Learning to Teach Writing in Social Studies: Preservice Teachers and Their Student Teaching Placements

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 9:00 am Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Innovating Social Studies Teacher Education: Fostering Critical Engagement and Cultural Understanding (Table 10)

Abstract

This practitioner inquiry study explores writing instruction in social studies teacher education, focusing on the experiences of pre-service teachers (PSTs) in their student teaching placements. Writing in secondary social studies is often limited to five-paragraph historical argument essays. However, writing can also be a tool for disciplinary inquiry and civic engagement. Our research examines PSTs' writing-related experiences and how they reconcile differences between the expansive writing approaches taught in their methods course and those observed and attempted in classrooms. Through surveys and interviews, we identify patterns in the writing instruction PSTs observe and the types of writing and scaffolds they engage in their student teaching.

Authors

• Andrew del Calvo, University of Pennsylvania

• Amy Guillotte, University of Pennsylvania