Section IV: EVIDENCE FOR MEETING STANDARDS
Assessment # 6: Literacy Strategies Assignment
1.a. Brief Description of the Literacy Strategy Assignment and its Use in the Program
The Literacy Strategies Assignment is completed in the course LSLS 7054: Literacy as a Linguistic
and Cultural Tool and is designed to assess the candidate’s understanding of the ways in which
diversity impacts reading and writing and his/her ability to plan instruction and advocate for
equity accordingly. Each candidate works together with others in small groups to discuss and
address learning of all students, based on class readings and individual experiences. Each
candidate then creates a series of strategies, in the form of the Literacy Strategies Assignment,
to address learning of all students. In addition, each candidate must also submit a written
reflection on why they selected the strategies they selected utilizing the readings as evidence
for their choices. Each assignment is posted as a reference/resource for the entire class as a
means of building collective understanding, competence in practical application, and to support
individuals in advocacy efforts. This assignment occurs mid-point in the course, allowing for
substantive feedback from the instructor and discussion among colleagues in the class. The
project is done within the context of professional sharing among candidates in recognition of
the powerful learning that occurs when a diversity of perspectives and experiences are shared.
The Literacy Strategies Assignment addresses IRA Standard 4: Diversity
1.b. Alignment of Literacy Strategy Assignment with Elements of
Standard 4: Diversity
Standard 4.1. Recognize, understand, and value the forms of diversity that exist in society and
their importance in learning to read and write. The Literacy Strategies Assignment requires
candidates to demonstrate recognition, understanding, and valuing of multiple elements of
diversity through instructional planning and design. The readings and exchanges with
classmates require candidates to examine materials, instructional strategies, and research to
design strategies with linguistic, academic, and cultural elements that link students’ home
communities and the classroom.
Standard 4.2. Use a literacy curriculum and engage in instructional practices that positively
impact students’ knowledge, beliefs, and engagement with feature of diversity. The Literacy
Strategies assignment requires candidates to make connections between instructional
approaches and students’ diverse backgrounds and experiences, be knowledgeable of key
pieces of research shaping understanding in the field at large, and understand the interplay
between reading and writing and various ways in which we are a diverse society (e.g., ethnicity,
socioeconomic status, gender, and language).
Standard 4.3. Develop and implement strategies to advocate for equity. One of the
components of this assignment is a Dissemination Plan, which focuses on the candidate’s plan
to share their ideas with colleagues in their school and/or district.
1.c. Brief Assessment of the Data Findings
Since this is a new program, there are no data findings to report. Our previous program did not
include an assessment of this type. We anticipate that this assessment will yield data relevant
to candidate success in meeting IRA Standard 3: Diversity.
1.d. Description of how the Data will Provide Evidence of Meeting the Standards
Data will consist of the total number of points obtained on the Assessment Rubric for the Literacy
Strategies Assignment. A candidate who successfully meets each IRA standard associated with this
assignment at the level of Good or Excellent will obtain a score of 30 points or 40 points, respectively.
Evidence of our program meeting the standards will consist of having 90% of our candidates obtain a
score of 30 points or more.
2.e. Literacy Strategies Assessment Tool
The directions and format for this assessment, as they are provided to students, appears below.
Module 3: Literacy Strategies Assignment (20%)
The purpose of this assignment is for you to consider issues raised in class as they pertain to instruction
designed to address learning for all students. You will begin by working in your Chat Groups to share and
respond to ideas raised in the readings for Module 3, discussing the issues raised in the readings as they
relate to issues you see in your own communities or classrooms. You will then create a series of 20
literacy strategies that addresses learning for all students and align those strategies to the benchmarks
for IRA Standard IV: Diversity (see objectives of the class on p. 1 of syllabus). Your document will discuss
ways to address the realities of current classrooms and introduce strategies for learning. Candidates
should address not only the readings, but their own classroom or community environments so as to
create strategies that are authentic to their teaching situations and the situations of their teaching
colleagues. A lesson plan format is expected along with all materials needed for each of the strategies,
so candidates’ colleagues are able to utilize the strategies in a timely manner. Furthermore, strategies
must be discussed in such a way that others can implement them in their classrooms. In this way, you
are assuming the role of instructional coach and advocate for equity.
2.f. Scoring Guide for the Literacy Strategies Assignment
INSERT PDF FILE FOR RUBRIC HERE