Dreams and Hopes of Preservice Teachers Preparing to Work in Public Schools

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 27
  In Roundtable Session: Dreams, Hopes, and Concerns in Preparing Future Teachers

Abstract

This narrative inquiry study examines the perceptions of the four secondary preservice English teachers about their teacher preparation program (TPP). Since the demands for highly-qualified teachers are consistently growing, the dreams and hopes of preservice teachers to be adequately prepared also increase. This project explores TPP at one of the Southern universities collecting the data via questionnaire, individual interviews, writing reflections, and researchers’ observation notes. Deweyan concepts of experience, continuity, and interaction serve as theoretical framework, and thematic narrative analysis allows interpreting the data. The findings emphasize the strong components of TPP, point out the areas of tension, declaring need for improvement and building more productive partnerships with secondary schools hosting preservice teachers for clinical experiences

Authors

• Leilya Pitre, Southeastern Louisiana University

• Steven T. Bickmore, University of Nevada - Las Vegas