Report provides new framework for literacy in teacher education
February 1, 2012
Every teacher must be prepared to teach reading and writing well from the first day on the job, say Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) researchers and others, in a new landmark report endorsed by the Ontario Association of Deans of Education (OADE).
The idea for the report came from OISE Dean Julia O’Sullivan who led the initiative on behalf of the OADE and posed the question: "What must be included in initial teacher education to ensure all graduates can teach reading and writing well from the first day on the job?" to guide the work.
Towards a foundation for teacher preparation in literacy education in Ontario represents the work of a panel of expert scholars from Ontario Faculties of Education including OISE’s Jan Pelletier, professor and director of the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study, Antoinette Gagné, OISE professor and director of the University of Toronto's Concurrent Teacher Education Program, and Rhonda Martinussen, professor of human development and applied psychology at OISE.
“This landmark report provides evidence-informed direction for teacher education in this critical area and represents the first initiative of its kind in the history of the OADE,” said Dean O’Sullivan today.
The panel drew from their latest research findings, made recommendations on how to achieve effective instruction in a wide range of literacy skills and was led by Lesly Wade Woolley of Queen’s University.
While reading proficiency is the best school-based indicator of high school graduation, the nature of literacy; from working with print-based texts to digital and online literacies, continues to change and teacher education programs must continue to adapt and respond.
OISE will now review the report and determine how the recommendations will be implemented in its initial and continuing teacher education programs. “With the dawn of a two-year teacher education program, we have an invaluable opportunity to address more fully this crucial issue for teacher candidates and for education in general,” said Dean O’Sullivan.
-30-