Exploring Evolving Role(s) of Literacy in Secondary Preservice Teachers’ Work: A Comparative Case Study

Abstract

While literacy courses are common in preservice teacher education programs, many secondary teacher candidates struggle to the see the relevance of literacy to their professional work. By exploring literacy in relation to personal, professional, and disciplinary identities, teacher candidates may better be able to embrace literacy integration as an important part of their larger professional work. This study examines how two teachers, Emma (art) and Lisa (physical education/dance), evolve in their understanding and implementation of literacy during a one-semester secondary literacy course. Given opportunities to engage with literacy through reflection on their personal experiences and within discipline-rich professional contexts through lesson planning, these two teachers demonstrate subtle but important shifts in both literacy use and perspective toward the role of literacy in their future professional practice.

Reference

Hsieh, B. (2017). Exploring Evolving Role (s) of Literacy in Secondary Preservice Teachers’ Work: A Comparative Case Study. Literacy Research and Instruction, 56(4), 342-361.

Journal

Literacy Research and Instruction

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

Case study

Geographic Setting

California

Institutional Context

University based

Certification Level

Secondary

Programatic Focus

not stated

Research Location Context

Literacy methods course

Preservice Participants

Not stated

Preservice Sample Size

Other Participant Data

University instuctors

Duration of Data Collection

15 weeks

Data Sources

assignments
lesson plans
reflective essay

Data Analysis Tools

Coding (descriptive)
Theoretical memos

Researcher Positionality

inside (staying their own students)

Research Questions

"What is the relationship between various elements of TCs’ personal and professional identities and their use of literacy in their lesson planning?" (p. 346)
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes

"How do experiences with literacy impact their perspectives toward literacy as a tool in their professional lives?" (p. 346)
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes