Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to understand how to best support preservice elementary teachers as they interpret and apply academic language in beginning reading instruction for meeting students’ diverse literacy learning needs. This presentation focuses on analysis of the use of academic language in students’ diagnostic and open response practice exam essays in light of their identified regional demographics.

Theoretical rationale and significance:
Looking through a neo-Vygotskian theoretical lens (Kozulin, Gindis, Ageyev, & Miller, 2003), the researchers’ goal was to determine how to best prepare teacher candidates to pass the evidence-based reading licensure exam. The preservice teachers were asked to “engage in new practices” (p.9) using previously unfamiliar academic language and needed “supported opportunities to internalize those practices deeply,” (p.9-10) through interpretation and application of their content knowledge. Using assessment to inform instruction (Reutzel & Cooter, 2019; Risko & Walker-Dalhouse, 2010), the researchers sought the preservice teachers’ understandings of elementary students’ use of reading comprehension strategies and word analysis skills and if that knowledge paralleled application of academic language so that curriculum changes could be instituted as needed.

Method:
Open response practice items were analyzed for content and interpreted through the constant comparative method using inductive reasoning.

Data Sources:
A questionnaire, initial open response practice essays, final open response essays, and the exit survey were the sources for data collection. First semester senior undergraduates enrolled in the elementary education program at a mid-south state university participated in this research study.

These preservice teachers were able to successfully apply the academic language necessary for teaching beginning reading to the diagnostic items on the exam when provided with scaffolded support.

Keywords:

Rural preservice teachers, academic language access, licensure exams, elementary reading instruction.