Enhancing Middle-Grades Teachers' Content Literacy Skills Through Professional Development

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 11
  In Poster Session: Poster 16: Literacy

Abstract

Middle and high school teachers are charged to teach literacy skills to their students, even though many received little preparation. They often struggle meeting their own content requirements while effectively embedding literacy instruction. By participating in ongoing Professional Development (PD), teachers can develop their content knowledge while learning to effectively embed literacy instruction naturally. This roundtable will examine one PD series for middle grades language arts teachers. Discussions will relate to the participants’ perceptions of literacy and the impact of the PD on their practice. Participants will engage in conversation surrounding the need for content literacy instruction and effective PD. Best practices will be shared while examining needs for systemic change related to content literacy instruction and PD.

Authors

• Nichole Lynnette Smith, North Carolina A&T State University

• Brian Williams, North Carolina A&T State University