Incorporating Domestic Violence Awareness through an Undergraduate Reading Course Focused on Children's Literature

N

105

Childrens Literature; Undergraduate Students; Preservice Teachers; Methods Courses; Teacher Education Curriculum; Family Violence; Picture Books; Consciousness Raising; Undergraduate Study; Student Teacher Attitudes; Reading Instruction; Pretests Posttests; Knowledge Level; Teacher Responsibility; Student Behavior; Behavior Problems; Surveys; Discussion (Teaching Technique); Interviews; Prevention; Intervention; School Role; Reader Text Relationship; Bibliotherapy

This mixed methods study examined preservice teachers' awareness of domestic violence through an undergraduate reading course which focused on children's literature. Pre and post surveys were administered to preservice teachers to determine whether their knowledge and skills in recognizing signs of domestic violence in behaviors of the elementary students they teach would change. In addition, professional development was provided to the preservice teachers to provide a clearer understanding of recognizing signs of domestic violence. The population sample consisted of approximately 50 undergraduate students from three classes of a reading methods course which is generally taken during senior year prior to student teaching. The questions which guided this research focused on preservice teachers' awareness and dispositions towards domestic violence, and how their awareness and dispositions changed as a result of using children's literature for instruction and reading professional literature related to domestic violence for their own professional growth. This study provided information on preservice teachers' awareness of domestic violence prior to and following professional development and the preservice teachers' knowledge of domestic violence as a result of reading professional literature and children's literature pertaining to domestic violence. Lastly, this study examined preservice teachers' perceptions of specific traits of domestic violence via journal entries after reading children's literature. The results of this study showed an increase in preservice teachers' knowledge and skills pertaining to recognizing signs of domestic violence in behaviors of the students they teach. The data further revealed that the increase was due to the use of children's literature as part of instruction and trade journal articles as a part of teachers' professional development. The following appendixes are included: (1) Preservice Teacher Survey-Domestic Violence; (2) Consent Form; (3) List of Children's Picture Books for Domestic Violence Training; (4) Questions for Readings; (5) Using Children's Literature Activities to Discuss Feelings; (6) Using Children's Literature Activities to Discuss Domestic Violence; (7) Interview Questions; and (8) Permission to Conduct Research-Cabrini College. (Contains 9 tables.)

As Provided

76

2012

ED530074