Five ways of being a schoolteacher

Abstract

This exploratory study consists of a description of the five schoolteachers' identities that showed five different configurations of teacher's I-positions. Thirty-one participants were interviewed via a written survey, and data were analysed using qualitative and quantitative procedures. The findings revealed thirty I-positions held by the teachers, classified into nine broader institutional positions. Additionally, five broad categories of “ways of being” a school teacher were identified and labelled as follows: (1) teachers engaged mainly in instruction and collaboration with colleagues; (2) teachers engaged mainly in instruction and building a relationship with families; (3) teachers engaged mainly in instruction, improving educational practice, and collaboration with colleagues; (4) teachers engaged mainly in education and instruction, improving educational practice, collaborating with colleagues, and building a relationship with families; and (5) teachers engaged mainly in instruction, improving educational practice, collaboration with colleagues, building a relationship with families, and collaboration in the management of the school.