Motivation & Engagement
Student motivation and engagement are critical to literacy success, as they influence a learner’s willingness to read, write, and actively participate in literacy activities. Self-efficacy, autonomy, and interest play key roles in fostering intrinsic motivation, which can be nurtured through choice in reading materials and authentic literacy tasks that connect to students’ lives. A student-centered learning environment, where learners have agency in their literacy experiences, supports deeper engagement and skill development. Additionally, building a strong classroom community that values reading and writing as meaningful, interactive processes helps create a positive literacy culture. Research suggests that authentic writing experiences, collaborative learning, and self-regulation strategies can enhance motivation, particularly when students see writing as a flexible and valuable tool rather than a mere academic requirement (Graham 2019).
Diversity & Equity
Diversity and equity in literacy instruction require intentional strategies to support culturally and linguistically diverse learners, including English Language Learners (ELLs) and Indigenous students, by incorporating multilingual resources, oral storytelling traditions, and culturally responsive texts. Literature can serve as a powerful tool for social justice, fostering equity and inclusion by amplifying diverse voices and experiences. Critical literacy approaches encourage students to question and analyze texts, recognizing bias and multiple perspectives. For struggling readers, evidence-based interventions, such as structured phonics instruction and personalized reading supports, can help bridge literacy gaps. Additionally, eco-ability and inclusive literacy address accessibility, disability justice, and diverse representations, ensuring that all students, regardless of ability, have equitable access to meaningful literacy experiences.
