Murphy, B. Conway, P. & Murphy R.

2014 September

Language, Literacy and Literature: Re-imagining Teaching and Learning

Not my job! Perspectives of Irish student teachers on literacy development in the post-primary subject classroom

Reading Association of Ireland

Dublin

Published

1

reading literacy, adolescent literacy, teacher education, learning to teach, post-primary literacy

Reading literacy is now viewed as a core responsibility of responsibility of teachers and teacher educators. Adopting a socio-cultural perspective, this study focused on the beliefs, knowledge and experiences of post-primary student teachers about reading literacy. The data was collected through three interviews with each of 17 student teachers. Results suggest that the student teachers had some concerns about their own literacy, had a narrow conception of literacy and tended not to see literacy development as their responsibility. Results are discussed in terms of deepening and extending student teachers’ knowledge of literacy in ITE.