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?
no
Does this study draw on a large, preexisting data set?
no
Research Approach
Geographic Setting
Institutional Context
Certification Level
- early childhood
- Primary (UK term)
Programatic Focus
Research Location Context
Preservice Participants
- Undergraduates (university based program)
Preservice Sample Size
9
Other Participant Data
- Students in tutorial setting
Duration of Data Collection
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