What are you reading in book groups? Developing reading lives in teacher candidates
Abstract
This study investigated changing attitudes toward reading among elementary and secondary teacher candidates participating in in-class book-group discussions in an introductory language and literacy course taught by two instructors in a medium-sized state teacher education program. Qualitative methods focused on students' weekly self-reports over the semester of the study as well as teacher observations, focus-group discussions, and end-of-semester written reflections. The instructors found that students' attitudes and dispositions changed to varying degrees over time as they adopted both engaged reader and professional dispositions toward the importance of nurturing a reading life. For many, the book group was the most valuable part of their course experience. Some, however, were resistant.
Reference
Lassonde, C., Stearns, K., & Dengler, K. (2005). What are you reading in book groups? Developing reading lives in teacher candidates. Action in Teacher Education, 27 (2), 43. http://dx.doi.org/53. 10.1080/01626620.2005.1046338
Journal
Action in 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
Programatic Focus
Research Location Context
- Literacy methods course
- University
Preservice Participants
- Undergraduates (liberal arts college program)
- Undergraduates (university based program)
Preservice Sample Size
185
Duration of Data Collection
Data Sources
- course materials
- Focus group discussions
- Focus group interviews
- online discussions
- reading journals
- student reflections
- Survey
Data Analysis Tools
- coding (non-specific)
- Qualitative Analysis
Researcher Positionality
- inside (staying their own students)
Research Questions
We sought to explore how teacher candidates participating in book groups in an academic setting develop as readers and preprofessionals.
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes