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This discussion thread is designed to help you see how a synthesis of sources essay, or literature review, is organized. 

Please download the article, “Converging Recommendations for Culturally Responsive Literacy Practices: Students with Learning Disabilities, English Language Learners, and Socioculturally Diverse Learners,” by Susan V. Piazza, Shaila Rao, and Maria Selena Protacio.  The article is available in the e-reserves of your class and the following link: pdf. version.

On pages 1-4, the authors provide an introduction to the research study they conducted including a discussion of the theoretical background and methodology. On pages 5-7, the authors discuss the review process and an analysis of the sources reviewed. On pages 8-13, the authors consider and evaluate the findings presented in the research, and provide the conclusions. Please read over the literature review, taking notes on the material provided. 

Then answer the following questions:

1. In the first paragraph, do the authors ever give you their opinion on the “instructional recommendations for culturally responsive literacy practices?” How many different sources do they cite in this section?

2. From pages 8-13, the authors discuss different best practices for a culturally responsive teaching environment. Identify the five specific strategies that they discussed. In this section, are the authors introducing original strategies for the culturally responsive classroom?

3.  Examine the section entitled “Dialogue” (pp. 8-9). What are the two recommendations discussed for the use of dialogue in culturally responsive ways? On page 8, Kim, et. al (2006) present collaborative strategic reading as a way to help students develop literacy skills. Please name some of the other recommendations for dialogue between students and teachers that follow this source. How do the other recommendations relate to the ideas proposed by Kim, et. al (2006)? Remember to cite the sources in your response.

4. As a result of having read this article, please write a few sentences about what you might have learned about a) synthesizing sources or b) culturally responsive teaching practices for diverse populations.