logo logo International Journal of Educational Methodology

IJEM is a leading, peer-reviewed, open access, research journal that provides an online forum for studies in education, by and for scholars and practitioners, worldwide.

Subscribe to

Receive Email Alerts

for special events, calls for papers, and professional development opportunities.

Subscribe

Publisher (HQ)

RHAPSODE
Eurasian Society of Educational Research
College House, 2nd Floor 17 King Edwards Road, Ruislip, London, HA4 7AE, UK
RHAPSODE
Headquarters
College House, 2nd Floor 17 King Edwards Road, Ruislip, London, HA4 7AE, UK
Research Article

Promoting Pre-Service Teachers’ Reading Attitudes through Literature Circles: A Mixed Methods Design

Birsen Dogan , Kasim Yildirim , Hulya Cermik , Seyit Ates

This study explores the impact extended participation in literature circles had on the reading attitudes of university-age pre-service teachers follow.

T

This study explores the impact extended participation in literature circles had on the reading attitudes of university-age pre-service teachers following their involvement in literature circles for one academic year, as part of their training. The participants of the study consisted of 21 pre-service teachers with a low or moderate level of reading habits and reading attitudes. The research was conducted through a mixed methods approach. Although both quantitative and qualitative data were collected in the study, particular emphasis was given to the data collected from the qualitative part (quan+QUAL). In line with the quantitative data, it was concluded in the study that extended involvement in the literature circles had a positive effect on the reading attitudes of the pre-service teachers. The qualitative data, which was obtained through interviews, revealed four themes. The themes emerged as love and desire for reading, benefits of reading, importance of reading and reading habits as a result of the analysis. The results obtained from the research are important in terms of contributing to the improvement of pre-service teachers who will play important roles in Turkey’s becoming a literate society.

Keywords: Pre-service teacher education, instructional practices, mixed methods, literature circles, reading attitudes.

cloud_download PDF
Cite
Article Metrics
Views
966
Download
1439
Citations
Crossref
6

Scopus
5

References

Almasi, J. F. (1995). The nature of fourth graders’ sociocognitive conflicts in peer-led and teacher-led discussions of literature. Reading Research Quarterly, 30(3), 314-351.

Aytan, T. (2018). Perceptions of prospective Turkish teachers regarding literature circles. International Journal of Educational Methodology, 4(2), 53-60. https://doi.org/10.12973/ijem.4.2.53

Applegate, A. J., & Applegate, M. D. (2004). The Peter Effect: Reading habits and attitudes of preservice teachers. The Reading Teacher, 57(6), 554-563.

Bernadowski, C. (2013). Improving the reading attitudes of college students: Using literature circles to learn about content reading.  Journal on English Language Teaching, 3(3), 16-24.

Binks-Cantrell, E., Washburn, E. K., Joshi, R. M., & Hougen, M. (2012). Peter effect in the preparation of reading teachers. Scientific Studies of Reading, 16(6), 526–536.

Bowers-Campbell, J. (2011). Take it out of class: Exploring virtual literature circles. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 54(8), 557-567.

Brabham, E. G., & Villaume, S. K. (2000). Questions and answers: Continuing conversations about literature circles. The Reading Teacher, 54(3), 278-280.

Bromley, K., Faughnan, M., Ham, S., Miller, M., Armstrong, T., Crandall, C., Garrison, J., & Marrone, N. (2014). Literature circles go digital. The Reading Teacher, 68(3), 229-236.

Brooks, G. (2007). Teachers as readers and writers and as teachers of reading and writing. The Journal of Educational Research, 100(3), 177-191.

Burbank, M. D., Kauchak, D., & Bates, A. J. (2010). Book clubs as professional development opportunities for preservice teacher candidates and practicing teachers: An exploratory study. The New Educator, 6(1), 56-73.

Burgess, S. R., Sargent, S., Smith, M., Hill, N., & Morrison, S. (2011). Teachers' leisure reading habits and knowledge of children's books: Do they relate to the teaching practices of elementary school teachers? Reading Improvement, 48(2), 88-102.

Burke, B. M. (2016). Developing world language students’ proficiency with reader’s workshops and extensive reading during literature circles. In A. J. Moeller (Ed.), Fostering connections, empowering communities (pp. 205-229). Robert M. Terry.

Clarke, L. W., & Holwadel, J. (2007). Help! What is wrong with these literature circles and how can we fix them? The Reading Teacher, 61(1), 20-29.

Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage Publications Inc.

Creswell, J. W. (2005). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (2nd ed.). Pearson Education Inc.

Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. P. (2018). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Sage Publications Inc.

Coccia, L. (2015). Literature circles and their improvement on comprehension a focus on elementary students [Unpublished master’s thesis]. St. John Fisher College.

Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Daniels, H. (2002). Literature circles voice and choice in book clubs and reading groups. Pembroke Publishers.

Dogan, B., & Cermik, H. (2016). Kitap okumaya yonelik tutum olcegi: Gecerlik ve guvenirlik calismasi [Attitude scale towards reading: Validity and reliability study]. Education Sciences, 11(3), 168-183.

Dogan, B., & Kaya-Tosun, D. (2020). An effective method in improving social skills: Literature circles, International Journal of Educational Methodology, 6(1), 199-206. 

Flood, J., & Lapp, D. (1994). Teacher book clubs: Establishing literature discussion groups for teachers. The Reading Teacher, 47, 574-576.

Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., & Airasian, P. (2009). Educational Research: Competencies for analysis and applications (9th ed.). Pearson Education Inc.

Goudvis, A., & Harvey, S. (2000). Strategies that work: Teaching comprehension to enhance understanding. Stenhouse

Hassan, H.S. (2018). Instructors' attitude on the use of ‘literature circles’ in teaching literature. Polytechnic Journal, 8(2), 142-158.

Heineke, A. J. (2014). Dialoging about English learners: Preparing teachers through culturally relevant literature circles, Action in Teacher Education, 36(2), 117-140.

Keene, E. O., & Zimmermann, S. (2007). Mosaic of thought: The power of comprehension strategy instruction. Portsmouth.

King, C. (2002). ‘I like group reading because we can share ideas’: The role of talk within the literature circle. Reading, 35(1), 32-36.

Larson, J., & Marsh, J. (2005). Making literacy real: theories and practices for learning and teaching. Sage Publications.

Lloyd, S. L. (2004). Using comprehension strategies as a springboard for student talk.  Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 48(2), 114-124.

Marchiando, K. (2013). Creating lifelong readers: Student ownership and peer interaction in literature circles. Illinois Reading Council Journal, 41(3), 13-21.

McKool, S. S., & Gespass, S. (2009). Does Johnny's reading teacher love to read? How teachers' personal reading habits affect ınstructional practices. Literacy Research and Instruction, 48(3), 264-276.

Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis. Thousand Oaks.

Monroe-Baillargeon, A., & Shema, A. L. (2010). Time to talk: An urban school’s use of literature circles to create a professional learning community. Education and Urban Society, 42(6) 651-673.

Morrison, T. G., Jacobs, J. S., & Swinyard, W. R. (1998). Do teachers who read personally use recommended literacy practices in their classroom. Literacy Research and Instruction, 38(2), 81-100.

Morrow, L. M. (1990). Preparing the classroom environment to promote literacy during play. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 5(4), 537-554.

Oslick, M. E. (2011). Inquiry in teacher literature circles. Florida Association of Teacher Educators Journal, 1(11), 44-56.

Powell, R., McIntyre, E., & Rightmyer, E. (2006). Johnny won’t read, and Susie won’t either: Reading instruction and student resistance. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, 6(1), 5-31.

Pressley, M., Rankin, J., & Yokoi, L. (1996). A survey of instructional practices of primary teachers nominated as effective in promoting literacy. The Elementary School Journal, 96(4), 363-384.

Protzko, J., Aronson, J., & Blair, C. (2013). How to make a young child smarter. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 8(1), 25-40.

Rosenblatt, L. M. (1978). The reader, the text, the poem: The transactional theory of the literary work. Southern Illinois University Press.

Rosenblatt, L. M. (2004). The transactional theory of reading and writing. In R. B. Ruddell & N. J. Unrau (Eds.), Theoretical models and processes of reading (pp. 1363-1368). International Reading Association.

Salkind, N. J. (2000). Exploring research. Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Sanacore, J. (2013). “Slow down, you move too fast”: Literature circles as reflective practice. The Clearing House, 86(3), 116-120.

Sandmann, A., & Gruhler, D. (2007). Reading is thinking. International Journal of Learning, 13(10), 105-113.

Sarantakos, S. (2005). Social Research (3rd ed.). Palgra and Macmillian.

Seitz, L. (2010). Student attitudes toward reading: A case study. Journal of Inquiry and Action in Education, 3(2), 30-44.

Shelton-Strong, S. J. (2012). Literature circles in ELT. ELT Journal, 66(2), 214-223.

Shelton-Strong, S. J. (2019). An analysis of collaborative dialogue in literature circles. In C. Jones (Ed.), Literature, spoken language and speaking skills in second language learning (pp. 176-201). Cambridge University Press.

Simpson, A. (1995). Not the class novel: A different reading program. Journal of Reading, 38(4), 290-294.

Sowder, W. H. (1993). Fostering discussion in the language-arts classroom. The English Journal, 82(6), 39-42.

Straits, W., & Nichols, S. (2006). Literature circles for science. Science and Children, 44(3), 52-55.

Thein, A. H., Guise, M., & Sloan, D. L. (2011). Problematizing literature circles as forums for discussion of multicultural and political texts. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 55(1), 15-24.

Tracey, D., & Morrow, L. M. (2006). Lenses on reading: An introduction to theories and models. Guilford Press.

Trivette, C. M., & Dunst, C. J. (2007). Relative effectiveness of dialogic, interactive, and shared reading interventions. Center for Early Literacy Learning Reviews, 1(2), 1-12.

Von Sprecken, D., & Krashen, S. (1998). Do students read during sustained silent reading? The California Reader, 32(1), 11-13.

Vygotsky, L. S. (1978) Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Harvard University Press.

Whittingham, J. (2014). Reading motivation: A study of literature circles. Academic Exchange Quarterly, 18(2), 1096-1453

...