Growing into teaching: A self-portrait

This research constituted my MA by Research (UEA, 2010) thesis submission. It involved a multi-modal, arts-based exploration into the nature of primary teacher dedication and commitment, contributing to the debates about teacher development, teacher retention and teacher wellbeing.

Using a collage of autobiographical research data including a reflective journal, stories from the classroom, photographs, children’s work samples, and an artistic metaphor that flows through the work, a ‘self-portrait’ is presented to the reader, my story of growing into the role.

“[All facets of a teacher’s identity] are connected to each other like the twisted strands in a piece of twine or the tangled roots and branches of the banyan tree.”