Preservice teachers’ metaphors of teaching in relation to literacy beliefs
Abstract
Metaphors are the constructs under which people organize their thinking and from which they plan their actions, including their teaching and work with students. One area of study that has not been investigated is the relationship between preservice teachers’ metaphors of teaching across differing academic majors and their content area beliefs. The purpose of this study was to examine preservice elementary and secondary English and foreign language teachers’ metaphors and relate their metaphorical images to conceptions of literacy. Specifically, 66 participants completed a questionnaire that solicited their sense of teaching. We employed a type-case model to analyze the metaphors. Results indicated that the preservice teachers’ beliefs could be categorized into nine themes including nurturing and guiding. An association was found between four metaphors and literacy beliefs. We believe the metaphor will continue to be a powerful conceptual means and future research should solicit preservice teachers’ metaphors of literacy. Teacher educators may benefit by comparing preservice teachers’ metaphors with the program’s conceptual framework.
Reference
Shaw, D.M., Barry, A., & Mahlios, M. (2008). Preservice teachers' metaphors of teaching in relation to literacy beliefs. Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice, 14(1), 35-50.
Journal
Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice
Analysis
Is this article part of a larger project or series of studies?
no
Does this study draw on a large, preexisting data set?
no
Research Approach
Geographic Setting
Institutional Context
Certification Level
Programatic Focus
- Elementary
- English
- foreign language
Research Location Context
Preservice Participants
Preservice Sample Size
66
Duration of Data Collection
Data Sources
- Questionnaire
- Self-Esteem Inventory (Coopersmith, 1967)
Data Analysis Tools
- Case study analysis
- Content analysis
- cross-case analysis
Researcher Positionality
Research Questions
"What patterns exist among the metaphors used to describe their sense of teaching?" (p. 36)
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
"What are the similarities and differences among metaphors by the differing content areas?" (p. 36)
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
"How do the metaphors of these preservice teachers relate to literacy beliefs?" (p. 36)
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes