Teacher Acculturation: Stories of Pathways to Teaching

This book evolved from decades of transcultural experiences. Edward Howe’s comparative ethnographic narrative, a blend of narrative inquiry and reflexive ethnography, uniquely captures the essence of teacher acculturation. Each chapter is filled with intriguing teachers’ stories based on lived experiences – connected through the common thread of learning to teach. Compelling teacher narratives, spanning seven decades, show that much of what teachers do is learned implicitly and is culturally embedded. Teacher Acculturation provides a window into the world of novice teachers from the 1950s through present day. The thought-provoking stories provide a springboard for critical discussions about gender/sexuality, culture/race/ethnicity, Indigenous perspectives, SES/class/religion, location/space/time, and the challenges facing teachers in different contexts. The author highlights the importance of teacher relationships, built on mutual understanding, trust, mentorship, leadership and guidance. Beginning teachers are largely required to work in isolation, to learn their practice through trial and error – left to “sink or swim.” There is little provision for mentorship and insufficient time to reflect on teaching practices. Collaborative and reflective self-study, as illustrated in Teacher Acculturation, shows great promise to ameliorate this pervasive problem in teacher induction. Thus, the book will appeal to teacher educators, teachers and to anyone interested in the fascinating lives of teachers.

Table of Contents:
Foreword  Ruth Hayhoe List of Acronyms Guide to the Reader Prologue  1 Learning to Read: The Importance of Support from Home  2 Learning to Write: The Signifijicance of Teachers  3 Learning to Research: Finding a Niche for a Life’s Work  4 Traditional Didactic Teaching: The Antithesis of My Teaching Philosophy  5 Learning to Enjoy Writing Again: An Undergraduate Transformation  6 Learning a Foreign Language in an Immersion Classroom  7 Memory Box: Stories from a Teacher’s Briefcase Introduction: Comparative Ethnographic Narrative  1 Teacher to Teacher Conversations  2 Teacher Educator to Teacher Educator Conversations  3 Evolution of a Teacher Educator’s Conceptual Framework  4 Summary 1 Hazel: Chinese-Canadian Home Economics Teacher (1949–1984)  1 The Journey to Becoming a Teacher  2 Reflections on Race and Ethnicity  3 Reflections on Equity for Novice Teachers  4 Reflections on Being a Working Mother  5 Reflections on Gender 2 Ueda-sensei: Japanese Administrator (1956–1998)  1 Yamada and Kojima Former Teachers and Colleagues  2 Ueda-Sensei: Teacher, Principal and Community Leader 3 Clare: Home Economics Secondary & Post-Secondary Teacher (1958–1995)  1 Junior High School Teaching  2 Post-Secondary Teaching 4 Norma: K-16 Teacher (1967–2017)  1 From Rural Alberta to Urban British Columbia  2 Religion in Schools  3 Special Visits from VIP s: Superintendent and Governor General  4 Discipline  5 Assessment 5 Terry: Nova Scotia/NWT/BC (1971–)  1 Changes in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning and Special Education  2 Teaching up North in Yellowknife, NWT  3 Changes in Assessment Practices 6 Beverly: Rural Ontario to Europe (1972–2021)  1 Early Memories as a Novice Teacher  2 Teaching Overseas (Germany, Belgium and the Gulf War) 7 Bill: Secondary PE & Social Studies (1973–2015)  1 Physical Education as a Pathway to Teaching  2 Changes in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning  3 Changes in Technology  4 Changes in Assessment and Evaluation 8 Anne: Music Teacher, Administrator & Professor (1984–)  1 Mentor: High School Band Teacher  2 1980s Ontario Schooling: Religion/Class Considerations  3 Novice Teacher Stories of Experience  4 Mentor: Veteran Teacher/Administrator/Principal/Friend  5 Words of Advice for New Teachers 9 Gloria: Rural Colombia to Urban Canada (1988–)  1 Colombia to the United Kingdom: Escuela Nueva and Early Teaching  2 The United Kingdom to Canada: Opening Doors through Graduate Studies 10 Ted: Transcultural Teacher from Canada to Japan (1989–)  1 Formal Education: The Road to Teaching and Academia  2 Teaching Abroad for Personal and Professional Growth  3 Lessons in Collaboration – Teacher-to-Teacher Conversations  4 Educational Philosophy for Integrated Learning 11 Vessy: SOGI (Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity) Leader (1996–)  1 Coaching and Competitive Sports: A Pathway to Teaching  2 Mentoring of Teachers  3 SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) Leadership 12 Alicia: Inclusive Special Education Entrepreneur  1 Practicum Experience: Sink or Swim?  2 Tutoring Special Needs Students  3 Teaching Social Skills 13 Three Sensei: Novice, Mid-Career & Veteran Teachers  1 Narrative of Miss Sakaguchi, Novice Teacher  2 Veteran Teacher, Kimura-Sensei’s Mentorship of Shimazaki-Sensei  3 A Tribute to Hiro-Sensei, a Mid-Career Teacher  4 Teacher Relationships 14 Mari and Ken: Japan’s Next Generation of Teachers  1 Marathons and High-Stakes Testing in Japan  2 Mari-Sensei’s Transcultural Journey  3 Ken-Sensei’s Struggle against the Status Quo 15 Carolyn: Sixties Scoop Story of Indigenous Resilience  1 The Importance of Family and Community  2 Reflections on Indigenizing Our Pedagogies of Practice 16 Marie: Secwé pemc Language Teacher  1 Background  2 Educational Philosophy 17 John: Transformational Teacher from Vietnam to Rural BC  1 Teaching in Vietnam  2 Teaching in Rural BC  3 Educational Philosophy 18 Mrs. Henderson: Northern BC Inner-City School Experience  1 Background and Cultural Context  2 Stories of Resistance and Resilience  3 Challenging Students  4 Challenging Parents: Dealing with Difffijicult Parents in a Small Community  5 Challenging Times: COVID-19 Trauma and Stress  6 Teaching Philosophy Final Reflections 19 Sean: Primary Teacher amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic  1 Educational Philosophy  2 Kindergarten Teacher  3 Challenges of the Pandemic-Working at the Essential Services School  4 Grade 3/4 Split Class 20 Glen Hansman: Intermediate Teacher, Former BCTF President & LGBTQ Advocate  1 Challenges of a Novice Teacher in a Changing Political Climate  2 British Columbia Teachers’ Federation President Highlights  3 Back in the Classroom: A Look to the Future Afterword Appendix A: Critical Response Questions Appendix B: Marie’s Journal References Index

About the Author :
Edward R. Howe, Ph.D. (2005), OISE/UT, is Professor and School of Education Chair at Thompson Rivers University. He has published articles in e.g. Journal of Education for Teaching, Teaching and Teacher Education, and Frontiers in Education.

Review :
"A rich set of cross-cultural narratives that gives deep insight into teacher acculturation in contexts of increasing diversity.” – Ruth Hayhoe, Professor, University of Toronto, President Emerita, The Education University of Hong Kong "Pathways is an apt metaphor through which to view teachers' entries to the profession. It opens up differences among teachers' acculturations worldwide. It confirms why a one-size-fits-all approach will never work." – Cheryl Craig, Professor & Endowed Chair of Urban Education, Texas A&M University, Chair, International Study Association on Teachers and Teaching