Children’s literacy growth, and candidates’ and teachers’ professional development resulting from a PDS-based initial certification literacy course.
Abstract
This paper reports the effects on children, teacher candidates, and classroom teachers of a PDS-based initial certification course in the teaching of literacy. In this course, teacher candidates work with individual struggling readers on a range of literacy tasks, and the classroom teacher and university faculty member serve as course co-instructors. Results indicate that participating children grew more in literacy skills than non-participating children matched on beginning-of-year test scores. Candidates developed in their understanding of how assessment informs instruction, and moved from focusing on low-level skills to balancing their literacy instruction. Teachers found that serving as co-instructors resulted in significant, positive changes in their own practice, which likely contributed to children's learning. This collaborative project addresses NAPDS Essentials 2 and 8 in that university and school faculty cooperatively teach the course, preparing future educators within the context of the school community. It also tangentially addresses Essential 3, as participating teachers reported experiencing professional development as a result of their work.
Reference
Rosenthal, J. L., Donnantuono, M., Lebron, M., & Flynn, C. (2017). Children's literacy growth, and candidates' and teachers' professional development resulting from a PDS-based initial certification literacy course. School-University Partnerships, 10(1), 57-65.
Journal
School-University Partnerships
Analysis
Is this article part of a larger project or series of studies?
no
Does this study draw on a large, preexisting data set?
no
Research Approach
Geographic Setting
Institutional Context
Certification Level
Programatic Focus
Research Location Context
- Elementary Methods Course
- Reading methods
Preservice Participants
- undergraduate preservice teachers
Preservice Sample Size
48
Other Participant Data
- Cooperating teachers
- Students in tutorial setting
- University instuctors
Duration of Data Collection
Data Sources
- Interviews
- Inventories
- lesson plans
- Observations
- pre-/post-assessment
- student work
- weekly reflections
Data Analysis Tools
- ANOVA
- Qualitative Analysis
Researcher Positionality
- Inside (studying their own programs)
Research Questions
How specific PDS initiatives impact teaching practice and student learning?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Combination
What is the effect of a PDS embedded undergraduate literacy course on candidates’ pedagogical knowledge development and children’s literacy growth?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Combination