Diverse Learners Top Hat Organizer

Article One: Article Two:

Literacy Education and Disability Studies:
Reenvisioning Struggling Students
In this article, the author writes about two emergent
bilingual students that struggled with their english
assignments. The article examined why the students
either did not do the assignment or why they
plagiarized. It analyzes the challenges that emergent
bilinguals face when they are put into a situation they
are not very familiar with and how they deal with
these situations. The article also discusses learning
strategies that deal with struggling students. It
discusses the overall effect of these strategies and
how they benefit struggling students in the
classroom.
Dyslexia: What Reading Teachers Need to Know
This article discusses the learning disability known as
dyslexia. The article explains why dyslexia is just an
obstacle that students and teachers need to overcome,
it is by no means a disability that affects a person’s
intelligence. The author explains what teachers can do
to help students with this learning disorder in their
classes. The article goes into further detail to explain
dyslexia to the reader and provides evidence and
research.

Similarities

● Both articles examine misconceptions that teachers have about students with learning difficulties.
● Both examine students with learning difficulties.
● Both offer learning strategies that benefit students with learning difficulties.
● Both offer solutions or strategies for teachers to include in their lessons.
● Both articles discuss why students with learning difficulties are not any less intelligent than a student
who is not struggling or does not have any learning disabilities.

My Thoughts

While reading Article 1, I started thinking about students from my class as a high school student, some of
which were on the football team with me. I remembered that most of the team was struggling with their
grades, and to remain on the team, they had to have a 2.5 GPA or higher. Being the 3.5 GPA student that I
was, I always thought the students that were failing to reach this minimum GPA level was either lazy or
 dumb. I mostly believed they were lazy, but I never considered what challenges they could be facing while
not in school. Now that I am more aware of these problems that students face, I will do my best to ensure
every student is properly accommodated.

While reading Article 2, the first thing that came to mind was one of my friends back in California, who has
dyslexia. I never really looked into the disability before I read this article, I already knew the disability does
not affect intelligence, but I did not understand how it makes learning more difficult. My friend explained it
to me one time, but he really did not explain in a way that made sense to me, I am glad to be more informed
of this disability now.

One question that I have after reading both of these articles is, how will determine the students with learning
difficulties, vs a student who simply does not want to work or is being lazy with assignments?

References

Johnston, Vickie. (2019). Dyslexia: What Reading Teachers Need to Know. ​Reading Teacher​. 73(3), 339-346.

Retrieved January 29, 2021.

Collins, Kathleen, & Ferri, Beth. (2016). Literacy Education and Disability Studies: Reenvisioning Struggling

Students. ​Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy.​ 60(1), 7-12. Retrieved January 29, 2021.