Before, During, and After: Cultivating Disciplinary Literacy through Reflective Frameworks and Student Voice in Secondary Teacher Preparation

How can teachers/teacher candidates design literacy-rich lessons that center equity, engagement, and authentic disciplinary thinking? This interactive session explores the “Before, During, and After” (BDA) framework as a reflective and instructional tool for developing disciplinary literacy practices in secondary education. Faculty and teacher candidates from Northern Michigan University’s Teaching of Disciplinary Literacy for Secondary Teachers (EDU 319) course will share how the BDA framework guided their planning, implementation, and reflection during a demo lesson on Shakespearean Comedy. Anchored in the Essential Instructional Practices for Disciplinary Literacy: Grades 6–12 (MAISA GELN, 2023), this approach positions literacy not as an “add-on,” but as the central means of disciplinary inquiry, meaning-making, and identity development. Participants will examine how BDA strategies support inclusive and culturally sustaining classroom environments aligned with Michigan’s Disciplinary Literacy Standards for teacher preparation. The session will include opportunities to experience, analyze, and discuss examples of candidate-designed BDA plans and student work, highlighting connections among disciplinary literacy, DEIB goals, and literacy educator preparation.