Exploring Teacher-Writer Identities in the Classroom: Conceptualising the Struggle
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| Title: | Exploring Teacher-Writer Identities in the Classroom: Conceptualising the Struggle |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Cremin, Teresa, Baker, Sally |
| Source: | English Teaching: Practice and Critique. Dec 2010 9(3):8-25. |
| Availability: | Wilf Malcolm Institute for Educational Research, University of Waikato. PB 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand. Tel: +64-7-858-5171; Fax: +64-7-838-4712; e-mail: wmier@waikato.ac.nz; Web site: http://education.waikato.ac.nz/research/journal/index.php?id=1 |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 18 |
| Publication Date: | 2010 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Evaluative |
| Education Level: | Elementary Education |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Teaching (Occupation), Authors, Writing for Publication, Identification (Psychology), Self Concept, Writing Instruction, Writing (Composition), Reader Text Relationship, Emotional Response, Role Conflict |
| Geographic Terms: | United Kingdom (England) |
| ISSN: | 1175-8708 |
| Abstract: | In the light of increased interest in teachers' professional identities, this paper addresses the under-researched area of teachers' writing identities and examines the factors which influence how primary phase teachers are positioned and position themselves as teacher-writers in the literacy classroom. It draws on case studies of two practitioners in England who seek to model their engagement as writers in order to support young writers; they undertake this through demonstrating writing in whole-class contexts and composing individually alongside children. Data collection methods included classroom observation, interviews, video-stimulated review and examination of written texts. The data show that the writing classroom, in which the practitioners performed and enacted their identities as teacher-writers and as writer-teachers, appeared to be a site of struggle and tension. The research reveals that, whilst institutional and interpersonal factors influence their identity positioning, intrapersonal factors are significant with regard to teachers of writing. Their situated sense of themselves as writers, relationship with their unfolding compositions and emotional engagement, personal authenticity and authorial agency all have saliency in this context. The paper presents a model for conceptualising teachers' writing identities and considers the pedagogical consequences of their participation as writers. (Contains 4 figures.) |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Number of References: | 57 |
| Entry Date: | 2011 |
| Accession Number: | EJ912620 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | In the light of increased interest in teachers' professional identities, this paper addresses the under-researched area of teachers' writing identities and examines the factors which influence how primary phase teachers are positioned and position themselves as teacher-writers in the literacy classroom. It draws on case studies of two practitioners in England who seek to model their engagement as writers in order to support young writers; they undertake this through demonstrating writing in whole-class contexts and composing individually alongside children. Data collection methods included classroom observation, interviews, video-stimulated review and examination of written texts. The data show that the writing classroom, in which the practitioners performed and enacted their identities as teacher-writers and as writer-teachers, appeared to be a site of struggle and tension. The research reveals that, whilst institutional and interpersonal factors influence their identity positioning, intrapersonal factors are significant with regard to teachers of writing. Their situated sense of themselves as writers, relationship with their unfolding compositions and emotional engagement, personal authenticity and authorial agency all have saliency in this context. The paper presents a model for conceptualising teachers' writing identities and considers the pedagogical consequences of their participation as writers. (Contains 4 figures.) |
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| ISSN: | 1175-8708 |
