Principal-Teacher Conversation: A Language Game

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 8:00 am Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Educational Leaders’ Efforts to Better Serve Students and Communities (Table 13)

Abstract

This study begins with a brief description of language games as applied to principal-teacher conversation. It then draws on the concept of leadership for learning to identify two instrumental purposes for principal-teacher conversation. Conversation theory is used to advance two hypotheses on the relationship between principal-teacher conversation and teacher mental states: inspiration for school vision and professional growth. Empirical results support the hypotheses, indicating that conversation structure matters for teacher mental states.

Authors

• Curt M. Adams, University of Oklahoma

• Olajumoke Beulah Adigun, Oklahoma State University

• Daniel Hamlin, University of Oklahoma