University and urban school district collaboration: Preschoolers and preservice teachers gain literacy skills

This study investigated the impact of a University-public school partnershi p involving at-risk preschoolers and undergraduate and graduate education s tudents. The goal for the preservice teachers was to enhance their understa nding of the emergent literacy process by merging an authentic field placem ent with an on-campus literacy course, thus allowing the integration of the ory and practice. Results indicated that the preservice teachers believed t hat their participation in a Literacy rich preschool aided their understand ing of the emergent literacy process. The amount of time spent on-site and their degree of involvement in the teaching process had a positive impact o n the students' views.