RM Winter 2016 FLIP

Letter from the Editors

Sarah Hunt-Barron & Jacquelynn Malloy

Dear Readers,

Reading Matters Make it Matter

It is with pleasure that we bring you this 15th edition of Reading Matters that includes articles from our South Carolina scholars and educators and several from institutions outside of our state. Alongside articles fromWinthrop, Coastal Carolina, the College of Charleston, Converse College, Furman and Clemson University, this issue includes voices from authors in Virginia (James Madison University), Georgia (Armstrong State and Georgia Southern Universities), North Carolina (Western Carolina University) and Pennsylvania (Duquesne University). The authors include teacher educators, literacy researchers, classroom teachers, and graduate students. It is exciting to see our journal extend its reach to include more voices, hoping that soon, you too will be inspired to add yours. The theme of this issue is “Out of the Silo”, highlighting the need expressed by many of our authors to move the language arts out of the silo of the literacy block and to integrate listening/ speaking, reading/writing, and viewing/representing as tools for learning across the content areas. Suggestions are provided for integrating the language arts with math (Myers), music (Fullerton & Turowetz), and social studies (Pettit, Bertrand, Fleming & Jones), as well as in content vocabulary (Hubbard, Huber, & Salley). Cridland-Hughes &Wilder (You Matter) begin a conversation that includes definitions and viewpoints regarding content area and disciplinary literacy, particularly as they relate to the recent Read to Succeed initiative in South Carolina and how we prepare teacher educators (Ming) to implement the prescribed changes. Dustin Ledford offers his commentary from the viewpoint of a student in the form of poetry. In other Research Matters, teacher beliefs and student attitudes regarding writing workshop are investigated (White, Hall, & Barrett-Tatum; Gatti & Tracy), while in Teaching Matters, Pringle and Helf make suggestions for goal setting in writing conferences andWachholz andWarner provide inspiration for guiding struggling high school readers. Our Technology Matters section includes two articles, one addressing disciplinary literacy (Chermer) and another to discuss the use of infographics (Yearta & Mitchell). We are also pleased that Jonda McNair has provided us with another fine installment of book reviews in the Literature Matters section of the journal.

Sarah Hunt-Barron

Jacquelynn Malloy

As a preview to the theme for the next issue, volume 16, we are showcasing an article by Shumaker and Quiñones that challenges us not only to use social justice-themed literature with our students but to do so in a way that moves us past a ‘pedestrian approach’. We hope that you will be inspired to consider the issues of social justice and equity that are occurring in your schools, colleges, and universities and to confront, investigate, and practice ways that literacy educators can be agents of change in our state and beyond. Be sure to share your challenges, triumphs, and findings with us in the next issue. We will be available at the SCIRA state conference in February to shepherd you through the submission and reviewing process (check the program for our session!). We are proud to serve you, the teachers and teacher educators who stand between our students and an excellent education for all. Please join in the conversation that starts with the publication of these articles by commenting using the links provided with each article. We look forward to seeing you at the conference and to hearing your voices in Reading Matters.

Be inspired and inspiring, Jackie and Sarah

Reading Matters | Volume 16 • Winter 2016 | scira.org | V |

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