Influences on Teachers’ Instructional Practices in Writing

• In Event: Poster Session 7
  In Poster Session: Voices and Choices Influencing the Professional Development of Teachers and Teacher Education

Abstract

The paper identified the writing practices of and influences on 20 elementary teachers who used differing curricular materials and had access to varying types of professional development. Using classroom observations and interviews, the researchers categorized teachers’ practices into: 9 workshop plus traits, 1 skills, 5 traits plus skills, and 5 other/hybrid. Curricular materials and professional development had a major influence on teachers’ practices. The study extends previous research by examining practices and argues that increased hybridity of teachers’ practices may be due to the changes in curriculum such as Units of Study that are combining features of workshop and genre.

Authors

• Sarah J. McCarthey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Rebecca L. Woodard, University of Illinois