Narrating Loneliness: New Teachers’ Experiences Engaging Children in the Language Arts

• In Event: Developing Content Area Pedagogy During Induction: Studies of New Math, Science, and Language Arts Teachers

Abstract

This paper shares the results of a narrative research study that investigated, documented and interpreted the experiences of five beginning elementary school teachers as they navigated the complexities of implementing the Language Arts curriculum for the first time in their own classrooms in culturally and linguistically diverse urban neighbourhoods. The teachers in this study, supported by the principal investigator, formed a professional learning community to study and inquiry together into their experiences. Among the many themes and insights explored by the group, particularly strongly and consistently articulated was the profound and aching loneliness of teacher inductees. How such an insight might contribute to understandings and creation of mentorship and support programs for new teachers is explored.

Author

• Jackie Seidel, University of Calgary