Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine undergraduate elementary education teacher candidates' abilities to successfully integrate social justice teaching into their interdisciplinary ELA and social studies thematic units. The projects were analyzed to determine the extent to which, if any, social justice education has been addressed.…

Black students and their linguistic resources are undervalued, disdained, disrespected, and disregarded in language arts classrooms. Not only is Black Language often ignored in English language arts instruction, but language more generally remains largely hidden within elementary ELA. Elementary ELA educators are tasked with teaching a vast array…

This qualitative study examined what teacher candidates learned in a field-based mediated Language Arts methods course, intentionally designed to support teacher candidates in learning what is possible rather than typical, in an urban school setting where curriculum is often prescriptive rather than generative. Culturally sustaining pedagogies…

In this article, the authors discuss the creation of an Urban Dual Credential Program (UDCP) at a large, comprehensive state university in California, a program meant to prepare dually-certified teachers in general education (California Multiple Subject Credential) and special education (California Education Specialist Credential in mild/moderate…

In this article, I argue for the need to improve teacher preparation (TP) courses for elementary education student teachers to teach English-language arts (ELA). In particular, these TP programs need to support student teachers in delivering culturally responsive pedagogy within rural classrooms. Twenty-three student teachers participated in this…

Suggests that the methods course instructor must replicate whatever language arts instruction is advocated for the schools in the area of language acquisition and the role of language in society. (RB)

Offers reflections of three professors of literacy education regarding their varied field experiences with preservice teachers enrolled in their reading/language arts methods courses. Describes each field experience and discusses its impact on classroom teachers, elementary students, college students, and college professors. Offers some general…

A discussion is presented of a semester-long collaborative project in whole language at the college level. Eight preservice teachers, seven inservice teachers, a school principal, and a university instructor worked together in Friday afternoon seminars. This paper gives an overview of multiple theoretical foundations: learning theory, critical…

Describes six texts designed for use in language arts methods courses for elementary school teachers. (DD)

Storytelling has long been recognized as a valuable tool in elementary instruction. Storytelling strategies improve concept integration, and also provide children with experiences of working collaboratively. Through a combined effort between faculty and a doctoral student, a workshop was implemented to introduce the topic of storytelling to…

Preservice teachers, with no student teaching experience, in a literacy methods course wrote profiles of themselves, pretending that they were first-year teachers, and profiles of actual experienced teachers. Findings from analysis of the profiles focus on preservice teachers' expectations about classroom environment, language arts teaching,…

Discusses, through a dialogue between an education professor and a student, a course entitled "Teaching Language Arts in the Elementary School." Describes selected aspects of the course, including purpose, plans, and results. Explains how the course helped prepare the student for teaching and how the dialogue helped the professor refine the…

Elementary language arts programs demand a balanced use of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. (JH)

Forty-two university students enrolled in an elementary school language arts methods course were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: (1) regular instruction supplemented by micro-teaching technique and videotape, (2) regular instruction supplemented by classroom observation in the public schools, and (3) regular instruction…