Hope, happiness, and reciprocity: A thematic analysis of preservice teachers’ relationships with their reading buddies
Abstract
Tutoring is an important and effective means of helping young readers and writers who are experiencing difficulties. However, little is known about what kinds of relational qualities might accompany successful tutoring or how we might identify them. To address these issues, we analyzed the reflective writings of tutors in 10 tutor-student pairs classified as "very successful" or "less successful" by student achievement assessments. Results suggest that very successful tutoring pairs were deeply engaged in the human activity of caring and reciprocity. They also expressed a deep commitment by envisioning their students' futures in a hopeful manner and engaged in continual revision of their teaching. Less successful tutors had more conflicted relationships. Results suggest that helping tutors with strategy instruction and developing strong positive relationships with those they tutor may increase benefits for children.
Reference
Lysaker, J., McCormick, K., & Brunette, C. (2004). Hope, happiness, and reciprocity: A thematic analysis of preservice teachers' relationships with their reading buddies. Reading Research and Instruction, 44(2), 21-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19388070409558425
Journal
Reading Research and Instruction
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
Preservice Participants
- undergraduate preservice teachers
Preservice Sample Size
15
Other Participant Data
- Students in tutorial setting
Duration of Data Collection
Data Sources
- Observations
- Reading growth
- reflections
Data Analysis Tools
- open coding and examined for emergent themes
Researcher Positionality
- inside (staying their own students)
Research Questions
"Are there differences in how more successful and less successful tutors describe their tutoring experiences?" (p.4).
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
"In what ways are relational qualities of tutoring pairs made visible by tutors?" (p.4).
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
"What kinds of relational qualities can be identified in successful versus less successful tutoring pairs?" (p.4).
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
"What are the implications for teacher education in identifying and valuing particular relational qualities for the education of teachers?" (p.4).
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes