Teacher Acculturation

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.

"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

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

Teacher Acculturation will be of interest to self-study researchers, teacher educators, teacher candidates, graduate students, classroom teachers and to anyone interested in the fascinating lives of teachers.