Elementary Teacher's Perspectives on Change in Reading Instruction

ISBN-13: 9783639047967 / Angielski / Miękka / 2008 / 192 str.

Sharon Peck

Opis

Voices of teachers participating in an abrupt curricular change over two years shed light on the complexities of teacher change processes, tracing the interplay of issues of teachers knowledge and experience on change. Qualitative analysis revealed that teachers experience of change was mediated by: their instructional biographies, the amount of control they held over their teaching, how teachers prior practices and understandings were valued and, the varying levels of support provided. Findings reinforce the complexity of the change process which is mediated by an interplay of factors and deviate from current literature portraying teachers as resistant to change. Rather, the ways in which teachers reacted and responded to the changes are highlighted. Findings suggest teachers change processes are mediated by the way in which their own knowledge and experiences are respected. Teachers, rather than resisting change, want support and time to develop deeper understandings of the change and literacy development. The focus must shift from teaching teachers to implement a particular method to increasing their understandings of how literacy develops.

O autorze

Peck, Sharon Sharon completed her doctoral work in literacy at the University at Albany in 2000 and now is a Assistant Professor of Literacy, at SUNY Geneseo where she teachers graduate and undergraduate courses in Literacy, leads an urban literacy clinic, supervises student teachers, and coordinates graduate reading programs. Sharon is the Project Director of -Reading and Writing the Community- and ongoing professional development program focused on meeting the needs of urban students through readers/writers workshops with the Rochester City School District. She earned tenure in September of 2008. She has also served as adjunct faculty at The College of St. Rose and Russell Sage College, as well as research assistant and co-instructor at the University at Albany.