What About Writing? A National Exploratory Study of Writing Instruction in Teacher Preparation Programs. Issue 4 (1st October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Myers, Joy; Scales, Roya Q.; Grisham, Dana L.; Wolsey, Thomas DeVere; Dismuke, Sherry; Smetana, Linda; Yoder, Karen Kreider; Ikpeze, Chinwe; Ganske, Kathy; Martin, Susan
• Is Part Of: Literacy research and instruction. Volume 55:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 309
• Page End: 330
• Publication Date: 2016-10-01
• Subjects: Literacy education -- teacher education -- writing instruction; Literacy -- Periodicals; Reading -- Periodicals; Children -- Books and reading -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 428.4
• DOI: 10.1080/19388071.2016.1198442
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1938-8071

Abstract

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.