Swiss Army Knives, Canadian Geese, and Walt Whitman: Preservice Teachers' Metaphors for Rural Practicum Teaching

• In Event: New Perspectives on Leading and Teaching in Rural Schools

Abstract

This paper explores an intensive practicum field experience that immersed thirteen pre-service teachers (PSTs) in a handful of distinct rural schools. The experience was shaped to reflect future professional teaching contexts for graduates from our teacher education program and to foster culturally sustaining pedagogies (Paris, 2012). Through our observations and interactions within the field experience contexts, PST writing throughout the experience, and face to face discussions, we make a case for 1) the deconstruction of deficit notions of rurality, 2) the functional role of community building and membership in short-term immersion field experiences, and 3) the interplay of multiple communities at work. We discuss how our findings can inform future preparation and execution of practical field experiences for pre-service teachers.

Authors

• Allison S. Wynhoff Olsen, Montana State University

• Nigel Waterton, Montana State University

• Danette Long, Montana State University