Student engagement in the teaching and learning of grammar: A case study of an early-career secondary school English teacher

Abstract

This article reports a study of coauthor Laura Wright as she learned to teach secondary school grammar in four settings: university teacher education program, student teaching, her first job, and second job. Data for her university program came from Laura’s journals and projects from her course work. Data from student teaching and her first job included interviews and field notes from observations and interviews and self-reports by Laura of teaching conducted on other occasions. Information from her second job came from self-reports by Laura. The data were analyzed using a system that identified the pedagogical tools Laura employed and the attributions she made for learning how to use them. The data suggest that Laura sought to teach in ways that students found engaging, meaningful, enjoyable, and relevant. How she was able to make grammar instruction fit this goal varied according to the setting in which her instruction took place.

Reference

Smagorinsky, P., Wright, L., Murphy-Augustine, S., O'Donnell-Allen, C., & Konopak, B. (2007). Student engagement in the teaching and learning of grammar: A case study of an early-career secondary school English teacher. Journal of Teacher Education, 58(1), 76-90. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022487106295727

Journal

Journal of Teacher Education

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

none stated

Geographic Setting

Southwestern United States

Institutional Context

University based

Certification Level

Secondary

Programatic Focus

English

Research Location Context

Secondary school
student teaching placement schools
University

Preservice Participants

Undergraduates (university based program)

Preservice Sample Size

Other Participant Data

Cooperating teachers

Duration of Data Collection

More than 1 year

Data Sources

course materials
Interviews
Observations
Syllabi from University courses
University coursework assignment (e.g. writing/project done for a grade)

Data Analysis Tools

coding (non-specific)

Researcher Positionality

inside (staying their own students)
Inside (studying their own programs)

Research Questions

" In the four primary settings of her learning to teach—her university course work and practica, her student teaching, her first job, and her second job—how did Laura endeavor to teach grammar and usage as part of her broader goal to teach in ways that were engaging; that is, in ways that her students found enjoyable, interesting, and relevant?"
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes