20 for 2020 and Beyond

Research Articles

1. Open-Access Article: "Interpreting Texts in Classroom Contexts" by Norman J. Unrau and Robert B. Ruddell (Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 1995)
   
   Reviewed by Xiaochen Du, University of Florida Unrau and Ruddell propose an instructional model that aims to foster critical dialogue and meaningful interpretation of texts in the classroom … READ MORE ❯
2. Open-Access Article: "African American Children's Literature That Helps Students Find Themselves: Selection Guidelines for Grades K–3" by Bena R. Hefflin and Mary Alice Barksdale-Ladd (The Reading Teacher, 2001)
   
   Reviewed by Alicia Kelley, Clemson University Providing students with texts that reflect their own lives and cultures is an important starting place for educators seeking to teach Black and Brown youth in ways that empower them … READ MORE ❯
3. "Teaching and Learning About Cultural Diversity: Becoming a Multicultural Teacher" by Howard M. Miller (The Reading Teacher, 2001)
   
   Reviewed by Cheryl P. Lyon, University of Connecticut Almost two decades have passed since Miller's response to requests from white teachers for ways to effectively teach diverse student populations … READ MORE ❯
4. "Critical Literacy as Comprehension: Expanding Reader Response" by Maureen McLaughlin and Glenn DeVoogd (Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 2004)
   
   Reviewed by Brittany Adams, State University of New York at Cortland Developing critical literacy is an issue of democracy: We need thoughtful, engaged citizens now more than ever. If young people are not provided with the tools and scaffolding … READ MORE ❯
5. "Multicultural Literature and Discussion as Mirror and Window?" by Jocelyn Glazier and Jung-A Seo (Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 2005)
   
   Reviewed by Kristen I. Evans, Kent State University Multicultural literature is a necessary part of all language arts classrooms. However, a text standing alone will not achieve the goals required to meet the needs of our diverse classrooms … READ MORE ❯
6. "Stirring Up Justice: Adolescents Reading, Writing, and Changing the World" by Jessica Singer and Ruth Shagoury (Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 2005)
   
   Reviewed by Shannon L. Kelley, University of Connecticut Any middle or high school teacher knows that adolescents are uniquely engaged when they can learn about topics of their own interest, especially if that means addressing injustices in their own communities … READ MORE ❯
7. "Multicultural Literature and Young Adolescents: A Kaleidoscope of Opportunity" by Susan M. Landt (Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 2006)
   
   Reviewed by Arianna Banack, University of Tennessee, Knoxville With attention being drawn to racial inequities and representation through the current Black Lives Matter movement, Landt reminds us how young adult literature (YAL) … READ MORE ❯
8. "SEARCHing for an Answer: The Critical Role of New Literacies While Reading on the Internet" by Laurie A. Henry (The Reading Teacher, 2006)
   
   Reviewed by Victoria Flores, University of Wyoming In a time when people search for answers about COVID-19 and racial inequality on the internet, it is critical that educators support students as they hone their internet search skills to … READ MORE ❯
9. "First Graders and Fairy Tales: One Teacher's Action Research of Critical Literacy" by Ryan T. Bourke (The Reading Teacher, 2008)
   
   Reviewed by Julie M. Carbaugh, The University of Georgia Bourke examines how first graders use critical literacy to interrupt the normalcy of the traditional happy ending and successfully reconceptualize the familiar story as perceived by the world around them … READ MORE ❯
10. "Black Boys Can Write: Challenging Dominant Framings of African American Adolescent Males in Literacy Research" by Marcelle Haddix (Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 2009)
    
    Reviewed by Madison Edgar, Sam Houston State University Haddix asks educators and researchers alike to confront and disrupt bias and stereotypes about adolescent African American boys and their interest in and ability to write … READ MORE ❯
11. "'I'm Not Stupid': How Assessment Drives (In)appropriate Reading Instruction" by Danielle V. Dennis (Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 2009)
    
    Reviewed by Meg Jones, University of Rhode Island The COVID-19 pandemic has compelled educators to find ways to provide meaningful instruction in increasingly limited amounts of time. At the same time, parents and policymakers continue … READ MORE ❯
12. "Transnational and Community Literacies for Teachers" by Robert T. Jiménez, Patrick H. Smith, and Brad L. Teague (Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 2009)
    
    Reviewed by Meg Jones, University of Rhode Island In this pivotal moment of both a global pandemic and long overdue attention to racial injustice, teachers are increasingly stepping into the home lives of their students through virtual teaching … READ MORE ❯
13. "Critical Conversations on Whiteness With Young Adult Literature" by Melissa Schieble (Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 2012)
    
    Reviewed by Heather J. Matthews, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Educators across the country are being asked to examine their beliefs and biases regarding whiteness … READ MORE ❯
14. "Critical Literacy's Ongoing Importance for Education" by Hilary Janks (Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 2014)
    
    Reviewed by Emily S. Yerkes, University of Colorado Boulder The dual pandemics of COVID-19 and racial injustice require a critical reading of both the word and the world, along with the ability to imagine something better … READ MORE ❯
15. "Checking for Understanding Digitally During Content Area Learning" by Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey (The Reading Teacher, 2015)
    
    Reviewed by Stephanie Laird, Iowa State University Technology integration into content area learning is a continual conversation, not only due to the ongoing innovation and elimination around specific technology tools … READ MORE ❯
16. "Culturally Diverse Literature: Enriching Variety in an Era of Common Core State Standards" by Fenice B. Boyd, Lauren L. Causey, and Lee Galda (The Reading Teacher, 2015)
    
    Reviewed by Stephanie Laird, Iowa State University Following a diet containing only a singular food item for the duration of your educational journey would be off-putting for even the pickiest eater. Now, instead of food, consider a diet of a single story … READ MORE ❯
17. "Exploring Digital Literacy Practices in an Inclusive Classroom" by Detra Price-Dennis, Kathlene A. Holmes, and Emily Smith (The Reading Teacher, 2015)
    
    Reviewed by Tairan Qiu, The University of Georgia During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, remote learning and online instruction are becoming dominant in educational settings due to the health risks of physical contact … READ MORE ❯
18. "Five Steps Toward Successful Culturally Relevant Text Selection and Integration" by Sue Ann Sharma and Tanya Christ (The Reading Teacher, 2017)
    
    Reviewed by Kirsten Foti, Texas Woman's University Across the United States, classrooms continue to become increasingly diverse, which requires educators to think about how to make literacy instruction equitable for all learners … READ MORE ❯
19. "Critical Expressionism: Expanding Reader Response in Critical Literacy" by Maureen McLaughlin and Glenn DeVoogd (The Reading Teacher, 2019)
    
    Reviewed by Brittany Adams, State University of New York at Cortland Expanding on their 2004 article, McLaughlin and DeVoogd propose a broader view of critical responses to reading that include new modes of teaching and responding … READ MORE ❯
20. "What Is Justice? Gifted Students' Meaning Making" by Diane Barone and Rebecca Barone (The Reading Teacher, 2019)
    
    Reviewed by Tairan Qiu, The University of Georgia The COVID-19 pandemic (re)surfaced xenophobic sentiments and led to increasing verbal and physical attacks on Asians in the United States and globally … READ MORE ❯