Engaging Future Teachers to Reflect on How Reading and Writing Can Change Lives
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/wap.v2i1.91Keywords:
cognitive affective learning, reading, contemplative writing, literacy, preservice teacher education, community, identity constructionAbstract
This essay describes a literacy project involving college students who are preservice teachers and students in an urban alternative public school. Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” served as a touchstone or linchpin for the development of literacy skills and identity construction for both the college and secondary school students. Utilizing the idea of “a new neighborhood” as a metaphor and a goal, all students were given opportunities to engage with language, opening them up to a variety of new experiences and a new sense of belonging within a safe classroom environment.
References
Boyle, T. C. (1999) “Greasy Lake.” In R. P. Waxler and J. Trounstine (eds.) Changing Lives through Literature 15–24. Notre Dame, Indiana: Notre Dame Press.
Davis, B. and Sumara, D. (2002) Constructive discourses and the field of education: Problems and possibilities. Educational Theory 52(4): 409–428.
Dewey, J. (1899) The School and Society: Being Three Lectures by John Dewey, Supplemented by a Statement of the University Elementary School. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1915.
Frost, R. (1969) “The Road Not Taken.” In E. C. Lathem (ed.) The Poetry of Robert Frost: The Collected Poems 105. New York: Holt and Company.
Hall, M. P. and Archibald, O. (2008) Investigating contemplative practice in creative writing and education classes: A play (of practice and theory) in three acts. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning 2(1): 1–18.
Hall, M. P. and Waxler, R. P. (2007) It worked for criminals: It will work for middle schoolers. The Journal of Urban Education 4(1): 122–132.
Henson, K. T. (2003) Foundations for learner-centered education: A knowledge base. Education 124(1): 5–16.
Leguin, U. K. (1999) “The Wife’s Story.” In R. P. Waxler and J. Trounstine (eds.) Changing Lives through Literature 149–152. Notre Dame, Indiana: Notre Dame Press.
Oates, J. C. (1999) “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” In R. P. Waxler and J. Trounstine (eds.) Changing Lives through Literature 27–42. Notre Dame, Indiana: Notre Dame Press.
Piaget, J. (1954) Construction of Reality in the Child. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
Trounstine, J. and Waxler, R. P. (2004) Finding A Voice: The Practice of Changing Lives Through Literature. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978) Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Waxler, R. P. (1997) Success Stories: Life Skills Through Literature Washington, D.C.: U. S. Department of Education
Waxler, R. P. and Trounstine, J. (eds.) (1999) Changing Lives through Literature. Notre Dame, Indiana: Notre Dame Press.
Wheatley, M. J. and Whyte, D. (2006) A conversation on spirituality. In S. Awbrey, D. Dana, V. Miller, P. Robinson, M. Ryan, and D. Scott (eds.) Integrative Learning and Action: A Call to Wholeness 129–141. New York: Peter Lang.
Davis, B. and Sumara, D. (2002) Constructive discourses and the field of education: Problems and possibilities. Educational Theory 52(4): 409–428.
Dewey, J. (1899) The School and Society: Being Three Lectures by John Dewey, Supplemented by a Statement of the University Elementary School. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1915.
Frost, R. (1969) “The Road Not Taken.” In E. C. Lathem (ed.) The Poetry of Robert Frost: The Collected Poems 105. New York: Holt and Company.
Hall, M. P. and Archibald, O. (2008) Investigating contemplative practice in creative writing and education classes: A play (of practice and theory) in three acts. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning 2(1): 1–18.
Hall, M. P. and Waxler, R. P. (2007) It worked for criminals: It will work for middle schoolers. The Journal of Urban Education 4(1): 122–132.
Henson, K. T. (2003) Foundations for learner-centered education: A knowledge base. Education 124(1): 5–16.
Leguin, U. K. (1999) “The Wife’s Story.” In R. P. Waxler and J. Trounstine (eds.) Changing Lives through Literature 149–152. Notre Dame, Indiana: Notre Dame Press.
Oates, J. C. (1999) “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” In R. P. Waxler and J. Trounstine (eds.) Changing Lives through Literature 27–42. Notre Dame, Indiana: Notre Dame Press.
Piaget, J. (1954) Construction of Reality in the Child. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
Trounstine, J. and Waxler, R. P. (2004) Finding A Voice: The Practice of Changing Lives Through Literature. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Vygotsky, L. S. (1978) Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Waxler, R. P. (1997) Success Stories: Life Skills Through Literature Washington, D.C.: U. S. Department of Education
Waxler, R. P. and Trounstine, J. (eds.) (1999) Changing Lives through Literature. Notre Dame, Indiana: Notre Dame Press.
Wheatley, M. J. and Whyte, D. (2006) A conversation on spirituality. In S. Awbrey, D. Dana, V. Miller, P. Robinson, M. Ryan, and D. Scott (eds.) Integrative Learning and Action: A Call to Wholeness 129–141. New York: Peter Lang.
Published
2010-06-11
Issue
Section
Reflections on Practice
How to Cite
Hall, M. P., & Waxler, R. P. (2010). Engaging Future Teachers to Reflect on How Reading and Writing Can Change Lives. Writing and Pedagogy, 2(1), 91-101. https://doi.org/10.1558/wap.v2i1.91
