Title

Writing Focused Professional Development for Content-Area Teachers: The Effects of Writing Instruction on Content-Area Student Achievement

Author

Amanda Edwards Whatley

Date of Award

2017

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Committee Chair

Kelsey Greer

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of writing on the content areas when coupled with ongoing professional development and support for content-area teachers. Research shows that writing is an essential skill for success in and beyond the school setting. Research further indicates that writing plays an important role in student learning through its development of cognitive processes; however, in general, writing as a mode of learning is not a focus of either pre or in-service teacher training. As such, writing beyond note-taking and fill-in-the-blank activities is not necessarily a strategy utilized in content-area teacher classrooms. This dissertation analyzed the impact of writing professional development and implementation on content-area student achievement in both content-area knowledge and writing skill. Data were collected through a survey instrument, pre and postassessments, benchmark assessments, and teacher reflection questionnaires for qualitative and quantitative results. Teacher participants were employees at a rural public charter high school in North Carolina. Student participants were high school students enrolled in participating teacher content-area courses. Per analysis of the data, it was determined that writing professional development and implementation impacted student achievement in both content-area knowledge and writing. In addition, the results indicated that both student and teacher attitudes toward writing as a mode of learning were positively affected.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Citation Information

Whatley, Amanda Edwards, "Writing Focused Professional Development for Content-Area Teachers: The Effects of Writing Instruction on Content-Area Student Achievement" (2017). Education Dissertations and Projects. 242.
https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/education_etd/242