“You teach!” beginning teachers’ challenges to teacher educators
Abstract
This research describes three beginning teachers and the development of their literacy instruction. Research questions addressed included a) what characterized their instruction throughout their beginning years of teaching and b) were they using the content from their literacy methods coursework? Additionally, as their former teacher for literacy methods courses, I wanted to reflect on and improve my own instruction in these methods courses. The three teachers' approach to instruction developed in similar patterns. First, they all relied on mandated and suggested curricula and neglected integration of ideas not listed in the curricula. Second, they each went through periods of abandoning the curricula in favor of creating their own plans. Third, they all asked me to teach for them, while they watched. This development was not linear; rather, their development occurred in a recursive pattern. Implications are described for teacher educators regarding how we might better facilitate beginning teachers' learning.
Reference
Massey, D. (2004). “You teach!” beginning teachers’ challenges to teacher educators. Reading Research and Instruction, 43(4), 75-94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19388070409558417
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
Preservice Sample Size
3
Duration of Data Collection
Data Sources
- email correspondence
- fieldnotes
- Informal conversations
- Interviews
- lesson plans
- Observations
Data Analysis Tools
- Analytic memos
- coding (emergent categories)
- Constant comparative analysis
- grounded theory
- member checking
Researcher Positionality
- inside (staying their own students)
Research Questions
"What characterized their instruction throughout their beginning years of teaching?" (p. 76)
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
"Were they using the content from their literacy methods coursework?" (p. 76)
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
"as their former teacher for literacy methods courses, I wanted to reflect on and improve my own instruction in these methods courses." (p. 76)
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes