Teachers’ Stories on Sense of Belonging in Co-Teaching Relationship

Henri V. Pesonen, Anna Rytivaara, Iines Palmu, Anna Wallin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The aim of this article was to examine primary school teachers’ perceptions about their sense of belonging in co-teaching. We were particularly interested in investigating the factors which enhance or hinder teachers’ sense of belonging in their co-teaching relationships. The data were collected using the method of empathy-based stories (MEBS) consisting of frame stories with a variation in whether a co-teaching situation was experienced as positive or negative. Qualitative analysis of the stories revealed that teachers’ sense of belonging was constructed through three dimensions: (1) teachers’ work practices, (2) mutual relationship, and (3) individual characteristics. The findings contribute to the literature by demonstrating that a sense of belonging in co-teaching is a multidimensional phenomenon that is built in a close collegial relationship between teachers. The study adds a new micro-level perspective on how teachers’ sense of belonging is constructed between two co-teachers.

Original languageEnglish
JournalScandinavian Journal of Educational Research
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020
Publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

  • Co-teaching
  • co-teaching relationship
  • method of empathy-based stories
  • sense of belonging
  • teacher stories

Publication forum classification

  • Publication forum level 2

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