This study focuses on the complexity and uniqueness of 45 beginning teachers’ professional identity, an important perspective that is usually not an explicit part of induction programmes. Data were collected in four workshops designed to support beginning teachers in reflecting on personal and contextual aspects that influence (the development of) their professional identity. Based on these reflections, portraits of each teacher were constructed. Five overarching identity themes emerged from these portraits: Classroom management, Students learning, Workload, Collaboration and Standing up for oneself. All themes were visualised into a configuration consisting of personal and contextual aspects, arranged according to three foci: focus on oneself, on students, and on team/organisation. The configurations differ in their magnitude but do justice to the unique and complex nature of each teacher. Constructing configurations is a promising way for understanding what really matters in beginning teachers’ professional identity development and helping them deepen their reflection.
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This thesis reports on an interpretative case study about student teachers’ and new teachers’ personal interpretations in their teaching practice, during and after an international teaching internship. The main aim of this study was to describe how an international teaching internship interrupts existing, familiar ways of thinking or acting. The findings are an interpretation of how this interruption influences student teachers’ and new teachers’ “personal interpretative frameworks” (Kelchtermans, 2009) during their teacher training programmes and transition from student to teacher. This framework reflects the basis on which a beginning teacher grounds their personal decisions or judgements for action and answers the questions: ‘how can I effectively deal with this particular situation? and ‘why would I work that way?’ (Vanassche & Kelchtermans, 2014, p. 118).
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Beginning teachers encounter a lot of challenges when they start to work in their first job as a teacher (Kessels, 2010; Pillen, 2013). In this study, the support and coaching of beginning teachers in schools is the central issue. What kind of support do beginning teachers receive, what topics are discussed and what kind of support do they perceive as beneficial for their development as a teacher? A questionnaire for both beginning teachers and their coaches was used to investigate the support offered in schools. Results show that allmost all beginning teachers are engaged in informal conversations as well as in more formal coaching moments. Topics that are adressed have to do with teaching and workload. The results of this study can be useful for schooldirectors who want to develop an induction trajectory for their starting colleagues and help them choose which forms of support should be included.
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