Dr. Timothy E Morse

This intrinsic case study looks closely at one pre-service teacher in an early field program as she addressed the complexities of supporting the literacy learning of a group of students in a class for learning disabled students and a group of students in a regular class setting. Data were collected through surveys, observation notes, dialogue journal entries, videotapes of lessons, and e-mail correspondence. The inquiry portrays the pre-service teacher as a reflective practitioner with high expectations for her students' success and a high level of control regarding her capabilities as a teacher. The research also illuminates the low self-esteem and inadequate reading and writing abilities of the students in the class for learning disabled students despite 2 years of systematic phonics instruction. Implications of the research relate directly to special education policies and practices and pre-service teacher programs. (Contains 61 references.) (SM)