Keywords

writing, picture books, models for writing, children's literature

Abstract

The purpose of my research was to determine how the use of picture books during instruction would improve student word choice in writing. Donald Graves (2003), a renowned researcher in the teaching of writing, states, "All children need . . . to be surrounded with poetry, stories, information books, biography, science and history, imaginative and factual books." Graves' research presents successful classroom instruction when teachers incorporate literature as a fundamental part of their reading and writing instruction. Likewise, Susan Anderson McElveen and Connie Campbell Dierking (2000) conducted a study with their students using picture books as "precise examples" to teach writing. Their analysis of data showed that using children's literature, or picture books, served as a "bridge that linked the target skill with the reason for thinking, speaking, and writing like a writer" with their students. The subjects of my study were my fourth-grade students. I obtained data for this study from student writing samples, anecdotal records of my students, my daily reflections, class discussions, debriefings, and writing activities. I assessed students' writing samples using criteria for assessing word choice in the 6-Point Writing Guide in Vicki Spandel's (2005) Creating Young Writers. This study found that the majority of my students demonstrated improved word choice in their writing. Limitations of this study are discussed, as well as implications for future use of picture books during instruction.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2005

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Camp, Donna

Degree

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

College

College of Education

Department

Teaching and Learning Principles

Degree Program

Elementary Education

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0000592

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0000592

Language

English

Release Date

August 2005

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

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