Educational policies requiring scripted reading curriculums limit early childhood pre-service teacher candidates

Abstract

When educational policies require pre-service teacher practicum mentors to continuously implement a mandated scripted reading curriculum, limits are placed on pre-service teachers observing only these reading instruction methods. Novice teachers, who are developing their reading pedagogy, need the opportunity to explore a variety of methods identified as best reading instruction practice. When the pre-service teacher candidates are repeatedly exposed to the scripted methods in practicums, the partnership between the university professors and practicum school systems can suffer. When attempting to bridge theory and practice, the pre-service teacher candidate is affected when they observe conflicting viewpoints between college professors and the hosting practicums during a stage of professional growth and teacher development. If pre-service teachers are without practicum opportunities to try creative reading teaching methods, a result of increased negative outlooks on the profession and future teacher burn-out is a possibility.