Connecting preservice teachers with students: Using email to build skills for teaching writing
Abstract
Students in a second grade classroom were partnered with preservice teachers. Before the project started, an assessment of the preservice teachers was done to determine knowledge regarding the curriculum standards for the state's writing objectives. The students and preservice teachers wrote to each other over the course of two semesters discussing books being read by the second graders. Preservice teachers were required to give input on student writing and to make periodic assessments of the second graders' growth in writing skills using the state standards for writing. By the end of the year, second graders all showed increases in writing skills while preservice teachers all showed tremendous growth in knowledge, understanding, and application of standards for writing.
Reference
Davenport, N. A. M. (2006). Connecting preservice teachers with students: Using email to build skills for teaching writing. Journal of Reading Education, 31(2), 13-19.
Journal
Journal of Reading Education
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
- Qualitiative
- teacher research
Geographic Setting
Institutional Context
Certification Level
Programatic Focus
- early childhood education
- Elementary
Research Location Context
- Elementary school
- University
Preservice Participants
- Undergraduates (university based program)
Preservice Sample Size
Other Participant Data
Duration of Data Collection
Data Sources
- email correspondence
- written feedback sheets
- written reflections/class papers
Data Analysis Tools
Researcher Positionality
- inside (staying their own students)
Research Questions
How can beginning teachers learn to teach writing?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
What ideas, concepts, strategies, and tools for teaching writing can preservice teachers develop during coursework?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
How can their field experiences shape their understanding and uses of these ideas and tools?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes