1

Mary Kempen
EDUC 530
7/31/14
Second Draft Content Area Literacy Pi!o"opy
# $e!ie%e a teacer !ead" "t&dent" to te "'i!!" and 'no(!ed)e te "t&dent" (ant and can &"e to
meet te )oa!" tey coo"e* +e p&rpo"e of ed&cation "o&!d $e to e!p te indi%id&a! "t&dent acie%e
per"ona! &nder"tandin) and per"ona! meanin)* St&dent" are $e)innin) te proce"" of $&i!din) "ociety
a" tey $e!ie%e $e"t, teir idea!" and %a!&e" co&!d one day rep!ace to"e (ic prior )eneration" e!d
dear* A" a teacer- # ope to e.&ip "t&dent" (it (at tey need to ma'e coice" a$o&t teir idea!" and
%a!&e"* +o a""i"t "t&dent" a" tey ma'e te"e coice" in te proce"" of con"tr&ctin) teir identitie"- #
$e!ie%e a teacer "o&!d inform tem a$o&t option" tat are a%ai!a$!e- not /&"t career pat" $&t a!"o
"ocia! %a!&e" and c&!t&ra! e0pre""ion"* 1or ti" rea"on- my Spani" c!a""e" inc!&de e0p!oration of
2i"panic art" and "ocia! practice" a!on) (it %oca$&!ary and )rammar tat may $e &"ef&! for a "t&dent3"
career in $&"ine"" or medica! fie!d"*
4ne &"ef&! mean" to e0p!ore 2i"panic per"pecti%e"- %a!&e"- and c&!t&ra! e0pre""ion" i" !iteracy*
St&dent" can read to di"co%er (at Latin American" and Spaniard" tin' a$o&t i""&e" "&c a" te
ce!e$ration of Co!&m$&" Day- )o%ernment "&$"idie" for te art" and fi!m ind&"trie"- or "ocia!i5ed ea!t
care* Moreo%er- !iteracy i" content in !an)&a)e c!a""e"* A "t&dent doe" not f&!!y 'no( a !an)&a)e
&n!e"" e or "e !earn" to read te0t" in tat !an)&a)e a" (e!! a" a&ra!!y compreend and "pea' te
!an)&a)e* A" te American Co&nci! of +eacer" of 1orei)n Lan)&a)e" "tandard" pre"cri$e- "t&dent"
m&"t &nder"tand and interpret (ritten and "po'en !an)&a)e on a %ariety of topic" 617789* :eadin)
ena$!e" "t&dent" to meet te oter nationa! "tandard"; to )ain 'no(!ed)e and &nder"tandin) of oter
c&!t&re"- to connect (it oter di"cip!ine" and ac.&ire information- to de%e!op in"i)t into te nat&re of
!an)&a)e and c&!t&re- and to participate in m&!ti!in)&a! comm&nitie" at ome and aro&nd te (or!d* A
"t&dent may read te0t" a$o&t oter c&!t&re"- "&c a" ma)a5ine artic!e"- and te0t" prod&ced $y oter
c&!t&re"- "&c a" "ort "torie"- to !earn a "ociety3" %a!&e"* Science or i"tory te0t" (ritten in anoter
!an)&a)e may re%ea! an a!ternati%e point of %ie( on "&$/ect matter in to"e di"cip!ine" and e0pand a
<
"t&dent3" 'no(!ed)e of information in to"e fie!d"* :eadin) a Spani"=!an)&a)e ne("paper from one3"
o(n ometo(n a!!o(" a "t&dent to participate in a !oca! m&!ti!in)&a! comm&nity* +ro&) ti" type of
periodica!- "t&dent" can find opport&nitie" to interact (it Spani" "pea'er" in teir comm&nitie" in
p!ace" !i'e 2i"panic )rocery "tore" tat ad%erti"e in te paper or ci%ic e%ent" "&c a" erita)e fe"ti%a!"*
:eadin) a!"o e!p" a "t&dent de%e!op te <1"t cent&ry cro""=c&!t&ra! "'i!!" of re"pondin) open=
minded!y to different idea" and %a!&e" and of re"pectin) c&!t&ra! difference" 6Partner"ip for <1"t
Cent&ry S'i!!"9*
Literacy- o(e%er- i" not innate* St&dent" of Spani" m&"t $e ta&)t o( to identify and
appreciate meanin)" in (ritten te0t" in teir forei)n !an)&a)e /&"t a" tey m&"t $e ta&)t te"e "'i!!" in
teir nati%e !an)&a)e"* A "t&dent m&"t !earn "trate)ie" to deciper &n'no(n (ord"* 1&rtermore- a
"t&dent of Spani" m&"t !earn te caracteri"tic" of "ty!e in Spani"=!an)&a)e te0t" of different )enre"
and o( to"e caracteri"tic" may differ from (at i" typica! in te "t&dent3" nati%e=!an)&a)e te0t"*
1or e0amp!e- a "t&dent "o&!d reco)ni5e tat "entence" (it in%erted "ynta0- many "&$ordinate c!a&"e"-
and f!orid %oca$&!ary appear in Spani"=!an)&a)e e""ay" and ne("paper editoria!" $eca&"e tey
demon"trate te a&tor3" !in)&i"tic "'i!!" and impre"" 2i"panic reader"* #n te proce"" of (or'in) (it
te"e 'ind" of te0t"- "t&dent" (i!! di"co%er tat mem$er" of 2i"panic c&!t&re" do not a!(ay" tin' !i'e
peop!e in te United State"* Latin American" may %a!&e different (ay" of (ritin)- "&c a" introd&cin)
te main idea of an e""ay or $oo' after "e%era! introd&ctory para)rap" or capter" rater tan ear!ier in
te te0t* >it tecni.&e" "&c a" em$edded .&e"tion" 6?eacon Learnin) Center9 and di"c&""ion (e$"
6@acca- @acca- A Mra5 <0149- # can )&ide "t&dent" tro&) a compari"on and contra"t of Latin
American e""ay" and U*S* American e""ay"* Efficiency and directne"" may not $e a" pri5ed in oter
c&!t&re" a" tey are in te United State"* St&dent" (i!! dra( te"e conc!&"ion" on!y after tey a%e
!earned readin) "trate)ie" to do "o*
#n te conte0t of my area of teacin)- Spani" !an)&a)e and 2i"panic c&!t&re- a teacer may
!ead "t&dent" tro&) direct in"tr&ction to readin) "trate)ie" and oter 'no(!ed)e tat (i!! "er%e tem
3
$e"t* Con"e.&ent!y- my teacin) pi!o"opy contain" e!ement" of e""entia!i"m "&c a" a fa%ora$!e
%ie( of direct in"tr&ction and teacer contro! 6Da%i" Po(e!!- <0159* ?eca&"e direct in"tr&ction i"
e!pf&! in !an)&a)e c!a""e"- my !e""on" often $e)in (it (o!e c!a"" in"tr&ction fo!!o(ed $y )&ided
practice (it te concept or "trate)y and conc!&de (it "ma!! )ro&p (or' and a re&nion of te (o!e
c!a""* :eadin) !e""on" fo!!o( a ?DA 6?efore readin)- D&rin) readin)- and After readin)9 in"tr&ctiona!
frame(or' 6@acca- et a!*- <0149* ?efore te "t&dent" read- a" a (o!e c!a"" (e an"(er .&e"tion" to
acti%ate te "t&dent"3 prior 'no(!ed)e of te te0t3" topic in teir o(n c&!t&re* 1or a ne("paper artic!e
a$o&t Spani" yo&n) peop!e (o !i%e (it teir parent" or roommate" (e!! into teir 303"- (e may
di"c&"" te pa""a)e of U*S* American" into ad&!tood and (at peop!e in te U*S* do if tey cannot
afford teir o(n apartment" after i) "coo! or co!!e)e* Be0t- (e practice (it tin'in) a!o&d
"trate)ie" # teac te "t&dent" for !earnin) ne( %oca$&!ary- "&c a" determinin) if a ne( (ord a" a
co)nate (e a!ready 'no( in En)!i" or if (e can )&e"" te meanin) of a ne( (ord $y !oo'in) at (ord"
(e a!ready 'no( in it" conte0t* >e may di"c&"" tran"!ation" # pro%ide of important ne( (ord" tat (i!!
appear in te te0t "o "t&dent" (i!! reco)ni5e tem (en tey find tem* D&rin) readin)- "t&dent" (or'
(it "e!ecti%e readin) )&ide" tat indicate (at information tey "o&!d "ee' and (ere tey co&!d
find it* After readin)- "t&dent" "are (at tey a%e fo&nd (it a "ma!! )ro&p and ten te (o!e c!a""
a" a re%ie( and opport&nity to c!arify area" (ere tey a%e .&e"tion"* >e t&" e0p!ore te nat&re of
!an)&a)e and c&!t&re- and tro&) compari"on" and contra"t" $et(een yo&n) peop!e in U*S* c&!t&re and
yo&n) peop!e in Spain- (e )ain 'no(!ed)e and &nder"tandin) of oter c&!t&re" a" te AC+1L
"tandard" recommend*
A!to&) direct in"tr&ction and teacer=)&ided di"c&""ion faci!itate !earnin) "ome
concept" in !an)&a)e "t&dy- "t&dent" "o&!d a%e coice in teir !earnin)- e%en if te teacer re"trict"
tat coice "o te "t&dent" can mana)e it* 6An o%er!y $road fie!d of coice can $e $e(i!derin) and
&!timate!y para!y5in)*9 ?eyond "coo!- "t&dent" (i!! participate in m&!ti!in)&a! comm&nitie" at ome
and aro&nd te (or!d and connect teir !an)&a)e !earnin) to oter di"cip!ine" on!y if tey en/oy "ome
4
a&tonomy in "e!ectin) te comm&nitie" and di"cip!ine"* 2ence- # a%e often a!!o(ed "t&dent" to coo"e
topic" for teir paper" and pre"entation" from a !i"t of "&))e"tion"- and tey are a!(ay" (e!come to
in%ent teir o(n topic if tey prefer* St&dent" may coo"e te "o&rce" tey read to compi!e te
information tey need to comp!ete te"e pro/ect"* #n c!a""- # a%e )enera!!y a!!o(ed "t&dent" to coo"e
teir o(n partner" for "ome )ro&p or pair (or'- and ti" coice a" ena$!ed tem to $&i!d a comm&nity
tat !a"t" for te entire term and $eyond* +ey !earn to e!p one anoter- and (en te )ro&p" m&"t $e
can)ed d&e to te a$"ence of one or more "t&dent" or te "tr&ct&re of a ne( acti%ity- te "t&dent" more
readi!y (e!come ne( mem$er" into teir )ro&p" if tey a%e a!ready e"ta$!i"ed "ta$!e re!ation"ip"
tat ma'e tem fee! comforta$!e* A" :icard and Co Anne @acca and Maryann Mra5 note 6<014- p*
1559- cooperati%e )ro&p" ma'e "t&dent" fee! "afe for ta'in) ri"'" and ma'in) p&$!ic error"- and ri"'=
ta'in) i" e""entia! for !earnin) a !an)&a)e*
+o pre%ent fee!in)" of in"ec&rity a$o&t readin) and a$o&t ma'in) mi"ta'e" $efore te (o!e
c!a""- # a!!o( time for my "t&dent" to meet (it partner" or "ma!! )ro&p" of tree or fo&r to di"c&""
(at tey read $efore (e di"c&"" readin)" a" a (o!e c!a""* #n teir )ro&p"- "t&dent" may compare
an"(er" to .&e"tion" tey comp!eted d&rin) readin) and ne)otiate a con"en"&" on te meanin) of
pa""a)e" tey fo&nd conf&"in)* +ey may a"' eac oter .&e"tion" tat tey mi)t oter(i"e fee! too
intimidated to a"'* +ey may "are an"(er" tey fear are Dd&m$D and $ecome more (i!!in) to "are
(it te (o!e c!a"" if a peer "&pport" tem at ti" "ta)e* +ey may a!"o prepare teir re"pon"e" for
pre"entation to te (o!e c!a""- e"pecia!!y if eac )ro&p (a" a""i)ned a "e)ment of a te0t tat te re"t
of te c!a"" (a" not )oin) to read and eac )ro&p i" re"pon"i$!e for teacin) te content of it" "e)ment
to te oter"* S&c cooperati%e !earnin) impro%e" not on!y "t&dent"3 readin) compreen"ion a" te
Bationa! :eadin) Pane! c!aim" 6a" cited in @acca- et a!*- <014- p* 1559 $&t a!"o teir !an)&a)e "'i!!" in
te area" of "pea'in) and (ritin)*
+e nat&re of !an)&a)e !earnin) demand" cooperation and interaction* :e"earc into "econd=
!an)&a)e ac.&i"ition a" "o(n tat memori5in) tran"!ation" and fi0ed dia!o)&e" apart from interaction
5
(it oter "pea'er" a" not prod&ced proficiency in act&a! !an)&a)e &"e 6?i!! @an Patten- <013 AA+SP
conference pre"entation- E+e centra!ity of te !an)&a)e !earner; :etin'in) )rad&ate ed&cationF9*
St&dent" $ecome proficient (en tey practice "pea'in)- !i"tenin)- readin) and (ritin) in near!y
nat&ra! conte0t"* +ey m&"t comm&nicate (it oter" in order to ac.&ire te !an)&a)e rater tan /&"t
!earn a$o&t te !an)&a)e* 1or ti" rea"on- interactin) (it c!a""mate" i" e""entia! for "t&dent" of
Spani"* +e teacer "o&!d not contro! e%ery di"c&""ion* +erefore- m&c of my c!a"" time (o&!d $e
dedicated to )ro&p or pair practice tat (o&!d a!!o( "t&dent" to create teir o(n meanin)f&! me""a)e"
&"in) te "t&died "tr&ct&re" and te0t"*
?eca&"e !an)&a)e i" !earned tro&) comm&nicati%e practice and "t&dent" (i!! not
comm&nicate a$o&t (at doe" not intere"t tem- "t&dent" "o&!d a%e "ome coice re)ardin) te topic"
di"c&""ed in c!a""* #n my c!a""e"- # a%e inc!&ded c!a""ic "ort "torie" and poem"- $&t my readin) and
!i"tenin) "e!ection" a%e empa"i5ed c&rrent e%ent" ne(" "torie" and m&"ic %ideo"* Literacy in te
!an)&a)e c!a""room incorporate" te0t" in m&!tip!e media* St&dent" ac.&ire !i"tenin) "'i!!" $y earin)
Spani"="pea'er" tro&) radio $roadca"t"- %ideo"- forma! te!e%i"ion pro)rammin)- and fi!m"* +ey
ac.&ire readin) and (ritin) "'i!!" tro&) (ritten te0t" often fo&nd on te #nternet- "&c a" ne(" "ite"
or a&tor pa)e" and te informa! comment "ection" attaced to tem* ?y pre"entin) te0t" from
different )enre" and different media- # offer my "t&dent" a per"pecti%e of 2i"panic c&!t&re" a" tey are
can)in) no( and a" tey a%e traditiona!!y maintained tem"e!%e"* My "t&dent" (i!! ten $e ena$!ed
to coo"e o( tey (i!! en)a)e te"e c&!t&re" and (at Spani" (i!! mean for tem"e!%e"*
:eference"
American Co&nci! on te +eacin) of 1orei)n Lan)&a)e"* 617789* Standards for foreign language
learning: Preparing for the 21st century. :etrie%ed from;
ttp;//(((*actf!*or)/"ite"/defa&!t/fi!e"/pdf"/p&$!ic/Standard"for1LLe0ec"&mmGre%*pdf
?eacon Learnin) Center* 6<005=149* Reading educator* :etrie%ed from;
8
ttp;//readin)ed&cator*com/"trate)ie"/em$ed*tm
Da%i" Po(e!!- S* 6<0159* Your introduction to education: Explorations in teaching* 63
rd
ed*9* Upper
Sadd!e :i%er- BC; Pear"on*
Partner"ip for <1"t Cent&ry S'i!!"* Framewor for 21st century learning. :etrie%ed from;
ttp;//(((*p<1*or)/a$o&t=&"/p<1=frame(or'/<88
@acca- :*+*- @acca- C*L*- A Mra5- M* 6<0149* !ontent area reading: "iteracy and learning across the
curriculum. 611t ed*9* Upper Sadd!e :i%er- BC; Pear"on*