The Gordian Knot of International Teacher Induction: Cases From Urban America and Rural China

• In Event: 15.026 - Division K Poster Session A

Abstract

This international research project centers on the Gordian Knot metaphor, a knot that is nearly impossible to unravel, to instantiate the complications of the beginning teaching experience. Specifically, this paper narratively explores the intricate experiences of both the American induction-year teacher and the Chinese induction-year teacher through unpacking this internationally shared metaphor. This paper combines two fine-grained local studies undertaken in two different national contexts to elucidate the interplays between individual and contextual factors that cross borders and speak to teacher induction and teacher attrition as international phenomena, which demand more attention of policy makers than currently is the case.

Authors

• Jing Li, East China Normal University

• Cheryl J. Craig, Texas A&M University - College Station

• Gang Zhu, East China Normal University