It’s a question of balance: Reconsidering learning partnerships through genuine teacher mentoring conversations

Article

Larsen, Ellen, Nguyen, Hoa T.M., Curtis, Elizabeth and Loughland, Tony. 2023. "It’s a question of balance: Reconsidering learning partnerships through genuine teacher mentoring conversations." Teaching and Teacher Education. 133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2023.104280

Article Title	It’s a question of balance: Reconsidering learning partnerships through genuine teacher mentoring conversations
ERA Journal ID	20739
Article Category	Article
Authors	Larsen, Ellen, Nguyen, Hoa T.M., Curtis, Elizabeth and Loughland, Tony
Journal Title	Teaching and Teacher Education
Journal Citation	133
Article Number	104280
Number of Pages	9
Year	2023
Publisher	Elsevier
Place of Publication	United Kingdom
ISSN	0742-051X
	1879-2480
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2023.104280
Web Address (URL)	https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0742051X23002688
Abstract	In Australia, and internationally, mentoring is proffered as a powerful professional learning experience for both early career teachers (ECTs) and their mentors alike. However, authentically beneficial learning partnerships have proven challenging to achieve. This paper provides a theoretical and practical response to this issue, arguing the criticality of genuine conversations cultivated through balanced, non-hierarchical questioning to position ECTs and mentors as co-learners. Drawing on positioning theory in conjunction with the concept of genuine conversations, the contents of five recorded mentoring conversations involving Australian ECTs and mentors were analysed. These findings have important implications for mentoring practice across educational contexts.
Keywords	Early career teachers; Mentoring; Questioning; Genuine conversations; Positioning theor;y Professional learning
Contains Sensitive Content	Does not contain sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020	390499. Specialist studies in education not elsewhere classified
Byline Affiliations	University of Southern Queensland
	University of New South Wales

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