Written by: Tiffany Westry
Need more info? Contact us
With an aim to redefine literacy for families locally and globally, the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Education has launched the MidSouth Literacy Journal.
The MidSouth Literacy Journal is an online, open-access journal developed to provide a platform for researchers and teacher practitioners to disseminate research about what is and is not working in the area of literacy.
“We’re looking for effective, innovative research and practices in the field,” said Lynn Kirkland, Ed.D., chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. “The journal is a resource to share and explore best practices, not limited just to reading and writing. Our focus is on all areas of literacy, including scientific, mathematical and financial literacy.”
The journal will highlight constructivist-based literacy theory and practice that place the child at the center of the learning process. The journal will cover research, action research and practitioner articles within the field of literacy education. Each issue will focus on teachers’ perspectives about issues in the field, along with contemporary releases in children’s literature. Utilizing a combination of real-world classroom applications and concrete theoretical framework, the journal will provide biyearly publications each fall and spring. Policy briefs will also be a focus of the journal.
The MidSouth Literacy Journal is an initiative of the Maryann Manning Family Literacy Center. Founded in 2014 by the UAB School of Education, the Maryann Manning Family Literacy Center takes a comprehensive view of literacy, focusing on subjects such as math, technology, finance and health care, along with reading and writing.
| Through one-on-one assessment and instruction for children, literacy learning clinics, and family programs, the center is working to address literacy and health-related needs for families, to research current issues in literacy, and to enhance the literacy level of diverse populations. |
“This journal will be a source for academic and action-based research to advance pedagogy in the area of literacy, said Deborah Voltz, Ed.D., dean of the UAB School of Education. “Much of the research on literacy points back to the educational level and health of the family. With the research that will be disseminated through the MidSouth Literacy Journal and many other initiatives, the Maryann Manning Family Literacy Center is poised to make a lasting impact in Alabama and beyond.”
The Maryann Manning Family Literacy Center disseminates research in literacy, provides professional development for teachers and students, and centralizes the operation and organization of numerous projects begun by renowned literacy expert and longtime UAB faculty member Maryann Manning, Ed.D. Manning passed away in 2013 after 35 years on UAB’s faculty.
Through one-on-one assessment and instruction for children, literacy learning clinics, and family programs, the center is working to address literacy and health-related needs for families, to research current issues in literacy, and to enhance the literacy level of diverse populations.
For more information, to subscribe or to submit research to the MidSouth Literacy Journal, click here.