Six case studies of preservice teachers and the development of language learning theories /
| Main Author: | |
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| Other Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1989.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | ProQuest, Abstract Link to OAKTrust copy |
| Abstract: | This ethnographic study describes the theory development of six preservice teachers, first as students in a university language arts class and then as student teachers in public school classrooms. The teacher educator functioned as a teacher/researcher. Data were collected from interviews with the preservice teachers before, during, and at the end of student teaching. Each student teacher was observed teaching language in the elementary classroom and the Theoretical Orientation to Reading Profile (TORP) was administered to the preservice teachers three times during the study. Factors that appear to contribute to the language theory development of preservice teachers can generally be classified as influences from the university, from personal experiences as a language learner, from experiences with children, and from student teaching. A key conclusion is that the traditional view of theory is inconsistent with the data from this study. Based on the data from the six preservice teachers, theory is redefined as a transactional process. Preservice teachers are theorists and their theories can move from being implicit to becoming explicit and from being personal to becoming more formal. The conclusions from this study have implications for teacher education. Teacher educators should recognize the importance of: (a) establishing an understanding of the theoretical foundations of various teaching methods, (b) developing an awareness of personal theory and encouraging the expression and building of that theory, and (c) examining the relationship theory has to decision making and the effects of those instructional decisions. |
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| Item Description: | Typescript (photocopy). Vita. "Major subject: Curriculum and instruction." |
| Physical Description: | viii, 96 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |