This qualitative case study examines the influence of a whole language methods course on a preservice teacher's ideas and student teaching performance. In addition it explores significant problems the participant had when she attempted to apply theory in practice and the influence of block instructors, classroom teachers, primary school students, and block classmates on the participant's development in whole language. The study took place during the participant's whole language block semester at the University of Arizona in Tucson, in which preservice teachers learned teaching methods in language arts, reading, and social studies through both classroom sessions and a practicum, at Borton Primary Magnet School, whose principal was a well-known proponent of whole language education. The participant's apprenticeship classroom teacher utilized an integrated curriculum in a holistic paradigm. The study continued until the participant finished her student teaching in the same classroom. The data included exchange journals, videotapes, field notes, audiotapes, oral interviews, documents, memos, and photographs. K. S. Goodman's five pillars of whole language and Cambourne's eight optimal conditions for learning were used as frameworks for the data analysis. The results of the analysis were presented in chronological and analytical descriptions. The chronological description portrayed the stages of the participant's growth in whole language during the block semester and her attempts to translate theory into use during student teaching. The analytical description elaborated the results of the data analysis within the two whole language frameworks. The results of this study emphasize the importance of immersion in whole language in order to develop in whole language, the value of the transactional paradigm in teaching and learning, and the power of a community of learners.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/282864 |
| Date | January 1999 |
| Creators | Yokota, Reiko |
| Contributors | Goodman, Kenneth S. |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Dissertation-Reproduction (electronic) |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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