Highlighted Session: Exploring the Struggles of Responsive Primary/Secondary Educators

Group Submission Type: Highlighted Paper Session

Proposal

Overview: This panel will explore the struggles that primary and secondary educators face as they strive to be responsive to students’ needs while teaching in contexts that often work counter to their aims. It will consider this larger theme through four cases, as outlined below. After cases are individually described, panelists will draw thematic connections that cross-cut their respective contexts. They will end by reflecting on implications– on the ways that educators can be both supported and empowered in their efforts.

Case 1: U.S.-Based Secondary Educators’ Grappling with Regional Censorship Efforts
The first presenter will explore the ways that secondary English educators grapple with the risks of (not) resisting censorship movements in the region they work in. This presentation draws on both empirical data and on the literature. It considers important questions about the cost of their decisions and the significance of teachers’ choices.

Case 2: Exploring the concerns, fears and barriers to teaching children’s rights in elementary and secondary schools in Canada

The second presenter will explore the importance of child rights education (CRE) for children and educators in elementary and secondary schools. Based on experiences from the field and research, the presenter will address the concerns, fears, and barriers expressed by some educators about teaching children’s rights, followed by an exploration of CRE is, how it can be taught, and its importance to children, their legal guardians, teachers/educators and school staff.

Case 3: Investigating Barriers and Creating Solutions to Curriculum Implementation for U.S. and International Teachers
The third presenter will explore how P12 teachers in U.S. and international schools might use problem-based learning (PBL) as an instructional strategy in light of current legislative mandates, country contexts, and school climate. In addition to literature, the presentation draws on interviews and participant responses to discuss curricular choices and pedagogy.

Case 4: Teacher Identity and Book Choice in K-5 Classroom Read-alouds
The fourth presenters will examine how teachers select diverse books for classroom read alouds and the connection between this selection and teacher identity. The presenters will draw on teachers’ survey and interview data to explore the role that identity plays in read aloud book selection. The presentation considers the importance of presenting diverse literature in the classroom to reflect the unique stories of culturally and linguistically diverse students in US classrooms today.

Discussion:
Panelists will end their presentation time by noting thematic overlaps in their respective work including: equity-oriented underpinnings of pedagogical and curricular choices, the obstacles teachers face in pursuit of social justice aims, and the ways educators (in big and small ways) protest through their approaches and actions. They will collectively reflect on implications. Then they will open the discussion up to attendees for feedback, comments, connections, and questions.

Sub Unit

• Teacher Education and the Teaching Profession SIG

Chair

• Sarah R Lillo Kang, Independent ConsultantWashington University

Individual Presentations

• U.S.-Based Secondary Educators’ Grappling with Regional Censorship Efforts - Sarah R Lillo Kang, Independent ConsultantWashington University

• Exploring the concerns, fears and barriers to teaching children’s rights in elementary and secondary schools in Canada - Hala Mreiwed, King's University College at Western

• Investigating Barriers and Creating Solutions to Curriculum Implementation for U.S. and International Teachers - Kimberley Daly, George Mason University

Discussant

• Hala Mreiwed, King's University College at Western