"A Taste of College": Children and Preservice Teachers Discuss Books Together (Report‪)‬

Abstract. Partnerships where preservice teachers work with children have been found to be effective in providing real world field experiences for university students. However, little is known about what children gain from these collaborations. This research attempts to rectify this by analyzing a year-long literacy partnership in which 30 children and 55 preservice teachers participated in literature circles together, looking specifically at what factors influenced the children during this engagement. Through observations, free writes, interviews, and pen pal journals, the impact of the collaboration was examined. Results from this study suggest that the children had significant relationships and personal advocates, the children gained confidence in talking in literature circles and managing them, the children considered different perspectives and issues, and the children gained perspectives on college. Ultimately, the children's worldviews were enlarged. **********