Research evidence suggests that quality teacher preparation sets beginning teachers on the right track for effectively teaching literacy. Given that most of the research has been conducted in the United States, there is a shortage of knowledge of the impact of teacher preparation for elementary literacy instruction in Canada. Similarly, little is known about the effect of program length and structure on graduates’ knowledge and skills. This thesis contains two studies aimed at addressing these gaps in the literature in the Ontario context. The majority of teacher preparation programs in Ontario are completed in one year, with the exception of 2 two-year teacher preparation programs. Study 1 is an exploratory investigation comparing the survey responses of 38 graduates from two-year programs with the responses of a matched sample of graduates from one-year programs on items related to their preparation for elementary literacy instruction. Paired-sample t-tests revealed that graduates from two-year programs reported spending significantly more time discussing literacy-related issues, had better knowledge of key literacy terms, felt better prepared for literacy instruction and were more likely to include evidence-based components as part of their literacy program. Study 2 is a qualitative investigation of two-year teacher preparation programs with a focus on literacy instruction. Thirty-eight graduates from both two-year programs in Ontario completed a survey. Ten of these graduates also completed an interview. Following a modified Grounded Theory approach, Study 2 presents a detailed analysis of two-year programs in Ontario including: a) the range of content regarding literacy instruction; b) the correspondence between the content and the evidence-based knowledge of effective literacy instruction; c) graduates’ knowledge base and skills for literacy instruction; and d) their feelings of preparedness. From a socio-cultural perspective, Study 2 also explored the processes and contexts that influence graduates’ formation as literacy instructors. The findings served as the basis for proposing a model for teacher preparation that encompasses the processes and contexts that mediate pre-service teachers’ development as literacy instructors. The proposed model outlines the necessary components to effectively prepare prospective teachers, based on scientific evidence, to ensure that all children learn to read and write.

Abstract Making Meaning, Out of Meaning Making by Alda M. Blakeney This study examines the ways in which three elementary teachers appropriated and implemented a defined literacy curriculum in their classrooms. The overarching question guiding the study is, “What are the social and cultural patterns of meaning making in the literacy practices of three elementary teachers?” The study is framed by sociocultural perspectives of learning (Bourdieu, 1986; Gee, n.d; Vygotsky, 1978). Literacy practices involve the cultural, social, political, and historical ways of interacting and making sense of the world. Therefore, to study literacy practices of three elementary teachers means to study the social and cultural contexts in which they occur. Field notes, interviews, and teacher-produced artifacts were analyzed using emergent coding schemes (Spradley, 1979; LeCompte and Schensul, 1999). Findings from the study revealed that the literacy practices of these three teachers were standards driven, emphasizing a foundational approach to literacy development. Additionally, the teachers focused on transforming Spanish speakers into English readers. These findings suggest that the social and cultural patterns of meaning making between and among teachers and learners are not equally represented in the curriculum. Moreover, the teachers did not disrupt commonly held beliefs and practices about literacy, thereby maintaining the status quo. Implications for this study including equipping teachers, both pre-service and in-service with knowledge of critical theory and literacy, with a goal of increased engagement in literacy practices and a democratized production of knowledge.

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The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand through the stories of three older adults, how literacy has influenced and shaped the quality of their lives. During a series of conversational interviews, each older adults was able to share stories about their lived experience of literacy and their perception of quality of life. Each adult has lived a unique life. Therefore, as a group, they cannot be viewed homogenously. Portions of their stories do intersect at various points but not in a way that will create generalized theories that can be extended to all older adults.<p>Although they encountered many obstacles and challenges throughout their lives, especially in the context of education and literacy, the older adults exhibited tenacity, perseverence, and resilience, eventually reaching their goals. One of the commonalities evident from their collection of stories was the enduring values that wove throughout each individual life, from the early years until the present day. These values provided the quality of life which each adult experienced.<p>The insights gleaned from these thre older adults may be helpful to other adults, friends and family, care givers, and service providers including educators who are interested in learning what constitutes quality of life from the perspective of older adults.

I denna uppsats undersöker vi hur pedagoger resonerar kring val av arbetssätt vid läs- och skrivundervisning samt hur pedagoger resonerar om individualisering vid läs- och skrivundervisning. Vi har valt att genomföra kvalitativa intervjuer för att undersöka syftet. Undersökningen utgår från sex pedagogers resonemang om sin läs- och skrivundervisning. Pedagoger som någon gång har varit verksamma i en årskurs 1 har intervjuats. Det teoretiska perspektiv som vi har använt oss av i denna uppsats är det sociokulturella perspektivet. Inom detta perspektiv är samspel centralt i undervisningen. Barn lär i olika sammanhang tillsammans med andra barn och vuxna.   Pedagogerna i vår undersökning valde arbetssätt utifrån tre avgörande faktorer, skolan, egna erfarenheter och barnen. Endast en pedagog i vår undersökning valde arbetssätt utifrån barnens erfarenheter. Utifrån ett sociokulturellt perspektiv bör man som pedagog ställa sig frågan hur i min läs- och skrivundervisning kan jag bygga vidare på barns erfarenheter. Pedagogerna i vår undersökning hade en ambition av att anpassa undervisningen efter varje barn. Alla ansåg dock att det var svårt att anpassa undervisningen efter barns enskilda behov.

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) has declared reading failure a national public health issue. Approximately 15-20 % of the US population displays one or more symptoms of dyslexia: a specific learning disability that affects an individual's ability to process language. Consequently, elementary school teachers are teaching students who struggle with inaccurate or slow reading, poor spelling, poor writing, and other language processing difficulties. However, studies have indicated both preservice and inservice teachers lack essential knowledge needed to teach struggling readers, particularly children with dyslexia. Few studies have sought to assess teachers', either preservice or inservice, knowledge and perceptions about dyslexia in conjunction with knowledge of basic language concepts related to reading instruction. Thus, the purpose of this dissertation was to examine elementary school preservice and inservice teachers' knowledge of basic language concepts and their knowledge and perceptions about dyslexia. Three separate studies were conducted, all addressing the overarching question: Are elementary teachers (K-5) prepared to teach struggling readers? In study one, research that has addressed teacher knowledge of basic language concepts was reviewed systematically. In studies two and three, a basic language constructs survey was used to assess the self-perceptions/knowledge of basic language concepts and knowledge/perceptions about the nature of dyslexia of preservice, first year, and more experienced teachers involved in teaching reading in grades K-5.

The purposes of this research are to development an e-Learning course based on the ¡§Moodle¡¨ learning management system, to discuss the possible strategies to combine teaching with e-Learning management system and to assess the learning effects from students after the teachers using e-Learning center as a teaching material. By learning these things, we hope to increase students¡¦ e-Learning interests and also to promote the instruct quality. This research uses¡¨ ADDIE¡¨ instructional systems design to design the ¡§Internet Literacy¡¨ and uses students from the fourth grade for our experiment to practice our seven weeks online courses. Moreover, we use the evaluations from professional teachers and students as a basis for revising our courses. The research result shows: 1. The first step to develop the e-Learning course is to analyze the learners¡¦ learning background and the learning contents of the courses. According to the learning background from the learners, we find out that though most students use internet very often, but they lack the learning experience of e-Learning courses. Thus, designers for e-Learning courses should focus more on learning service supports and the management of learning community. After analyzing the information education teaching materials for learners, we found out: The teaching material for current phase focuses more on cognitive teaching and skills simulation and it lacks the information for internet etiquette, internet safety interaction and internet information application; thus, it is a necessity to implementation ¡§Internet Literacy¡¨. 2. The design phase of ¡§Internet Literacy¡¨, designs for teaching doing assessment tools, designs for teaching strategies, plans for learning processes and plans for the learning community¡¦s managrment . Teachers need to edit and choose the e-Learning materials, and set-up an e-Learning management system and have the assessment of courses for the development phase for ¡§Internet Literacy¡¨. While designing e-Learning courses, teachers¡¦ workloads are heavier than the traditional way of teaching; however, it is more effective and more flexible while using the multimedia hyperlink, on-line tests, and discussion boards on¡¨ Moodle¡¨ learning management system . 3.The implementation phase of ¡§Internet Literacy¡¨:Teachers can handle students¡¦ individual learning progress and provide help for the students accordingly and it helps students to increase learning interests and it is more effective. Moreover, teachers can use the billboards, chat rooms and votes which are more interactive activities from the e-Learning center to increase students¡¦ interests on discussing internet-related topics and to help students exchanging their opinions, ideas and their feelings. 4. The assessment phase of ¡§Internet Literacy¡¨: By using online transcripts, online learning progresses and learning feedbacks, we know that this course is approved by most students. Additionally, students can reach their cognitive learning goals and skills after students take the learning tasks of Internet Literacy. However, it takes more time and more observations for emotional and attitude parts. The face-to-face teaching times are too less for this research project; thus, it is hard to understand whether the students¡¦ internet literacy has promote or not.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 238-244).

Thesis (EdD)--Open University.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University,2006. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.76-82).