This document provides guidance and resources for creating an optional professional development handout on an elementary literacy topic. It includes starter topic ideas, recommended literacy journals, tips for finding peer-reviewed research articles, and templates for the handout structure. Sample sections are outlined, such as 10 teacher tips drawn from research articles. Formatting and image use guidelines are also covered. The goal is to help educators translate research into practical classroom strategies through an evidence-based handout.

1. LIST 5373
Spring 2015
Optional Professional Development
Handout Tutorial
This tutorial is optional
to read. It covers
success tips for the
Professional
Development Handout

2. Starter list of possible topics for handout
Starter List/Example Topics: for the PD
Handout. You are not limited to these
topics. This is just a starter list of suggested
topics:
 Critical Literacy and Elementary Literacy
Instruction
 Using “Text Talk” with Read-Aloud for the
Primary Grades
 Preparing for Achievement Tests with
Authentic Literature
 The Role of Phonemic Awareness in
Learning to Read
 Using Phonics in Context for Beginning
Readers
 Research-based Methods for Fluency
Development
 Vocabulary Strategies for Helping
Overcome the Fourth Grade Slump
 Think-Aloud Strategies for
Comprehending Text
 Managing Guided Reading Effectively
Effectively
 Comprehension Strategy Instruction
 Using New Literacies and Technologies
in Elementary Reading
 Implementing Book Club/Literature
Circles
 Reading Methods for Elementary-Aged
English Language Learners
 Conferring 1-on-1 with students during
reading workshop
 Conferring 1-on-1 with Students during
Writing Workshop
 Writing Workshop with Elementary
Students
 Using Multi-Modal Literacies with
Elementary Reading Instruction
 Using Expository Text to Teach
Elementary Language Arts
 Digital Reading and Writing with
Elementary Students

3. Recommended Literacy Journals (List)
(You are not limited to these journals, but they are
highly recommended)
 The Reading Teacher is highly recommended for this
assignment!
1. Language Arts (NCTE journal; mainly elementary) *Be sure
it is a research article. Some of their articles are “how-to”
articles.
2. The Reading Teacher (elementary literacy; International
Reading Association) *Be sure it is a research article. Some
of their articles are “how-to” articles.
3. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy (grades 6-12
and adult; International Reading Association)
4. Literacy Research and Instruction
5. Reading Research Quarterly (exclusively rigorous
research; geared more for research; International Reading
Association).
6. Journal of Literacy Research
7. Reading and Writing Quarterly
8. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy
9. Bilingual Research Journal

4. E-journals can be accessed through the
UTA library databases
 Click here to access e-journals.
 Practice accessing “The Reading Teacher” by
clicking here and then typing in “The Reading
Teacher”. You will be prompted to enter your NetID
and password.
 http://ns6rl9th2k.search.serialssolutions.com/
You will want variety in your
references (and annotated
bibliography), however, it is ok if all
of your articles that you draw on for
your tips are from The Reading
Teacher, as long as your articles are
empirical research (report of original
research being conducted) and they
relate to your overarching topic.

5. If you need help with your NetID….
 To use the UTA library databases, you will need
to login with your NetID and password. This is
the same NetID and password you use when you
log in to Blackboard, MyMav, the UTA library, etc.
If you are having issues with your UTA NetId,
please see:
https://webapps.uta.edu/oit/selfservice/ You can
also contact the help desk about your NetID at:
helpdesk@uta.edu · Work Order · 817-272-2208

6. Locating three or more research articles
You need articles that have been published
within the last 10-12 years.
You are translating empirical research into practice for
busy teachers.
• In selecting your three or more research articles you will
be reading as you work on your Professional
Development handout, here is the link to the E-journals
through UTA library.
• Use your NetID and password to logon if you are off
campus. You can also talk to one of the reference
librarians on campus if you need more assistance.
• The link below will guide you as you search for
articles.
• http://libguides.uta.edu/education/articles

7. Research articles for the tips will be listed in
“References” at the end of your handout!
 The three or more empirical research articles that
you locate will help you as you work on creating your
“ten tips” for the handout. You are translating
research into practice from the articles you
select! List these articles in the References section
at the end of your handout, using APA 6th edition.
 In the “Annotated Bibliography” section, you will
also be creating a “recommended reading” list on
your topic! These are not the same as the references
you used for the tips! They are “above and beyond”
the references! Each recommended reading needs a
solid paragraph describing each one.

8. What is considered a research article?
 Results of an empirical study, e.g.,. Case study,
qualitative research, survey, etc. Data was
collected and results were reported.
 Has section headings and key words like data
collection, analysis, results, conclusions,
implications.
 Not a “how-to” practitioner-based article.
 Should be current (last 10-12 years)

9. Library databases
• http://www.uta.edu/library/ Main UTA library website
• Library Guide for Curriculum and Instruction
http://libguides.uta.edu/education?hs=a
Gretchen Trkay is our education librarian contact:’
gtrkay@uta.edu

10. ***Key recommended journal: “The
Reading Teacher”***
 The journal “The Reading Teacher” is a great journal
for articles on elementary literacy. Click here to
locate this journal through UT Arlington library:
 http://ns6rl9th2k.search.serialssolutions.com/ [You
will need to enter your NetID and password. This is
the same id and password you use to log in to
 Blackboard!]
 Be sure your articles are
empirical research (results
of a study) and not
just “how-to” articles.

11. Research Tip: Bibliography mining.
 Bibliography mining--Look in the references of a
seminal article for further references to read and
locate.
 OWL site for APA 6th edition formatting tips is a good
resource.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

12. I recommend using the database “Academic
Search Complete”
 Academic Search Complete—casts a wide net
 ERIC—not as wide a net
 E-Journals
 Visual display

Example search terms:
 1) “morph*” and “reading” [focus on teaching
morphemes and/or morphology to enhance
vocabulary and comprehension]. [within The
Reading Teacher]
 2) “fluency” and “intervention” and “elementary”
[within Academic Search Complete]

13. What will the final handout be like?
• Evidence-Based Handout (4+ pages single-
spaced; include graphics and visuals).
• This section reflects how educators take the
research base and apply it in schools/classrooms.
You should construct a handout/newsletter that could
possibly be shared at a presentation that you could
use at a workshop / inservice / professional
development meeting.
• This handout should help teachers understand and
apply research-based strategies related to your
focus area (e.g., fluency building, comprehension
development, or whatever topic you chose).

14. 10+ teacher tips that connect or draw from the
research (evidence-based practice)
 10 teacher tips should be presented that focus on
several key areas of a targeted grade level or grade
levels.
 You should elaborate (BE SPECIFIC) on the tips so
that any teacher could take this from your
presentation and put the ideas into practice.
 Create a presentation that provides well-developed
ideas that schools and teachers, in general, can use.
All points must have research support (cite source).
You must draw on the research-based journal
articles that you read. These will be listed in your
References section.

15. Webliography resources: suggested sites
 Reading Rockets
 Readwritethink (lesson plans)
 IRA http://reading.org/General/Default.aspx
 NCTE http://www.ncte.org/
 Florida Center for Reading Research
 Scholastic.com
 Other literacy-related websites….

16. Annotated Bibliography: Searching for
Professional Book Recommendations
PUBLISHERS OF PROFESSIONAL
LITERACY BOOKS:
Check for new books and sample chapters
 Scholastic Professional
 Stenhouse
 Heinemann
 International Reading Association (IRA) books
 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
books
 Practitioner articles in The Reading Teacher and
Language Arts

17. Webliography [practical resources and
description for teachers in your handout]-
Websites should contain a practical
focus. They should answer the question
a teacher might pose:
“How can I get started right away
with this method/strategy?”
• Resources/lesson plans/downloadable items,
etc. –not “more research” or something to
“digest”

18. Language to Use to Describe Research
Findings/Results
“The researchers
____ found
[discovered,
concluded….]….”
“Recent research
suggests
______....”
What other
phrases can be
used to write up
research?
HINT: Look up
some recent
literature reviews
in articles and
make a note of the
types of phrases
that are used.

19. Translating Research Intro Practice
• Preview, & Skim to determine if the article is
appropriate for this project.
• Note! Articles that are more practitioner-oriented
can be listed and annotated (described and
summarized in a paragraph) in the Annotated
Bibliography of the handout).
• Examples and non-examples of articles that are
empirical research will be explored now in the
session.
• Decide: “Yes” it’s a research-based article that
draws on original empirical research conducted by
the authors and I can use it as I write my tips and
describe what I have read in my own words, or
• “No”, it’s more of a practitioner-based article that
would be better for the “Annotated Bibliography”
section of the handout.
As you
read your
articles….

20. Research Tip: Bibliography mining.
Bibliography mining--Look in the references of a seminal article
for further references to read and locate.
What other research tips can be shared?
Use the “cite” button to choose APA formatting. However, you
must still proofread it.
OWL site for APA 6th edition formatting tips is a good resource.
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

21. Tips
As you skim abstracts from an initial “wide net” broad search…
Jot down names of journals that reappear
Note names of jargon terms that are repeated, e.g., “repeated
reading” comes up with fluency intervention searches.
Notice the inherent interdisciplinary nature of our field (intersections
with linguistics, special ed., educational psychology, etc.)
Look for key terms used in the “Subjects” line.

22. Translating Research Intro Practice
Read closely
and carefully
and take notes
• Type of study
• Main findings/results of
the study
• Implications for teachers
• Start to connect theory to
practice, for instance, by
organizing your ideas

23. Reminder: Tutorials for determining peer-
reviewed research
http://libraries.uta.edu/video/instruction/whatpr/peerreview.htm
What is Peer Review?
http://libraries.uta.edu/video/instruction/peer-
review/database_peer_review.htm Finding Peer-Reviewed
Journal Articles
http://libraries.uta.edu/video/instruction/peer-
review/peer_review.htm Peer Review: How do I Know?

24. Language to write up your
introduction/rationale from your study
“A key issue for teachers is ____.”
“Teachers often face the challenge
[dilemma/issue/task/] of ____.”
“This evidence-based handout
provides ____....”
What other language can be used to
include in your introduction?

25. Select a Great Title and Introductory
Paragraph for your PD Handout
Comprehension Strategies
for Nonfiction/Expository Texts
Molly Mitchell, 8/1/2012
The purpose of this hand-out is to detail practical
comprehension strategies that teachers can employ when
teaching nonfiction/expository texts throughout elementary
school. Nonfiction texts are an excellent source of engaging
texts for young readers. Young readers can more easily
understand and work with nonfiction texts presenting
concrete information rather than narrative texts that often
present abstract concepts and vocabulary.
 What makes this a good introduction? What would you
add/change?

26. Use a highly engaging title!
Have a catchy title, e.g., (you can use these or
tweak these!)
“Research-based Phonics for Busy Teachers!”
“Help! My Students Need to Develop their
Academic Vocabulary!”
“Boost Comprehension without Teaching to the
Test!”
• What else?

27. Example Tips
 Strategy #2: Make Reading Goals
 One study indicated that the creation of
content goals had a significant impact on
both student motivation and reading
comprehension in nonfiction/expository texts
(Guthrie et. al, 2004). Using their content
goals, students utilize and develop strategies
(Guthrie et. al, 2004) as they read and
search the text for information about their
goals. For instance, before reading a
nonfiction text, introduce the content within
the text through a read-aloud of a short book
or poem. A picture about the content may
also be used. Use these activities to begin
discussion of the content. As a class, create
goals or information the class wishes to learn
about through their reading.
Parenthetical
citation, APA
6th edition
Use
transitional
phrases
such as
“What
teachers
can do…”
or “In the
classroom..
..”

28. COPYRIGHT-FREE IMAGES
 Do not use copyrighted images in the PDH.
 All images used, with the exception of clip art, should
be cited underneath each image with
Source: [insert website here].

29. Creative Commons
 Flickr
 Other websites
 Note different levels of permissions for Creative
Commons and need to cite the link/source.

30. You can do this! 
 Use your resources.
 Contact your academic coach for
help.