Reproducing Figured Worlds of Literacy Teaching and Learning: Examining the “Language-In-Use” of an Inservice and Preservice Teacher Enacting the Practice of Literacy Planning
Abstract
There are international calls for teacher preparation programs to increase the quantity and quality of field experiences. The belief is that spending additional time in the field being mentored by inservice teachers will develop high-quality preservice teachers. However, the figured worlds of teacher education and the knowledge base of inservice teachers are largely left unexamined. This study took place within an urban Professional Development School and used critical discourse analysis to examine the “language-in-use” between one inservice teacher and one preservice tea- cher as they engaged in the planning of a literacy lesson. The authors identified the figured worlds of teacher, literacy teaching and learning, and mentoring, as interpreted from this discourse event. Findings include figured worlds of (1) teacher as the giver and withholder of knowledge; (2) literacy teaching and learning that appears inauthentic, contrived, and teacher centered; and (3) an understanding of mentoring as inservice teacher as giver of knowledge and preservice teacher as receiver. Implications for teacher education and teacher educators are discussed.
Reference
Gelfuso, A., & Dennis, D. V. (2017). Reproducing figured worlds of literacy teaching and learning: Examining the “Language-In-Use” of an inservice and preservice teacher enacting the practice of literacy planning. Action in Teacher Education, 39(1), 67-84.
Journal
Action in Teacher Education
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
- Teacher training institute
- University based
Certification Level
Programatic Focus
- Elementary
- Urban Education
Research Location Context
- Professional Development School (PDS)
Preservice Participants
Preservice Sample Size
1
Other Participant Data
Duration of Data Collection
Data Sources
- discourse event
- Transcriptions
Data Analysis Tools
- Critical Discourse Analysis
- Gee's (2011) tools of inquiry (e.g. figured worlds)
- transcription
Researcher Positionality
- inside (staying their own students)
Research Questions
What understandings about the local figured worlds of teacher education can be created from an analysis of language-in-use between one inservice and one preservice teacher as they planned for literacy instruction?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes