The Education Perspective: Why Writing Is Essential for

Teacher Training

Andrew Smyth, Assistant Professor of EnglishSCSU Teaching Academy:“A Passion for Learning”

June 9, 2008

Reflective Practitioners

Goal is to instill a regular habit of reflection on teaching practice Oral: Group Protocols; Problem-solving Writing: Regular Reflections,

Observations, and Multigenre Adaptations

Writing regularly and in different modes produces pedagogical insights.

CI 2800: “Teachers, Schools, and Learners”

Intro to Education course at Appalachian State University

Mostly Sophomores Mixed Disciplines and Grade-Level

Aspirations (pre-K through 12) Writing- and Computer-Designated

Course

Field Work: 5th Dimension http://www.ced.appstate.edu/projects/

5d/index.html

Afterschool Program in Local Elementary Schools (twice a week)

Play-Oriented, Computer-Oriented Heavy Emphasis on Vygotsky’s Zone

of Proximal Development

Thanks to Appalachian State University, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, for permission to link to their websites.

Weekly Field Notes Electronic Database

http://survey.rcoe.appstate.edu/2800fieldnotes Weekly Entries Instructor Responses (brief) Repetition of Structure Essential for

Development of Pedagogical Insights and Teacher Dispositions.

Course Connections Section affirms understanding at a practical level.

Field Notes Synthesis

Essay is typical format, but variety of writings are available and encouraged.

College-wide rubric focuses on course expectations, conceptual framework, dispositions, and other elements of teacher training.

Multigenre at SCSU: Methods, Observation Journals, and Student Teaching

EDU 490 (Secondary English Methods) folds into Student Teaching.

Students write preliminary observation reports and journals on their first two weeks of teaching.

Journals provide content for multigenre exploration of developing pedagogy.

Student Sample: http://samgenre.blogspot.com/

Thanks to SCSU student Jon Sam for permission to post his creative reflection on teaching.

For more information on multigenre writing, see Tom Romano, Blending Genre, Altering Style: Writing Multigenre Papers (Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook, 2000).