Learning by doing: Preservice teachers as reading tutors.

Abstract

Whilst early childhood educators are well aware of the importance of meeting the needs of individual children when teaching ‘struggling readers’, finding the time for frequent one-on-one support is difficult. Studies have established that with a well developed and structured tutoring programme, as well as high quality training and supervision, volunteers can be used to provide tutoring in a one-on-one early intervention reading programme. The current study suggests that there is an opportunity for preservice teachers to gain valuable information to increase their knowledge of the reading process, while providing effective support to schools as trained tutors. The small-scale exploratory study examines the skills and knowledge gained by preservice teachers while employed as trained tutors in an early intervention reading programme.

Reference

Dawkins, S., Ritz, M., & Louden, W. (2009). Learning by doing: Preservice teachers as reading tutors. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 34(2), 40-49. http://dx.doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2009v34n2.4

Journal

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Analysis

Is this article part of a larger project or series of studies?

Does this study draw on a large, preexisting data set?

Research Approach

Exploratory study

Geographic Setting

Australia

Institutional Context

University based

Certification Level

early childhood
Primary (UK term)

Programatic Focus

not stated

Research Location Context

Elementary school

Preservice Participants

Undergraduates (university based program)

Preservice Sample Size

Other Participant Data

Students in tutorial setting

Duration of Data Collection

Academic Semester

Data Sources

Classroom Literacy Observation Schedule
Observations
pre-/post-assessment
Treatment Fidelity Checklist

Data Analysis Tools

Scoring on Classroom Literacy Observation Schedule

Researcher Positionality

Inside (studying their own programs)

Research Questions

What "skills and knowledge" do preservice teachers gain "while employed as trained tutors in an early intervention reading programme" (p.41)?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Combination