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Teaching and Technology E-Portfolio:

Pathfinder

Introduction:  The purpose of this pathfinder is to identify books, articles, and Internet resources that provide instructional strategies and concepts in content area literacy.  This pathfinder will provide useful resources that will be helpful for teachers in creating lesson plans and instructional strategies, for parents who wish to assist in study skills, and for students to engage in study strategies.  Resources are geared toward use and application in middle school and high school. 

Research Pathfinder
Content Area Literacy

 

Key Terms

One of the first steps in creating a research plan is to select “key words” which best describe the topic you plan to research.  If you are unfamiliar with the terminology you may wish to refer to sources such as textbooks, dictionaries, and other reference resources in the field of study.

Think of alternative words, spellings, and acronyms for each key concept.

Key terms to use individually and in combination with each other:

Content area literacy   

Learning

Teaching

Literacy

Education

Literacy Programs

Content area reading

Reading

Comprehension

Methodology

Reading strategies

Writing strategies

 

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Search Strategies

The simplest search statement is a single term.  Refine your search by adding more words to focus the search.  Focused, precise key word searching on EbscoHost returns the most accurate results. 

 

Combine key words with Boolean operators (and, or, not).   AND means both words must appear in the resource; OR means either word will appear in the resource; NOT means you want one term to appear but not the other.  To broaden the search use AND & OR.  To narrow the search use NOT.

 

Phrase terms (i.e.: content area reading) can be searched by placing the phrase in quotation marks “content area reading”

 

Specific Boolean operator strategies employed:

 

content literacy AND writing

literacy AND education AND teaching

content area literacy OR content area reading

 

Specific phrase term strategies employed:

“content area reading”

“content area literacy”

“literacy programs”

 

Limiting results creates a more specific outcome:

limit terms to certain fields(subject, title)

limit results to certain publication dates

limit results to a particular type of publication (peer reviewed, periodical, book)

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Books

Print format books are available by searching the OSU online catalog.

Electronic books: NetLibrary provides access to over 25,000 academic books 24/7 at : http://www.netlibrary.com/Search/AdvancedSearch.aspx

Print Book Resources: OSU online catalog

McMahon, S. I. (2007). Teaching literacy in fifth grade. New York: Guilford Press.

Vacca, R. T. (2005). Content area reading: Literacy and learning across the curriculum. Boston, M.A.: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

EBook Resources: NetLibrary via OSU online catalog

Kenney, J. M. (2005). Literacy strategies for improving mathematics instruction. Mahwah, N.J. : Lawrence Erlbaum.

Lapp, D., Flood, J., & Farnan, N. (2004). Content area reading  and learning: Instructional Strategies. Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum.

 

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Article Databases and Indexes

 Articles from journals may be accessed through our various online databases available through this link: http://www.library.okstate.edu/ftdb/index.htm

Recommended Databases:

 

EbscoHost: (contains the following relevant databases. You may search multiple databases simultaneously)

Academic Search Elite

Middle Search Plus

ERIC

Professional Development Collection

Masterfile Premier

Teacher Reference Center

ProQuest

 

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Article Resourcess

  (From EbscoHost Academic Search Elite using: content AND area AND literacy as a search query)

 

Lesley, M. (2004). Looking for critical literacy with post baccalaureate content area literacy students. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 12 (1), 320-334.

 

Moss, B. (2005). Making a case and a place for effective content area literacy instruction in the elementary grades. Reading Teacher, 59 (1), 46-55.

 

  (From ProQuest using: content AND area AND literacy as a search query)

 

Ardizzone, P. M. (1997). Infusing principles of language/literacy learning into content area instruction. Teaching and Change, 5 (1), 12-31.

 

Stevens, L. P. (2002). Making the road by walking: The transition from content area literacy to adolescent literacy. Reading Research and Instruction, 41 (3),  267-278.

 

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Bibliography and References Citation Format Guides:

 

            Publication Manual (APA)                    Call #    808.02 P976 2001 Reference

 

APA Electronic Style Guides    http://www.apastyle.org/elecsource.html

 

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Internet Resources

 

Literacy Matters may be found at: http://www.literacymatters.org/content/readandwrite/reading.htm

This website lists many strategies and concepts that will aid in the comprehension of content reading and is very useful for teachers.  Some strategies for content are learning include: Vocabulary-Strategy (concept circles, work sorts, etc.); Comprehension-Strategy (K-W-L-Plus, Double-entry journal, etc.); Response-Strategy (Anticipation/Reaction guide, Question-Answer-Relationships).  This site offers several instructional strategies, lesson plans, guidelines, and student activities. 

 

ReadingQuest.org may be found at:  http://www.readingquest.org/home.html

This is a website designed for social studies teachers who wish to engage students more effectively.  This site is designed to provide philosophical bases for sound comprehension strategies and improved student content comprehension.  Directions for a range of comprehension and content reading strategies are provided, as well as printable handouts and masters for transparencies for some strategies.  While this site is designed for social studies, application to any content area can be done using the strategies and processes.

  

Content Literacy Information Consortium (CLIC) may be found at: http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/clic/home.html

This is an organized set of web links of special interest to teachers and researchers interested in issues defined by "learning to read to learn." The web sites provide teachers with ideas and strategies for adopting instructional strategies that empower students to become independent, actualized learners.  There are content are specific links to supplement lesson plans.  Reference resources to reference materials including encyclopedias, dictionaries, and educational magazines are listed, and include links to ERIC and the Virginia Department of Education.  Also provided are Web Quests that target students from K-12 in a wide range of content.

 

Reading Rockets may be found at: http://readingrockets.org/teaching

This website is part of a national multimedia project that offers research-based and best-practice information on teaching kids to read and helping those who struggle. It is an educational service of public television station WETA in Washington, D.C.  This website provided information and links with review on phonemic awareness to assessment.  There is also a link providing on information to help teachers detect at risk students.  The website also offers strategies for children who are struggling readers.

 

Meeting the Secondary Reading Challenge may be found at: http://www.sarasota.k12.fl.us/sarasota/mainmenu.htm

This is an organized set of web links for teachers, parents, and students that discuss the importance of and components of comprehension.  Many strategies and charts that aid in the comprehension of content reading are provided.  Links to a program guide, pertinent information on ‘best practices’, and interdisciplinary reading in the content area are also presented.  Special interest links are made available for reading teachers, content area teachers, teachers of ESOL students, for parents, and for students.

 

Literacy & Learning may be found at: http://www.litandlearn.lpb.org/

This website involves a cooperative effort between Southeastern Louisiana University and Louisiana Public Broadcasting to develop and deliver professional development to enhance reading skills in grades 5 through 8 by targeting reading in the content areas.  Links to an overview of this video program, literacy strategies, lesson plans, related materials and recommended web resources are provided.

 

The Literacy Web at the University of Connecticut may be found at: http://www.literacy.uconn.edu/contlit.htm

The Literacy Web at the University of Connecticut is designed to promote the use of the Internet as a tool to assist classroom teachers in best practices in literacy instruction, including the new literacies of Internet technologies.  This site provides links for teachers to current research and theory that supports traditional and new literacy practices as well guiding teachers towards particular classroom resources that can enhance literacy development for students at all grade levels from preschool through grade twelve.  Links for special needs, ESL/EFL, and adult education are provided as well. Also included are sections for professional development in the areas of literacy and technology integration to encourage teachers to use this website during their own in-service trainings and links to recommended websites for students as well.

 

TeacherWeb’s Content Literacy Page may be found at http://teacherweb.com/PA/HarlanRoweJuniorHighSchool/ContentLiteracy/index.html

This website provides useful links to the introduction of the terms content literacy.  Tasks, processes, and evaluation examples are provided for teachers to apply theory, develop instructional strategies, and prepare lessons using these new strategies.  Four levels of ‘roles’ are provided with links to additional strategies and Internet resources.

 

Content Area Literacy Page compiled by Melissa Jones may be found at: http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/content_area_literacy

This website provides useful links to assist in better reading comprehension.  Links are providing for students on: reading to learn, reading comprehension strategies, research skills, understanding text structure, and how to read a standardized test.  For teachers, links on ways to scaffold content area text and reciprocal testing are presented.  A link to books that support literacy in the content area includes bibliographic citation information and annotations.

 

Sonoma County Office of Education: Content Literacy: ‘Reading Corner’ Page may be found at: http://www.scoe.org/content.php?Page1d=306

This website provides information about literacy instruction and how to use it effectively in the classroom.  It has a table of different literacy patterns organized according to comprehension in content area literacy.  This website also helps examine the understanding of comprehension strategies in a content area and facilitating student understanding by adjusting lessons.  The website also offers tips for future teachers as they become more aware and informed about content area literacy.

 

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This page maintained by Pamela Louderback

Last updated: 02/03/07

Reflection:

 

Awareness: I am familiar with creating pathfinders but have always created in areas for postsecondary education topics.  For this pathfinder, I decided to branch out and create one for K-12.

Exploration & Filtration: I chose a topic that would be primarily geared toward middle and high school.  I wanted it to be narrow enough in terms of the topic, but broad in scope - to be able to apply to several subject areas (reading, math, etc...)

Learning: In order to determine my subject - content area literacy - I first performed general searches in several education-related databases on current topics of critical issues in secondary education.  Then, once I chose my topic, I went about creating a pathfinder using the same template I've always used, with slight modifications to fit my audience.

Application: Given the prevalence of technology enhanced learning tools, I chose to prepare a pathfinder using html instead of using Word.  This would provide immediate access to a variety of online resources with links, as well as the traditional resources.