Poetic Self-Reflexivity: Preservice Teachers and LGTBQ+ Youth in Crises

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session Ten
  In Roundtable Session: Making Space for LGBTQ+ and Trans Youth (Table 18)

Abstract

As news focuses on the struggles, emotions, and responses from in-service teachers who strive to create safe spaces filled with caring adults for LGBTQ+ students in schools during contentious political legislation, little attention has been placed on preservice teachers (PTs), who will soon enter the workforce amidst this political and social crisis. This article examines two secondary education PTs’ exploration of past, present, and possible selves through poetry regarding LGBTQ+ youth issues: 1) providing space for understanding different forms of crisis in a teacher education course; 2) allowing PTs to reflect upon their own perspectives of the LGBTQ+ youth crisis in their own lives; as well as 3) preparing PTs to address LGBTQ+ youth crises in their future classrooms.

Authors

• Scott Baker, St. Cloud State University
  Presenting Author

• Grace Larson, Saint Cloud State University
  Presenting Author

• Alyssa Almberg, Saint Cloud State University
  Presenting Author