Ready, set, action! Preservice preschool teachers’ journey from preparation to implementation of literacy activities

This qualitative case study explores preservice teachers’ perceptions of readiness, instructional strategies, and implementation of early literacy activities. Data were collected through a short-form, open-ended questionnaire, lesson plans, and classroom observation notes during a 12-week internship program. Using Saldana’s (2013) open coding framework, we employed descriptive, thematic, and cross-case analyses to provide a comprehensive understanding. Findings revealed that PSTs perceived themselves as moderately confident and prepared to teach literacy; their instructional aims reflected a preference for oral communication-based and play-based methods, and classroom practice showed a tendency to structured literacy activities and several barriers to implementation.