Date of Award
Spring 1999
Project Type
Dissertation
Program or Major
Reading and Writing Instruction
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
First Advisor
Jane Hansen
Abstract
In this research study, I investigated how middle school writers use talk and multi-media journals to forge a literate classroom community. Talk and multi-media journals helped middle school writers to construct and maintain a safe, caring, supportive, and respectful learning environment where transformative literacy and learning experiences could take place.
Classroom talk played a vital role in improving students' relationships in this literate classroom community and engaging them in meaningful ways with their multi-media journals. During the research study, explicit instruction in the social aspects of talk emerged as important as explicit instruction in language arts content.
The multi-media approach to journal writing evolved from my own membership in a Women's Journal Group. The multi-media approach to journal writing involved the use of other mediums, especially the visual arts, while writing. Students reported that the multi-media journals helped them to begin and continue writing as well as increased their enjoyment of writing.
I conducted this teacher research study over a six month period. I employed the tools and procedures of ethnographic and qualitative research in the data collection and analysis.
Recommended Citation
Pantano, Julie A., "At the heart of it: Middle school writers use talk and multimedia journals to forge a literate classroom community" (1999). Doctoral Dissertations. 2084.
https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation/2084