Volume 47, Number 1 (2022)

Hello Everyone and Happy New Year.

The cover art of his issue of Literacy Practice and Research Online shows the artist’s rendition of horses as they connect together in a group. Not all of the horses are alike, but all are engaged to a common purpose. We think this common purpose illustrates who we are as literacy scholars, researchers, volunteers, and practitioners. We have different ideas, diverse interests, and hold various positions. Yet, we connect together focused on common goals- to share our ideas, research, and life experiences centered on literacy- not just reading and writing- but literacy as it pertains to all that we do and who we are.

The cover art for this issue was created by Kristen Kinner Engle who lives in Portland, Oregon and teaches art privately and as a volunteer in Portland’s public schools. Thank you Kristen. In this issue we offer three manuscripts. At first glance these pieces appear not connected. But a second perusal shows a thread that runs throughout each article: reflection. In our “highlighted article” Anne Katz and Justin Hanson write a beautiful reflective piece titled "A Virtual Community Literacy Partnership: A Place-Based Reading and Writing Initiative between College of Education Students and Urban Middle School Students". Next, Jeremy Jackman shares and reflects upon his life journey navigating from a dyslexic student to a successful doctoral student. Then, Katie Nickel reflects about Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) -a curriculum approach she employs in her museum work with students. When incorporated on virtual museum tours, VTS encourages K-5 students to practice close reading skills.

In this issue we say “Goodbye” to Lauren Connelly who moved on to another university position. We also welcome our new Managing Editor, Kristen Fung. Kristen is a well-published visual artist, and her work, accompanied by explanations, can be seen in several previous issues of LPR.

We encourage all of you to make this journal your own. Send us potential publications and volunteer to serve a reviewer of submissions (refer to our new Reviewer Form, Check Sheet, and Rubric that makes reviewing easier for all). We encourage international submissions and content that focuses on all modes of literacy.

Thank you for this opportunity to honor you and literacy.

Janet Richards, Ph. D., Professor, USF, Tampa

Senior Editor, LPR-ONLINE