The Love and Science of Reading: A Promising Instructional Approach for Adolescent Multilingual Learners

Purpose: Adolescent multilingual learners are at high risk for reading difficulties as evidenced by persistent achievement gaps. This article calls for a paradigm shift and aims to elucidate what constitutes promising second-language literacy instruction for multilingual adolescents, comprising effective literacy practices grounded in research, combined with an emphasis on individual learners and their sociocultural development. Cast in ecological systems and functionalist perspectives, this article provides a model for language and literacy instruction that is grounded in basic tenets of reading science within a sociocultural context. We outline strategies that focus on language as a basis for reading development followed by examples of authentic learning experiences designed to motivate students and nurture their love of reading. Conclusions: A solution to existing achievement gaps may be a promising approach that emphasizes both the science and love of reading, which entails targeted instruction rooted in the research evidence integrated into engaging and meaningful learning experiences, central to which is the acknowledgement of multilingual learners as individuals. The authors call for an intentional focus on accelerating the development of language through frequent use of and a genuine love for both the science of reading and the science of teaching reading.

The Case for Addressing Emotional Resilience in Graduate Student Training

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review the evidence for addressing emotional resilience in the training of graduate students in communication sciences and disorders (CSD). As helping professionals, speech-language pathologists and audiologists face unique emotional challenges that can lead to burnout, compassion fatigue, and eventually possible career changes. At the same time, we also know that graduate students across the country, in all disciplines, are in the throes of a mental health crisis. Graduate students in CSD are, therefore, in need of targeted instruction on how to foster emotional resilience both to manage the stressors of graduate school and to ensure professional wellness and career longevity. Conclusions: While there is currently limited research evidence on how to effectively target emotional resilience for graduate students in CSD, existing research and guidance from studies in CSD and other helping professions can provide a framework to follow. The recent mental health challenges facing our nation, and graduate students more specifically, should be seen as both a call to action and an opportunity to elevate the depth of training provided beyond core knowledge and skills to include education on wellness, self-care, and emotional resilience to develop career-long habits.

Evaluation of Veterinary Students’ Communication Skills with a Service Dog Handler in a Simulated Client Scenario

Effective communication skills serve as a key component of excellent veterinary care and provide a foundation for building trusting relationships with clients. While many veterinary clients value their pets for companionship, the focus of other relationships may be based on a partnership between the human and animal, as is the case with the handlers of service dogs. As the use of service dogs in the US continues to grow, it is important that veterinary professionals are educated on how best to meet the unique needs of service dogs and their handlers. This article evaluates the interactions of veterinary students with a service dog handler in a simulated client scenario. Ten videotaped interactions were coded to assess third-year students’ communication skills (nonverbal communication, open-ended questions, reflective listening, and empathy), and their ability to discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic options for a dog with suspected intervertebral disk disease. Results showed that the majority of students demonstrated competence in the use of nonverbal communication skills and in discussing the biomedical aspects of the disease. Students require development in the use of open-ended questions, reflective listening statements, and expression of empathy, as well as building client rapport and discussing the psychosocial aspect of the disease on the client and patient. These findings suggest that veterinary students may benefit from targeted instruction on “best practices” in caring for service dogs and their handlers, including greater attention to the psychosocial aspects of a disease, and from additional communication practice using standardized clients with service dogs.

The use of blocking and inhibition training in processing instruction

Previous research has suggested that L2 learners often use non-target processing strategies to understand sentences, but that these strategies can be changed through targeted instruction that directs their attention to different linguistic forms or structures. The present study explores the effects of pretraining ‘blocking’ practice—a novel type of training designed to help learners inhibit the application of a strict word-order based processing strategy—prior to receiving a traditional Structured Input (SI) training focused on OVS word order and accusative case markers in German. The study compares three groups of third-semester German learners who completed three different activities in one training session: (1) SI with blocking practice (+BP), (2) SI preceded by explicit information (+EI), and (3) SI without EI or blocking practice (−EI). The effects of training were measured by sentence-level interpretation and production tasks administered as a pretest, posttest, and four-week delayed posttest. Learner performance was also assessed during training. Results in all assessment measures indicated that EI was most effective, but that blocking practice lent a slight advantage over −EI groups during and after training. These results are discussed in the context of studies on processing instruction and learned attention.

Examining Errors and Framing Feedback

Engaging mathematics students with peers in analyzing errors and formulating feedback improves disposition, increases understanding, and helps students uncover and correct misconceptions while informing opportunities for targeted instruction.

The Power of Interviewing Students

A teacher uses formative assessment interviews to uncover evidence of students’ understandings and to plan targeted instruction in a mathematics intervention class. We present an example of a student interview, a discussion of the benefits and challenges of conducting interviews, and actionable suggestions for implementing them.

Interventions for English Language Learners: A Review

English Language Learners (ELLs) are individuals who have “sufficient difficulty reading, speaking, writing, or understanding the English language” (US Department of Education, 2014). These individuals require strategic and targeted instruction in order for them to succeed in classroom settings. This population represents a clear area of need in the American education system. ELLs are the fastest growing student population in the United States (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). However, general education teachers consistently report feeling underprepared in their ability to accommodate the unique needs of the ELLs in their classroom (Durgunoğlu & Hughes, 2010, 35). This review only includes high quality sources. The purpose of this literature analysis is to comprehensively evaluate the experiences of English Language Learners, in order to better ascertain the accommodations that they are receiving in the context of the American education system. Through my analysis it is evident that this population has clear needs that are not currently being met. However, if ELLs are provided with tiered interventions, they show significant improvements in their language acquisition.

A Multimedia Option for Delivering Feedback and Professional Development to Teachers

All teachers need ongoing coaching that helps them recognize areas of strength and need for teaching students with disabilities. Unfortunately, the amount, quality, and speed with which teachers receive feedback from coaches, administrators, mentors, or other instructional leaders on their academic and behavior management practices is limited. In this article, we describe a multimedia professional development option for documenting teacher practice, generating feedback, and delivering targeted instruction.