What About Writing? A National Exploratory Study of Writing Instruction in Teacher Preparation Programs
Abstract
This small scale, exploratory study reveals how writing instruction is taught to preservice teachers across the United States in university-based preservice teacher education programs based on online survey results from 63 teacher educators in literacy from 50 institutions. Despite the growing writing demands and high stakes writing sample testing in K–12 classrooms, our survey of literacy teacher educators indicated that teacher preparation programs rarely offer stand-alone writing instruction methods courses. Evidence suggests that writing methods are frequently embedded in reading methods courses. Equally concerning, data indicate a lack of confidence among many teacher educators regarding teaching writing methods. This study highlights the need for greater attention to writing in teacher preparation programs and adds to the conversation of why these issues continue to plague higher education.
Reference
Myers, J., Scales, R. Q., Grisham, D. L., Wolsey, T. D., Dismuke, S., Smetana, L., Yoder, K., Ikpeze, C., Ganske, K. & Martin, S. (2016). What about writing? A National exploratory study of writing instruction in teacher preparation programs. Literacy Research and Instruction, 55(4), 309-330.
Journal
Literacy 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
- Communities of Practice
- Exploratory study
- mixed methods
- Qualitiative
- Quantitative
- Socio-cultural theory (Wenger 1998, Vygotsky 1978)
- Survey
Geographic Setting
Institutional Context
Certification Level
Programatic Focus
- Literacy Education
- Writing
Research Location Context
Preservice Participants
- undergraduate preservice teachers
- University Professors (teacher educators)
Preservice Sample Size
Other Participant Data
Duration of Data Collection
Data Sources
- Closed ended questions
- descriptive response form
- email correspondence
- open ended questions
Data Analysis Tools
- coding (emergent categories)
- Constant comparative analysis
- Descriptive survey
- Frequency distribution
- Likert Scale
- Quantitative analysis
- Thematic analysis
Researcher Positionality
- Outside (not directly invested in the program or operations)
Research Questions
How do teacher educators in preservice teacher preparation programs learn to teach writing methods?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
How do teacher educators in preservice teacher preparation programs describe writing instruction in literacy methods courses?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
How do teacher educators who teach writing instruction to preservice teachers identify themselves as writers?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
How do teacher educators in preservice teacher preparation programs define writing?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes