News

The Science of Reading (SOR) is intended to benefit all children as they develop foundational skills in reading. For students who bring proficiencies in languages and dialects other than Standard English, their experience of SOR instruction often differs. These learners draw upon diverse linguistic repertoires, ranging from varied sound systems to complex morphological and syntactic structures, that shape how they engage with classroom activities such as phonics, decoding, and comprehension. This research brief highlights the importance of teachers’ linguistic knowledge in ensuring that SOR-aligned instruction distinctly and equitably serve multilingual learners. The brief provides an overview of six areas of linguistics (Figure 1: phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics, and dialect awareness) that are directly connected to reading instruction. Each section reviews why these areas matter for literacy development and offer practical implications for classroom practice.

The tradition continues! Purdue University will officially celebrate Constitution Day on Sept. 17 in the Purdue Memorial Union to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787.

Purdue University’s “Celebrating Indigeneity” spring art exhibit featured works from indigenous scholar-artists from academic units across campus.

Stephanie Scherer’s new book, Cultivating Care: Lessons from a Rural Kindergarten Classroom, focuses on how one rural kindergarten teacher experiences and embodies care in her classroom.

Richard Price recently planned and implemented a three-day agenda of undergraduate classes and community outreach activities in a new collaboration with visiting members from REVolutions Dance, an inclusive mixed-ability dance company from Florida.

Wayne E. Wright has two new book publications, including one with Vikrant Chap, a recent doctoral graduate from the College in literacy and language education.