Research Symposium

BIO

I am a highly-motivated second year Human Development & Family Sciences student at Florida State, working to obtain a B.S. from the College of Health and Human Sciences with a minor in Chemistry and Biology on the Pre-PA track. I am excited about pursing a career in health care and are constantly looking for more experiences to learn. With a passion for giving back to my community I have worked with numerous non-profits in my hometown Jacksonville, Florida while here in Tallahassee I spend my time volunteering with more non-profits, the Ronald McDonald House and local elementary schools. Wanting to pursue my my love for children I was selected to complete my research project, The Morphological Analysis Pathway to Reading (MAP-R) . With a focus on morphological awareness or how we comprehend the ability for all words to be dissected into smaller units like roots and prefixes, we hope to improve the Florida curriculum and delivery of instruction by using a technology-based approach with a focus in multilingual learners with or at risk of learning disabilities.

The Morphological Analysis Pathway to Reading in Multilingual Learners

Abstract

•Many educators struggle to keep up with the unique needs of the growing population of English learners who are simultaneously attaining academic skills and language proficiency through elementary education. Thus, it is vital that educators build a child’s morphological awareness at a young age, breaking the otherwise gap in their literacy proficiency.
• Morphological awareness can be defined as the understanding of how we comprehend the ability for all words to be dissected into smaller units like roots and prefixes.
• While many different approaches can be taken to improve reading comprehension, in both English and Spanish speaking children, the Morphological Analysis Pathway to Reading (MAP-R) seems to be an effective method for remedying the aforementioned knowledge and academic vocabulary.
• Following a five- year period funded by the U.S.Department of Education using a technology-based approach in delivering literacy instruction for multilingual elementary aged students with or at risk of learning disabilities, we hope to improve the Florida curriculum and delivery of instruction.

Keywords: Morphological Awareness, improving Florida curriculum, multilingual students