Theoretical Orientations to Reading and Reading Instructional Practices of Selected Home-Education Parents in Southwest Michigan

<p>Problem. This research study sought to determine <br />(1) home educators' beliefs about reading, <br />(2) their reading instructional practices, and <br />(3) the consistency between parents' beliefs and practice.</p> <p>Method. This study used multiple sources of data. Demographic information was collected from 78 active home educators in southwest Michigan. DeFord's (1985) Theoretical Orientation to Reading Profile (TORP) determined parents' theoretical orientation to reading. Nine parents were interviewed and observed teaching reading. The Moss (1980) Classroom Analysis of Teachers' Theoretical Orientation (CATTOR) was used to record parents' instructional practices in reading. Documents utilized during instruction were analyzed and placed in one or more of the three categories: phonics, skills, and whole language.</p> <p>Results. The TORP indicated that 51 of the parents held the skills orientation; 27 held the phonics orientation; and no parent held a whole language orientation. Using the CATTOR to analyze the instructional practices of nine parent-teachers, it was found that 6 out of 9 had a phonics orientation. Two had a whole language orientation, and one had a skills orientation. Instructional practices, teaching materials, and theoretical orientations were consistent in six of the nine situations.</p> <p>Conclusion. In this study the idea that theoretical orientation drives instruction was supported. It appears that knowledge, curriculum materials, and experience also play an important role in directing the course of reading instruction.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Curriculum and Instruction PhD

Year

1998

Author dc:creator

• Barnes, Pollyanna Prosper

Contributors dc:contributor

• Paul S. Brantley
• Shirley A. Freed
• Jimmy Kijai

• Education
• Family, Life Course, and Society

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/215

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.andrews.edu:dissertations-1214