Reflective Practices That Scaffold Teacher Knowledge, Decision Making, and Literacy Leadership

The roles of literacy professionals are organized and contextualized in school settings and are quite varied; university coursework must prepare teachers to serve in literacy teacher, reading specialist, interventionist, and coaching roles. In this chapter, the authors describe two Literacy M.Ed. mid-program practicums that (1) focus on literacy small-group instruction such as guided reading and (2) individual instruction of learners having difficulty with reading. They discuss evidence-based practices primarily focused on reflection—reflections of lessons, including videotaped lessons and peer coaching, online discussions and reflections. Based on the analyses of such practices, insights and implications for program improvement are suggested.

An Examination of Reading Specialist Candidates’ Knowledge and Self-Efficacy in Behavior and Classroom Management: An Instrumental Case Study

Today’s reading specialists are faced with students who not only present reading problems but, the likelihood of behavior problems. Thus, reading specialists must be prepared to implement behavior management strategies that de-escalate these problems. Reading specialists’ training programs are budding with the potential for innovative practices that could be launched for ground-breaking learning. However, current trends display training programs still utilize traditional methods for training. This qualitative instrumental case study examined a purposeful sample of reading specialist candidates at a small, private university in the United States. The study explored the effects of utilizing simulation as a new way to train and prepare reading specialist candidates with behavior management strategies when teaching children with reading problems. During the study, simulated exercises were utilized to train the candidates and explore their ability in identifying behavior, and their knowledge and use of appropriate strategies, and self- efficacy before and after the training program. The post-knowledge gained through the simulation classroom experience revealed, that not only did reading specialist candidates expand their arsenal of strategies, but they also gained understanding of the background knowledge and diagnostic implications that can contribute to various behaviors or disorders. Candidates reported that after training, they felt prepared to implement behavior strategies when faced with children who may display behavior problems.

Realizing Their Potential, Shaping Their Greatness

Research literature in public education often categorizes self-efficacy in order for practitioners of K-12 academic settings to understand how to relate to students. They often view self-efficacy in students' perception, intrinsic motivation and behavior in academic settings. This chapter utilizes the research literature from public education as a bridge to discover the importance of self-actualization of efficacy in developing reading specialists. Too often, students in public education who have been referred to a reading specialist due to struggles with reading, low academic performance or a high dropout risk are missing a level of self-efficacy. In that same context, the authors in this study looked to a specific program which prepares teachers of those students and incorporated rigorous self-efficacy scales to inform and shape practice. This chapter asserts that teachers are paramount in the successful development of an at-risk learner. This chapter provides empirical research centered around two core programs, undergraduate and graduate with specialization in urban education and reading.

Move Beyond the Text

Reading is a complex skill which is indispensable in order to be successful in pursuing a scientific career. While reading specialist texts, it is necessary to go through the literal, inferential and creative-evaluative levels of comprehension. For an inexperienced reader, who is already familiar with the basic terminology in a relevant field, specialist texts may pose difficulty since they need critical approach. It means using experience and knowledge beyond the text, and also the ability to ask adequate questions. Moving beyond the text gives the reader an opportunity to have an insight into the problem. Two examples used in the workshop show how teachers may prepare students to read specialist texts.

Principal Leadership and Reading Specialist Role Understanding In the Era of Test-Based Accountability Policies

This study investigates how the role of the reading specialist (RS) is defined and communicated by principals, and examines to what degree a common understanding of this role exists among teachers, building administrators and reading specialists. The principal’s responsibility in defining and communicating role, and the effect these efforts have on job satisfaction and specialists’ perceived effectiveness is also studied. Eight elementary schools in the western part of New York State (USA) are studied. Based on interviews with principals and reading specialists and surveys completed by principals, reading specialists, and teachers, the following themes emerge: (a.) Principal leadership was essential in defining the RS role; (b.) A clearly defined RS role was associated with greater RS satisfaction and perceptions of effectiveness as well as greater teacher compliance; (c.) Greater teacher compliance with a school’s literacy program did not affect beliefs about the proper role of RSs; (d.) Lack of a clearly defined role in a school was associated with role conflict and role ambiguity for reading specialists; (e.) Reading specialists, even without coaching responsibilities, served as a resource to teachers, although no time was allocated in their schedule to do so; (f.) Reading specialists faced challenges due to increased accountability and assessment demands affected by policy, demographics, and accountability requirements. It is concluded that principals must assume responsibility for defining and communicating the reading specialist role within their schools to strengthen literacy programming.