Connecting to the Common Core
(ECI 545: Theory and Research in Literacy)
As we all know, Common Core has been the buzz word in and out of schools since the 2012-2013 school year. It has caused both teachers and students mental strain. During Common Core's first year being implemented in North Carolina, I was fortunate enough to begin my journey as a graduate student in the NLGL program at NC State University. Unsuspecting of how my first course would be easily integrated into my present teaching, I signed up for Theory and Research in Literacy. This course definitely gave me an advantage over my colleagues in interpreting and applying the Common Core. The Common Core Essential Standards are a beast! However, unpacking the standards with my classmates led me to execute a unique, film-inspired unit for a middle
school student who uses sign language to communicate.
school student who uses sign language to communicate.
The video depicts my interpretations of the
Common Core as it relates to eighth grade Language Arts standards. The essay that follows discusses the literacy theories that inspired the creation of this lesson. |
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Theory Into Practice
Studying literacy theories had a significant contribution in the way I develop lesson plans and provide instruction to my students. Understanding the theory behind the way we teach has made me become more self-aware of which practices are the "best practices." Theories I studied in depth and applied within my lesson include:
Mental Discipline Theory: Activities related to practicing a skill; homework, time on task, and repeated reading
Transactional/Reader Response Theory: focuses on the reader or audience reaction to a particular text; reader response activities, use of efferent and aesthetic responses
Psycholinguistic Theory: study of the relationships between linguistic behavior and psychological processes, including the process of language acquisition; authentic, meaningful reading and writing tasks; reading is primarily a language process
Source: Tracey, D.H., & Morrow, L.M. (2012). Lenses on reading: An introduction to theories and models (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford.
Mental Discipline Theory: Activities related to practicing a skill; homework, time on task, and repeated reading
Transactional/Reader Response Theory: focuses on the reader or audience reaction to a particular text; reader response activities, use of efferent and aesthetic responses
Psycholinguistic Theory: study of the relationships between linguistic behavior and psychological processes, including the process of language acquisition; authentic, meaningful reading and writing tasks; reading is primarily a language process
Source: Tracey, D.H., & Morrow, L.M. (2012). Lenses on reading: An introduction to theories and models (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford.
Compelling Question: What are ways to support deaf and hard of hearing students in developing their literacy and language?
Answer: The Common Core Connections project instilled me with the insight to appropriately unpack and integrate Common Core Standards. Through an in-depth understand of the Common Core Standards I was able to integrate their grade-level benchmarks while being able to teach them according to their needs and abilities. Also, embedding literacy theories into my instruction helped me to choose the appropriate way in which I delivered instruction.