Exploring preservice teachers’ metaphor plotlines

This study explores how entering female preservice teachers position themselves–the plotlines, obligations, responsibilities and duties they are prepared to enact, the expectations they hold for students, and the implications these have for teacher education. Using positioning theory, the authors analyze application letters of 20 elementary preservice teachers to uncover metaphor plotlines for teaching. Preservice teachers’ application letters contained 12 metaphor plotlines presented here in terms of the definition, the role of teacher and the role of student. The paper explores implications for the content of teacher education, development as a teacher, and the ability to engage students.

Research highlights
► 12 Metaphor Plotlines captured the positioning of the 20 participants.
► They include celebrity, creator, expert, friend, leader, learner, mentor, nurturer, performer, redeemer, scaffolder, and self-sacrificer.
► The plotlines capture for the obligations, duties, responsibilities and roles of teachers and learners for preservice teacher and have implications for the content and practices preservice teachers learn or embrace during teacher education.
► As a result, the plotlines have implications for teacher educators and the future practice of preservice teachers.