stereotypes; story; students
• Text Considerations to Motivate Boys to Want to Read by Williams, Lunetta (2024) - One strategy that can enhance reading motivation among boys is providing access to books with particular text considerations that are mentioned in this article: a) topic, b) genre, c) series, and d) text layout. Disrupting the ‘boys don’t read’ discourse: Primary school boys who love reading fiction. Keywords: books; boys; reading; text
• Phonetic Continuum Matrix: A Research-Informed Approach to Selecting Decodable Words for Phonics Instruction by Grote-Garcia, Stephanie; Pletcher, Bethanie; Patton-Elliott, Hanna (2024) - According to Ehri’s (2005) four stages of word reading, word knowledge evolves through distinct phases. Similar to phonemic awareness instruction, there is a general sequence for teaching phonics to increase word reading skills. Keywords: awareness; blends; children; consonant; continuum; instruction; letter; literacy; matrix; phoneme; phonics; reading; research; sounds; stage; students; words
• Teaching Vocabulary in Meaningful and Memorable Ways: Explicit Instruction in the English Classroom by Whitaker, Adam (2024) - Research on best practices in vocabulary instruction suggests that providing students opportunities to analyze context clues, discuss the meaning of words, engage with new words in different contexts, and assess student word learning are efficient routines to build students’ vocabulary knowledge (Pennsylvania Training and Technical Network, 2021). During my secondary school experiences, vocabulary instruction was facilitated in the following fashion: On Mondays, we read and copied definitions of vocabulary words on notebook paper. Keywords: context; figure; instruction; knowledge; learning; reading; students; vocabulary; words
• A Balanced Approach to Literacy Instruction and Support for Diverse Learners by Mondesir , Bonnie; Griffin, Robert A. (2020) - The Simple View, as this model was later coined, posits that decoding skills and language comprehension are the processes that lead to the higher-order skill of reading comprehension, which can be illustrated as the equation R = D x LC where R is reading comprehension, D is decoding, and LC is language comprehension (Gough & Tunmer, 1986; Hoover & Gough, 1990). This theory also demonstrates how students actively apply their schemata of content and reading processes to build knowledge and achieve reading comprehension (Suraprajit, 2019). Keywords: georgia; information; journal; literacy; process; readers; reading; samuels; students; text; theories; theory
• SSSLIDE into Reading Big Words! A Strategy for Decoding Multisyllabic Words by Tovey, Shannon (2024) - A Strategy for Decoding Multisyllabic Words Shannon Tovey Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA ABSTRACT The ability to decode multisyllabic words significantly impacts fluency, automaticity, vocabulary, and comprehension ability. Given the rising number of older children reading below grade level, it is essential for intermediate-grade teachers to employ effective and efficient strategies to teach multisyllabic word decoding. Keywords: caleb; consonant; reading; step; syllable; vowel; word
• Very Mindful, Very Multimodal: Digital Texts Affordances for Emergent Readers by Emily Colleen Cobb (2025) - While this type of text goes against what the other studies have found regarding what types of digital texts result in higher reading comprehension outcomes, Shimizu’s (2024) findings are important for educators to consider as these are also the types/genres of digital texts students encounter, especially considering the reality of standardized testing in U.S. schools. Digital devices with storybook apps allow for books that can be read without a mediator, but that does not erase the need for a teacher mediator or scaffolding, and while the “Read-to-Me” feature or similar is important, and a great aspect of digital text, Reich et al. (2019) found that there needs to be a greater discussion about why teacher mediator is still key even for digital texts that include teaching elements. Keywords: acquisition; children; comprehension; educators; et al; instruction; journal; literacy; multimodal; print; readers; reading; research; students; texts; tools; vocabulary
• Empowering Readers: Student-Centered Strategies for Literacy Success by Griffin, Robert; Scullin, Bethany (2024) - The authors draw on decades of phonemic awareness research to offer teachers a continuum for introducing increasingly complex words for students at different levels of decoding skills. Their T mailto:rgriffin@westga.edu https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3128-7687 mailto:bscullin@westga.edu 2 Georgia Journal of Literacy 46(1) genre-blending technique invites students to explore topics across different literary forms that enrich their comprehension and analytical skills. Keywords: georgia; literacy; reading; strategies; students
• A Comparative Study of the Effects of Computer-Assisted Instruction on the Reading Achievement of First Graders by Hudson, Tracey Renae; Reeves, Linda; Giles, Rebecca M.; Brannan, Lauren R. (2020) - There is little empirical research on the topic generally and even less that specifically addresses computer- assisted reading instruction for first graders. The impact of instructional reading technology programs on student reading achievement. Keywords: achievement; computer; grade; instruction; journal; literacy; program; reading; research; students; study; treatment
• Teachers as Readers: Examining the Personal Reading Lives of English Educators by Sroka, Matthew (2025) - Even in spaces lined with literature posters and classroom libraries, conversations about personal reading lives don’t always happen organically. George described a life-changing event that reignited his love for personal reading: “Last summer I got appendicitis, and sitting up for long periods was exhausting. Keywords: books; cheryl; english; experiences; identity; journal; life; literacy; lives; reading; research; robert; students; teachers; teaching; texts
• Beyond the Page: Reimagining Literacy Across Media, Cultures, and Classrooms by Griffin, Robert; Scullin, Bethany (2025) - This issue explores a mix of literacy practices, from digital texts and AI tools to dialect use and blending across different genres and fields. Drawing from current scholarship in new literacies and multiliteracies, Cobb challenges the assumption that today’s children are digital natives naturally equipped to navigate digital content. Keywords: georgia; issue; literacy; reading; research
• Reimagining the Traditional Pedagogy of Literacy by Jackson, Virginie; Shrewsbury, Kinsey (2018) - because of this, teachers should be aware of the text that they are using to teach students literacy skills and they should teach students to critique texts instead of merely accepting them, as early as elementary age. Prior to the study, the pre-service teacher felt very confident in her ability to incorporate technology into critical literacy lessons because of her level of proficiency with the utilization of technology. Keywords: classroom; education; integration; lesson; literacy; pre; reading; story; students; study; teacher; technology
• Building Excitement for Reading and Building New Friendships: Using Book Bistro with Pre-Service Teachers and Middle School Students by Bentley, Erinn (2020) - First, we will describe how this strategy aligns with scholarship supporting adolescent readers and pre-service teachers. Wilfong & Oberhauser (2012) explored using Book Bistro among middle school students and pre-service teachers. Keywords: bistro; book; literacy; reading; school; service; students; teachers
• Teaching Thinking for Reading: Merging Executive Function, Structured Literacy, and Asset-Based Practices by Sharpe, Sarah (2025) - By intentionally integrating these approaches into daily instruction, educators can scaffold student thinking, foster independence, and build stronger connections between learners and the texts they encounter. This work represents not only an instructional shift but a broader call for equity-driven literacy research that affirms student identities and advances reading as a cognitive, cultural, and justice-oriented practice. Keywords: comprehension; executive; instruction; learning; literacy; readers; reading; science; strategies; students; teacher; teaching; text; think; thinking
• “Not Just for the Boomers”: The Importance of Grammatical Understandings in 21st Century P–20 Classrooms by Luther, Vicki; Sroka, Matthew (2025) - The Teacher Lens Simply put, teaching grammar is not necessarily a favorite of many teachers. Teaching grammar in the context of writing: A critical review. Keywords: education; english; grammar; grammar instruction; instruction; journal; language; learning; literacy; mechanics; reading; research; students; teachers; teaching; use; writing
• Increasing Below Level Readers Fluency and Comprehension by Knott, Shawnee; Tovey, Shannon (2020) - Several teachers elaborated on their desire to use a variety of reading resources to target student reading needs and to close gaps, while providing differentiation to meet individual student needs. I am not a fan of boxed programs, rather the high- leverage and evidence- based practices that have been proven to work P8 Raz Kids When educators were asked how they enhance below grade level readers fluency and comprehension, it is clear that there were many different strategies, methods, and interventions to achieve the goal of closing the reading gap that exists in the education world. Keywords: comprehension; fluency; grade; group; level; readers; reading; strategies; students
• Using Choral Reading with Students with Exceptionalities to Improve Reading Fluency by Bessette, Harriet (2020) - The conceptual intricacies of choral reading, an instructional strategy for improving reading fluency, may be explained through a theoretical framework based on the work of Vygotsky (1978) and Wertsch (1985; 1991). Choral reading has been observed to have benefits beyond increasing reading fluency in the area of classroom management (Haydon, Border, Embury, & Clarke, 2009) as well as reaching striving readers with emotional and behavioral disorders (McDaniel, Duchaine, & Jolivette, 2010). Keywords: education; exceptionalities; fluency; learners; learning; readers; reading; skills; students; teacher
• Middle School Literacy Coaches: Perceptions of Roles and Responsibilities by Stover, Katie; Mraz, Maryann (2015) - This study sought to address that need by examining the roles and responsibilities of middle school literacy coaches and comparing those roles and responsibilities with the International Reading Association’s recommended standards for literacy coaches (IRA, 2006). While some research has examined the role of literacy coaches at the elementary school level, little is known about the work of literacy coaches in middle school (mraz, algozzine, & Watson, 2008; Walpole & mcKenna, 2004). Keywords: coaches; coaching; literacy; literacy coaches; reading; responsibilities; roles; school; students; teachers
• An Analysis of Teachers' Discourse and Their Perceptions Concerncing the Use of Questioning and Feedback During Reading Instruction in Third Grade Classrooms by Holbein, Marie; Farist, Jennifer (2015) - implications for administrators, Professional development Providers, and Policy Makers Some of the necessary changes to teacher talk are beyond the control of classroom teachers. results from the study highlight the need for an intentional focus on the discourse used by classroom teachers and provide insight into social and cultural factors that inhibit productive discourse. Keywords: aloud; discourse; feedback; learning; questions; reading; students; study; talk; teachers
• Reading, Motivation, and the Power of Social Relationships: Learning from Middle School Students in a Title I Reading Classroom by Stewart, Trevor Thomas; Pendergrass, Emily (2015) - Therefore, it is important to ascertain how students’ social relationships can inform teachers’ efforts to create authentic learning experiences and increase student motivation to develop life-long reading habits. Student motivation in middle school: The role of perceived pedagogical caring. Keywords: barney; data; georgia; motivation; nicole; reading; relationships; school; students; teachers
• How Can Teachers Motivate Reluctant Readers by Lehman, Maggie (2015) - Consistent with the above explanation, Guthrie and Wigfield (2000) suggest that “reading motivation is the individual’s personal goals, values, and beliefs with regard to the topics, processes, and outcomes of reading” (p. 405). during the large group time, the teacher is able to promote motivation by sharing her interest in reading as well as introducing students to new and challenging books. interactions, teacher behaviors and verbal explanations also impact the literacy environment and student motivation. Keywords: books; boys; classroom; environment; literacy; motivation; need; readers; reading; students; teachers
• Dictionary Projects: A Defining Moment in Literacy by McKenna , Beverly A.; Strauser, Beverly A. (2015) - 2. Gain the support of school administrators and third-grade teachers. You can then decide whether to broaden the scope to other schools in your district. Keywords: dictionary; project; reading
• Engaging Strategies for Developing Reading Competencies by Rice Moran, Renee; Jenkins, LaShay; Fisher, Stacey; Dwyer, Edward (2018) - We propose that fluency can be enhanced through Target texts by Eve Bunting Books by Patricia MacLachlan GeorGia Journal of readinG 26 Volume 41, number 2 2018 repeated readings of passages directly taken from text set material or in a summarized format. We greatly enjoy using text sets within the contexts presented above using a variety of strategies. Keywords: new; reading; set; students; study; text; york
• Literacy Coaching: Providing Leadership and Support for the Next Generation of Teachers by Stover, Katie; Glover, Crystal P. (2014) - To counter these challenges, the authors discuss ways literacy coaches can provide leadership and guidance to new teachers through building relationships, creating a climate of trust, and developing individualized support to enhance the teacher’s success. (Anne, fourth grade teacher) Challenges of New Teachers Like the teacher in the above vignette, new teachers face a number of challenges as they begin their professional careers. Keywords: coach; literacy; new; reading; school; support; teachers; teaching
• Tacky and a Tambourine: Enhancing First Grade Literacy Through Music by Arrington, Nancy McBride (2014) - Additionally, other learning- to-read skills correlate with music literacy skills. According to the Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSS, 2012), literacy instruction is the responsibility of all content areas, which includes music education. Keywords: lesson; music; reading; story; students
• Taming the Beast: How I Took Back Guided Reading by Sandling, Laura (2018) - no one can deny that guided reading is our favorite part of the day. i used to think guided reading was the worst. Keywords: reading; stamina; students
• Give the Neurological Impress Method Another Chance for One-to-One Fluency Interventions by Mitchell, Melissa; Zygouris-Coe, Vassiliki (2018) - These reading challenges may impact students receiving support through Response to Intervention (RtI) as well as students identified with disabilities, especially when they have prolonged documented deficiencies in oral reading fluency. This easy to implement strategy is appropriate for disfluent readers who, like Sophia, have failed to make progress in developing oral reading fluency after receiving Tier 1 and 2 interventions, as one part of a structured intensive intervention or in addition to a structured reading intervention. Keywords: fluency; intervention; nim; reading; research; students; teacher; text; tutors
• Building Comprehension Through Explicit and Organic Vocabulary Instruction for English Learners by Gonzales, Marisa; Griffin, Robert (2018) - Reading difficulties and grade retention: What’s the connection for English language learners? Relationship between language skills and acquisition rate of sight words among English language learners. Keywords: comprehension; english; instruction; language; learners; reading; students; vocabulary
• Children’s Literature to Develop Awareness and Advocacy for Social Justice by Kelley, Katie; Yearta, Lindsay (2018) - This article describes a blogging partnership between fifth graders and preservice teachers to discuss the book, A Long Walk to Water, by Linda Sue Park (2010). Preservice teachers discussed how literature can create a safe space to explore the uncomfortable and the importance of students seeing themselves in the books they read. Keywords: book; children; diversity; literature; preservice; reading; students; teachers; water; world
• Maximizing Learning: Embedding Phonological Awareness Throughout the Day by Helf, Shawnna; Yearta, Lindsay; Ming, Kavin (2018) - Phonological awareness is an umbrella term that refers to the broad awareness of sounds within spoken language; under this umbrella are three subsets of skills: word awareness, syllable awareness, and phonemic awareness (National Early Literacy Panel, 2008; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2001). Word awareness and syllable awareness skills involve larger units of sounds, and are considered easier to master than skills involving smaller units of sound. Keywords: activity; awareness; literacy; reading; skills; sounds; students; teacher; time; word

• Diverging Ideologies of Disability: A Critique of Literature on Inclusive Literacy by Lampp Berglund, Alexandra (2023) - Inclusive literacy, at its core, seeks to challenge social hierarchies that govern the ways that literacy is conceptualized, and the language used when writing about inclusive literacy should, too, seek to push against these long held institutions in regard to disability. KEYWORDS inclusive literacy; disability; Critical Disability Studies; language ideology eu et al. (2013) wrote that literacy “becomes new every day of our lives” (p. 1150). Keywords: cds; disabilities; disability; education; et al; inclusive; language; literacy; research; students; term; use
• From Motivation to Inspiration: Using Picturebook Biographies to Inspire All Learners, Especially English Language Learners by Bintz, William P.; Moini Chaghervand, Shabnam (2023) - It then describes the power of picturebook biographies to inspire all learners, especially ELL learners. It ends with final thoughts and an invitation for teachers to hear new voices and start new conversations about the importance of using picturebook biographies to inspire all learners. Keywords: biographies; biography; books; boy; children; english; girl; inspiration; language; learners; learning; life; literacy; motivation; picturebook; press; story; students
• Expanding Literacy Horizons: Inclusive, Diverse, and Innovative Approaches by Scullin, Bethany; Griffin, Robert (2023) - Readers can hope to gain an understanding of how disability ideologies are present in research on inclusive literacy practices, ultimately encouraging educators to consider more inclusive approaches to literacy education. KEYWORDS literacy advocacy; editorial; diversity and inclusion; innovative approaches n an ever-changing landscape of literacy education, it is paramount for educators, researchers, and stakeholders to actively pursue and embrace approaches and strategies that embody our collective commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and innovation (Banks & McGee Banks, 2020; Grote-Garcia & Ortlieb, 2023). Keywords: approaches; education; georgia; literacy
• An Interview with Alice Ensley: District Literacy Coordinator at Dalton County Schools by Tovey, Shannon (2021) - Tovey: This has probably been the most challenging year ever for teachers. We formed a team of Instructional Coaches and experienced teachers to begin creating videos of the reading, writing, and word study minilessons. Keywords: literacy; students; teachers
• Assessing Language and Literacy of Students with Developmental Disabilities and Complex Communication Needs by Riddle, Heather (2023) - Since many students with disabilities are already in the mainstream classroom and there appears to be a move toward increasing inclusivity, accurate literacy assessment of students with developmental disabilities and complex communication needs is crucial to facilitate their reasonable participation in general reading instruction. Assessing Language and Literacy of Students with Developmental Disabilities and Complex Communication Needs Heather S. Riddle University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA ABSTRACT Students with developmental disabilities and complex communication needs are impacted by assessments that may not show their ability or address their needs. Keywords: assessment; communication; disabilities; literacy; needs; students; technology
• Ten Quick and Easy Ways to Enhance Early Literacy Instruction: Tips from a School Occupational Therapist by Swift, Sharon; Barker, Kim (2024) - Classroom activities that promote fine motor skills include using tongs to pick up and sort items, shape punchers to create artwork, and building blocks. Helpful reminders or cues support independence and confidence during literacy activities. Keywords: activities; children; classroom; example; figure; learning; literacy; occupational; play; skills; therapy
• Multimodal Literacies in Elementary Teacher Education: Facilitating Culturally Relevant Pedagogy with Mathematics by Craddock, Christine (2023) - The study affirms the call for integrating multimodal literacy instruction into teacher education programs (Fang, 2014), while illuminating disciplinary literacy instruction as not limited to secondary settings. Teacher candidates were introduced to multimodal literacies in mathematics by representing and communicating content through multiple modes such as signs, symbols, images, text, gestures, manipulatives, music, videos, and more. Keywords: connections; crp; education; elementary; engagement; instruction; journal; literacies; literacy; mathematics; multimodal; participants; research; students; tcs; teacher; teaching
• Looking for It: Language, Literacy, and History in Place by Panther, Leah; Hochuli, Caitlin (2024) - Within this article, we explore how eight different LJC projects have gone “looking for it”, as Naiser puts it, and what youth have taught us about identifying and sustaining community language and literacy practices in our middle and high school English classrooms. Preparing learners to be active, current citizens in their own communities includes an active exploration of community languages, literacy practices, and understanding the histories that both create, erase, and sustain these communities. Keywords: communities; community; education; georgia; history; language; learning; literacy; members; place; practices; stories; youth
• Integrating Conventional and Innovative Practices: Enhancing Literacy Education in Diverse Contexts by Scullin, Beth; Griffin, Robert (2024) - Both research articles highlight the importance of using solid, evidence- based research to develop literacy practices that are effective and inclusive. Cultivating Empowerment Through Inclusive Literacy Practices Four practitioner-oriented articles follow the empirical pieces, the first two of which center on inclusive and empowering literacy practices. Keywords: education; georgia; issue; literacy; practices
• Combining Picturebooks and Poetry as Blended Genres to Teach Life Science by Bintz, William P. (2025) - Chats with science teachers II: Science and poetry. I hope this article will inform and inspire ELA and science teachers to use blended genres of picturebooks and poems as an instructional tool not only to teach life science, but also earth and space, and physical science. Keywords: connections; cycle; genres; human; life; literacy; poem; poetry; science; students; texts; wonder
• Leveraging AI to Enhance Literacy in Students with ASD: Insights and Applications by Alexis Lawton (2025) - Many tools are not explicitly designed for ASD students, limiting their applicability for certain needs. Drawing on both research evidence and clinical practice, the paper highlights how AI tools can offer personalized, adaptive learning experiences that promote key literacy skills such as reading fluency, vocabulary acquisition, and writing organization. Keywords: asd; autism; development; education; language; learning; literacy; research; spectrum; students; tools; writing
• What’s Next for Literacy Education in Georgia? by Howrey, Shannon Tovey (2020) - An Interview with Dr. Caitlin Dooley, Deputy Superintendent, Georgia Department of Education Shannon Tovey Howrey Kennesaw State University Tovey: Caitlin, thank you so much for agreeing to do this interview for the Georgia Journal of Literacy. Our editorial board has participated in brainstorming questions and topics that we believe will help our journal to become more relevant and focused in the scholarly work that may inform literacy education policy and practice in Georgia. Keywords: dooley; education; georgia; literacy; research
• Beyond Fire and Tacos: Using 'Dragons Love Tacos' to Ignite Mathematical Thinking through Interdisciplinary Read-Alouds by Hartle, Luminita (2025) - Inspired by the classroom read-aloud of Dragons Love Tacos, teacher candidates extended the learning with a vibrant, taco-themed math anchor chart titled “Dragons Love 10” (see Figure 1). This narrative follows a group of teacher candidates as they explore mathematics through the lens of children’s literature. Keywords: candidates; children; dragons; literacy; mathematics; students; tacos; teacher
• Making Thinking Visible: Explicit, Transferable Literacy Practices Across the Curriculum by Griffin, Robert; Scullin, Bethany (2025) - The articles here collectively call for literacy instruction that connects creativity, clarity, and structure with equity and thinking with doing. By bringing students’ linguistic and cultural assets into structured literacy instruction, Sharpe shows how to transform comprehension instruction from a skill set into an act of empowerment and equity building. Keywords: georgia; grammar; instruction; literacy; thinking
• Building Classroom Community in Elementary Literacy Methods Courses by Crawford, Kathleen; Huling, Heather (2023) - Lessons Learned Our implementation of TMT is one that is constantly evolving based on our previous implementations, student feedback, and the ever-changing dynamics of the students in our courses. Threaded throughout, the authors detail specific feedback from students and highlight how TMT has helped students find common ground with one another and made them feel comfortable, cared for, and respected by their instructors. Keywords: classroom; community; literacy; students; time; tmt
• Diversity in Literacy Education: How Are Literacy Teacher Educators Preparing Teacher Candidates? by Piper, Rebekah E.; Sharp, Laurie A.; Raymond, Roberta D. (2019) - These understandings about culturally relevant/responsive teaching and teacher preparation provided us with a way to better understand current preparation practices that literacy teacher educators use to address diversity in literacy education with teacher candidates. With this in mind, the purpose of this study was to explore current preparation practices that literacy teacher educators use to address diversity in literacy education with teacher candidates. Keywords: candidates; diversity; education; educators; literacy; literacy teacher; practices; preparation; students; teacher; teacher candidates; teacher education; teacher preparation; teaching

• Culturally Sustaining Writer’s Workshop for Beginners by Szech, Laura (2023) - Because students are the producers of the work, workshop teachers do not expect students to work on specific timetables or checklists of skills. Culturally Sustaining Writer’s Workshop for Beginners Laura Szech University of North Carolina – Wilmington, Wilmington, NC ABSTRACT This article presents the implementation of a writer’s workshop as a culturally sustaining practice, allowing students to exercise agency in their learning and writing. Keywords: lesson; minutes; read; story; students; teachers; workshop; writing
• The Effect of Explicit Instruction with Writing Conventions Among Preservice Teachers by Sharp, Laurie A. (2014) - Preservice teachers must also possess pedagogical understandings regarding the instruction of written conventions. Cowan stressed that the ability to teach written conventions requires much more than fluency with the English language. Keywords: conventions; instruction; knowledge; learning; preservice; teachers

• Models of Instruction for Multilingual Learners: Facets of the ESOL Co-Teacher Role by Megan DeVoss (2023) - Educating English language learners: Assessing English language learners: Bridges from language proficiency to academic achievement. Keywords: content; department; education; english; esol; instruction; language; learners; mls; students; teaching
• Tips for Organizing a Dyslexia Simulation Workshop for Pre-Service Teachers by Davidson, Kimberly; Williams, Sarah; Lin, Emily; Jackson, Annmarie; Tench, Paula (2024) - Myths and Stereotypes To ensure students with dyslexia (SWD) are provided with the required education to become literate and succeed, educators must be properly trained to identify (a) the signs of the disability, (b) the effects on student learning, and (c) the proper methods to address learning needs. With such a variety of ideas circulating about dyslexia, it is understandable that preservice and novice D mailto:kimberly.davidson@ung.edu mailto:sarah.williams@ung.edu mailto:emily.lin@ung.edu mailto:annmarie.jackson@ung.edu mailto:paula.tench@ung.edu Davidson et al. 125 teachers would have difficulty recognizing and addressing the needs of students with this condition. Keywords: department; dyslexia; education; elementary; georgia; north; simulation; students
• Teaching Between the Bans: Exploring Book Banning, Censorship, and Book Access in the Middle Grades by Scullin, Bethany; Smith , Nickie B. ; Proby, Holly (2024) - ● Create a Public Service Announcement (PSA): Have students use Adobe Spark (or similar software) to create a PSA on the importance of reading and the impact of book censorship. KEYWORDS banned books; educational censorship; book access; book challenges; middle school literacy; diverse narratives Books themselves are freedom. Keywords: access; banning; book; censorship; education; freedom; impact; library; literature; school; students

• It's Time for a "Brain Drain!" by Davis, Amy (2024) - This article highlights a strategy called Brain Drain, which teachers can set up as an activity that will help students access their prior knowledge, connect new learning, and have an opportunity to discuss and build upon this learning with peers. KEYWORDS schema theory; collaborative learning environment; social interaction; long-term memory integration eachers have the formidable task of planning strategies that will foster a collaborative learning environment and help students acquire, retain, and recall information. Keywords: brain; learning; strategy; students
• Fostering Social-Emotional Learning in Children's Books: An Analysis of Content and Quality by Parker, Forrest; Cronin, Jodi (2025) - Everyday Speech for Educators (2024) identified five key criteria for educators to consider when selecting SEL books, which are explained in Table 2. Exploring SEL books: A guide to understanding social emotional learning. Keywords: books; children; content; development; integration; learning; literature; narrative; outcomes; quality; sel; sel themes; skills; study; themes

• Tips for Planning a Successful Author Visit by Watson, Tiffany; Maxwell, Nicole; Hartsfield, Danielle (2023) - Author visits are an exciting way to generate students’ interest in reading and writing. This teaching tip article explains how author visits can support learning outcomes, describes the steps involved in planning a visit, and identifies possibilities to fund a school or campus visit. Keywords: author; books; candidates; children; newman; nonfiction; visit
• Beyond the Single Story: Utilizing Cluster Texts to Celebrate Diversity by Parker, Lisa; Malec, Jennifer (2023) - KEYWORDS cluster texts; intertextuality; viewpoints; diverse literature ach student enters my classroom with preconceived notions about the year. With slight modifications, text sets can be transitioned into another powerful learning tool, cluster texts. Keywords: author; books; children; classroom; cluster; experiences; reader; school; story; students; texts; way

• A Passion for Fashion: Studying Fashion through Children’s Literature by Walker, Sharryn; Walker, Maggie (2023) - Both books share her use of color in fashion design, mainly “hot pink.” Walker & Walker 27 Strategy Suggestion: The Fashion Zine Students can practice their skills of writing, revising, editing, and illustrating fashion design from history by creating a fashion zine. Keywords: ann; book; content; designer; elsa; fashion; industry; knowledge; media; new; story; students

• Quantum Shifts by Boyd, Gerald (2014) - Well, if these two shifts aren’t “quantum” enough for pre-teach vocabulary evidence from text synthesize ideas GEORGIA JOURNAL OF READING 7 VOLUME 37, NUMBER 1 2014 you, wait until you hear the next one. This is a quantum shift that most students are not prepared for today. Keywords: students; text

• Teaching with a Twist: Embracing Appalachian (and Other) Dialects—Y’all Ready for This? by Comer, Melissa (2025) - Assignment Overview Conduct thorough research on various aspects of Appalachian language and culture. Each section should highlight a different aspect of Appalachian culture and/or language. Keywords: appalachian; book; culture; dialect; language; students; table

• Combining Picturebooks and Poetry as Blended Genres to Teach Earth and Space Science by Bintz, William P. (2025) - This article builds on and extends this emerging and exciting body of research by 1) presenting blended genres of picture books and poetry to teach earth and space science, 2) reviewing the value of integrating poetry and science, the important relationship between paired text and blended genres, and the connection between blended genres and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Standards, and 3) sharing examples of blended genres and samples of instructional strategies that K–8 teachers can use to help students learn important concepts in earth and space science. It begins by reminding readers about the important relationship between poetry and science, the fundamental differences between paired text and blended genres, and the connection between blended genres and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Standards. Keywords: comet; earth; genres; poems; poetry; science; snowflakes; space; texts
• Mentor Texts as a Bridge to Independent Writing: Supporting Young Writers Through Sentence Imitation and Craft Study in the Elementary Classroom by Reed, Jolene; Miller, Melinda (2025) - The article provides practical, developmentally appropriate examples for teaching students how to analyze and mimic writing moves of professional authors. It also illustrates how mentor texts can be used to teach students to craft engaging leads and build narrative depth. Keywords: examples; mentor; sentence; students; texts; writing

• Significance of Prior Knowledge Activation: A Close Look at Bilingual Kindergarten Student's Response to a Poem by Stevenson, Alma D. (2014) - Detecting and Connecting with Prior Knowledge Activating prior knowledge at the start of instruction has the objective of bridging the gap between what students already know and new concepts or topics about to be addressed in the classroom. Initially, accessing and assessing the students’ prior knowledge provides teachers useful measures of what students know and what they have misconceptions about (Alvermann, Phelps, & Ridgeway Gillis, 2010). Keywords: knowledge; new; poem; students

• Moving Writing Forward Through Peer-Critique Partners by Lee, Ebony (2023) - Moving Writing Forward Through Peer-Critique Partners Ebony T. Lee Clayton County Public Schools, Jonesboro, GA ABSTRACT The author describes a simple yet impactful cycle for cultivating greater engagement and agency among students during the writing process. Feedback is found to “increase [students’] effort, motivation, and engagement and reduce the discrepancy between the current status and the goal” (Hattie & Clarke, 2019, p. 3). Keywords: feedback; peer; process; students; writing

• Out with the Old, in with the New: Digital Interactive Journals in an Elementary Language Arts Methods Course by Crawford, Kathleen; Huling, Heather (2023) - This incited the reimagination of “old school” journals and the evolution of digital interactive journals. Even though my students and I found ourselves learning in a fully face-to-face setting once again, I quickly realized there was no going back to the “old school journals”; digital interactive journals were a welcomed change and were here to stay. Keywords: class; entry; figure; journal; slides; students

Epilogue

For more detail, about this study carrel, see the computed home page. For more detail about study carrels in general, see the read me file.

Created: 2025-12-23