This phenomenological study explored best practices to increase preservice teacher self-efficacy before the student teaching semester. The research was guided by this central inquiry and three sub-questions. Using a pre- and post-phenomenon survey instrument as well as an initial questionnaire and a final reflection, preservice teachers who were…

This qualitative analysis of experiential reflections in two English methods courses considers the ways that perceptions of literacy can shape understandings of social justice and social justice pedagogy. Although social justice is an essential component of English teacher education, scholars are still attempting to transcend theoretical…

Several educational researchers have critiqued the increasing marginalization of foundations coursework in teacher education programs within the United States. Situated within a teacher certification program at a Predominately White Institution without foundations courses, this self-study examined an English methods course designed to address this…

There is consensus in the literature that teacher education programs exhibit the characteristics of complex systems. These characteristics of teacher education programs as complex systems challenges the conventional, teacher-directed/ textbook-based positivist approaches in teacher education literature which has tried to reduce the complexities…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe a pedagogical innovation -- a matrix construction exercise -- intended to help pre-service teachers (PTs) navigate the multiple and oftentimes competing discourses that shape the school subject English Language Arts (ELA). Design/methodology/approach: To explore the various ways the PTs drew on the…

The practice of inclusion as a response to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act means that English teachers teach students who demonstrate a wide range of abilities in the same classroom. This qualitative study explored the developing attitudes toward differentiation of English education teacher candidates participating in a methods…

Fifteen graduate students enrolled in an English methods class were organized into three book clubs to participate in online literature discussion. Participants' posts about their reading included evidence of group harmony, text focus, text connections, and aesthetic responses. The findings suggest that an online format allows for natural,…

One major stumbling block to the development of innovative English teachers lies in the basic design of teacher education programs. Most prospective teachers of English usually take no more than one course which deals explicitly with the methods of teaching English, while 80 to 85 percent of teacher preparation deals with content areas. The…

This is a report of a year of experimental teaching at Southeastern State College, Oklahoma, in 1970-71. The experimental nature of the research was to employ ideas and methods of contemporary "romantic" educational theorists in teaching an undergraduate English methods class and an experienced teacher graduate class in Recent Trends in English…

Evaluations of three English methodology courses at Bradley University, Illinois, were made to determine which course or combination of courses was most effective in preparing the student to teach English in the secondary school. Questionnaires completed by Bradley graduates teaching English in secondary schools indicated that none of the three…

Teacher educators have come to appreciate that the teaching of difficult subjects combines knowledge of content and knowledge of generic teaching methods. A study was conducted, therefore, to explore the potential of cases to carry pedagogical content knowledge. A case was developed describing how an expert teacher goes about teaching…

The results of two studies of methods courses for prospective secondary-school teachers of English are presented in this publication. On the basis of 196 responses to questionnaires (an approximate 33% return), the first study provides information on the academic backgrounds and professional activities of methods teachers, and on the methods…

This chronological survey, extending from the laws passed in 1642 in Massachusetts to establish schools for the teaching of reading and writing to the 1968 Guidelines for the Preparation of Teachers of English, presents a discussion of varying attitudes toward English teaching and English teacher education. Divergent opinions on many topics are…