Research in English: Brief Findings in Research

10-second review: Authentic Literacy activities. Explicit instruction in literary devices. Creative writing.

Title: “Annotated Bibliography of Research in the Teaching of English.”R Beach, et al. Research in the Teaching of English (November 2007), 188-227.

Summaries:

Authentic literacy activities: Developed an authentic rating sheet, and categorized the level of authenticity of numerous literacy activities. For example, an activity in which students generated questions based on hands-on experience, and then read informational texts to find answers to the questions, was rated high in authenticity. Suggests all teachers find ways to incorporate more authentic texts and purposes into their classroom instruction. NK Doke, et al. p. 122 (2006).

Explicit instruction in literary devices: Finds that learning to analyze literary devices in reading…fosters reflection about their own writing and awareness of how their narratives were constructed. R Cordon. P. 197 (2007).

Creative writing: Argues that in order to support children’s creative development as writers, teachers need opportunities to engage creatively as writers themselves. T Cremin. P. 201 (2006).