West Chester University,

West Chester,
Pennsylvania.

14th February 2018

Dear Dr. _____________,

As you may already know, I am working as a graduate assistant in the Department of

Early and Middle Grades Education at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, while
undertaking a M.Ed. in Applied Studies in Teaching & Learning. I am writing to invite
you to consider participating in a teacher research project I am carrying out as part of my
M.Ed. program.

The inquiry aims to explore how contemporary depictions of play framed in children’s
picturebooks can influence teachers’ practice. I hope that information generated from this
research will be used to support teachers in using literature as a tool to encourage children
to engage in play.

In addition to investigating the presence of play in Randolph Caldecott Medal Winning

books, I hope to carry out interviews with experts in the fields of literacy education and
children’s literature. The goal of the interviews is to generate thoughts, ideas and opinions
of using children’s picturebooks as a learning tool in the elementary school classroom. I
would greatly appreciate your participation in this aspect of my inquiry.

The data from the interviews will be combined with that of the content analysis of
Caldecott Medal Winning books, and used to form the results section of my research
project. As a requirement of my course, Teachers as Researchers, the results of the study
will be presented on a website online. Pseudonyms will be substituted for the names of
participants to protect confidentiality. The website will be viewed by my classmates and
my professor, and shared at a university-based research conference for M.Ed. students.
Again, no names of interviewees will be used in my work.

It is hoped that interviews will take place in late February/early March. On the form
attached, please indicate if wish participate in my teacher researcher project and return the
completed form to Recitation 105A or contact me via email (see below). If you agree to
participate in the project, I will contact you via email to arrange at a time and location of
your choice to conduct the interview.

Sincerely,
Ellen O’Regan
If at any time you have any questions about this study, please fell free to contact me.
My contact details are as follows:
EO900508@wcupa.edu
+353863203009
 Research study exploring how contemporary depictions of play framed in children’s picturebooks may
influence teachers’ practice.

Informed Consent Form

Please read Part 1 and Part 2

Part 1

________ I agree to participate in the interview. I have read the invitation letter and I
understand what the project is about. I am aware that I will not be
identified by name in any part of the study. My identity will be protected
by the use of pseudonyms. I know that my participation is voluntary and
that I can withdraw from the project at any stage without giving any reason
and without consequence.

________ I would rather not participate in the interview.

Part 2
If you agree to participate in an interview, please read the following:
With your permission, the interview will be audio recorded and transcribed by the
researcher to help ensure that the discussion is captured accurately. All information
gathered will remain confidential. Each participant’s identity will be protected by the use
of pseudonyms (i.e. Participant 1, Participant 2 etc.). Individual names will not be used.
You may request to read over your own transcription at any time and you can withdraw
any information that you have contributed. The audio recording will be destroyed at the
conclusion of the study.

________ I am willing to have the interview audio recorded. I am aware that I can
read over my own transcription at any time and I can withdraw any
information that I have contributed. I am aware that the audio recording
will be destroyed at the conclusion of the study.

________ I would rather the interview was not audio recorded.

Signature: ___________________________________

Date: ___________________________________