Fostering Instructionally Focused Mentorship: Designing and Testing Mentoring Conversation Conversation Cards

• In Event: Emotion, Belief, and Relational Elements of Teaching and Teacher Preparation

Abstract

Mentoring relationships are critical to preservice teacher development, yet often marked by differing expectations and limited instructional dialogue. This study investigates the development and pilot implementation of mentoring conversation cards as a tool designed to scaffold and model instructionally focused conversations between mentors and student teachers. Drawing on findings from prior research which highlights differences in mentor-mentee relationship building strategies, the cards were co-developed with researchers, designers, educators and piloted in a large urban school district. Data from interviews and surveys were analyzed to assess card use, content focus, and mentor-student teacher interaction quality. Results suggest that the cards increased the frequency and depth of instructional conversations and offered a promising tool to enhance mentor-mentee alignment and teacher learning.

Authors

• Kavita Kapadia Matsko, Northwestern University

• Eun Kyung Ko, National Louis University

• Lisa Mozer, National Louis University