A New Approach to the Study of Teacher Self-Efficacy and Writing

• In Event: Roundtable Session 95
  In Roundtable Session: Narrative Inquiry, Self-Efficacy, and Learning From Experienced Teachers

Abstract

The ability to carry out a given task is dependent on one’s perceived ability to perform that task. Even if teachers are prepared to teach writing, they may not feel confident in their ability to teach those skills. Self-efficacy, widely ignored by the writing research community, is an important factor to consider in the teaching of writing. This study developed a new instrument measuring a teachers’ writing self-efficacy when teaching writing. The Teaching Writing Self-Efficacy Scale (TWSES) explains approximately 52% of the variance of the construct with over 97% score reliability (α = .973) with 4th through 7th grade educators. The TWSES can be used to assess in-service educators’ knowledge gaps in teaching writing for teacher-driven, research-based, professional development.

Author

• Stacy Hughey Surman, The University of Alabama