This article addresses the need for teachers to use observational tools to identify and understand their learners' cultural backgrounds and literacy skills, including the importance of preparing teacher candidates to become culturally responsive educators. This topic is critical because one of the new teacher certification exams in New York…

This article argues that literacy educators must take time to advocate for research-informed instructional responses in this age of Common Core State Standards and Race to the Top mandates. To that end, it offers four key ideas regarding: (a) what we know about instruction, (b) the need for long-term, continuously revised planning, (c) literacy in…

This review of research focuses on technological intervention methods as an alternative way to teach literacy to students with disabilities. It discusses the current emphasis of integrating students with specific learning needs in the general education curriculum and the fact that they are struggling, especially in the area of literacy. Through…

One of the reasons the author agreed to teach a hybrid, on-line course last summer was specifically to either challenge or confirm her negative perceptions about on-line instruction. In order to continue to be an outspoken critic whenever administrators encouraged developing on-line courses for what she assumed were pecuniary considerations, she…