Date Approved

1-21-2016

Embargo Period

1-22-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. Reading Education

Department

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Education

College

College of Education

Advisor

Abraham, Stephanie

Keywords

choice, first grade, language arts, literacy, reading, writing

Subject(s)

Language arts (Elementary)

Disciplines

Elementary Education and Teaching

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to observe and note student performance on choice literacy activities. Students were given choice pertaining to writing assignments and publishing preferences as well as guided reading material. Students completed an interest inventory at the start of the research to better understand the types of literacy activities that may interest them. The students were allowed to exercise choice in their literacy activities when choosing a guided reading book from appropriately leveled choices and choosing their writing topic as well as publishing option such as a big book, a little book, or a step book. Student work as well as student interviews were used to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of student choice in literacy learning. When students were able to exercise choice in their writing assignments, their individual strengths and weaknesses became more apparent. Struggling writers were able to showcase their creative side and their storytelling abilities through choice activities while adept writers struggled to invent their own writing topics.

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