Literacy's hot (and cold) spots.The hottest literacy topic for 2005 is one that experts believe shouldn't be. "Scientific evidence-based reading research and instruction" topped the list of 28 areas rated by 25 literacy leaders, mainly from the U.S. But with so much emphasis on this type of research, they say qualitative and correlational studies are being ignored. Respondents of the annual survey rate topics based on how much attention they're currently receiving. Besides "hot" and "not" ratings, experts cast votes on whether each topic "should be hot" or "should not be hot." Jack Cassidy For the bass guitarist from Jefferson Airplane, see Jack Casady. Jack Cassidy (March 5, 1927 – December 12, 1976) was an American actor, who achieved success in theater, cinema and television. , director of the Center for Educational Development, Evaluation and Research and an associate dean at Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi, conducted this year's survey along with Drew Cassidy, who also teaches at Texas A&M. Results were published by the International Reading Association's Reading Today. First used in 1996, the survey aims to encourage more in-depth investigation of topics receiving attention (see Very Hot Topics list). Discrepancies between the "hot" and "should be hot" lists can help educators more actively advocate for the best literacy practices. Topics that experts believe should sizzle siz·zle intr.v. siz·zled, siz·zling, siz·zles 1. To make the hissing sound characteristic of frying fat. 2. To seethe with anger or indignation. 3. but that were not labeled "hot" are: family literacy This article has multiple issues: * Its factual accuracy is disputed. * It needs additional references or sources for verification. * Very few or no other articles link to this one. , literature-based instruction, motivation, multicultural mul·ti·cul·tur·al adj. 1. Of, relating to, or including several cultures. 2. Of or relating to a social or educational theory that encourages interest in many cultures within a society rather than in only a mainstream culture. literature, reading/learning disabili ties, technology and writing, www.reading.org/publications/reading_today/samples/index.html Very Hot Topics * in 2005 Comprehension Direct/explicit instruction English as a second language/ English language English language, member of the West Germanic group of the Germanic subfamily of the Indo-European family of languages (see Germanic languages). Spoken by about 470 million people throughout the world, English is the official language of about 45 nations. learners Fluency High-stakes assessment Literacy/reading coaches Phonemic awareness Phonemic Awareness is a subset of phonological awareness in which listeners are able to distinguish phonemes, the smallest units of sound that can differentiate meaning. For example, a listener with phonemic awareness can break the word "Cat" into three separate phonemes: /k/, /a/, Phonics phonics Method of reading instruction that breaks language down into its simplest components. Children learn the sounds of individual letters first, then the sounds of letters in combination and in simple words. Political/policy influences on literacy * Only one topic, scientific evidence-based reading research and instruction, was designated as "extremely" hot Source Reading Today, December 2004/January 2005 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion