Mentoring primary school mathematics teachers in the classrooms
Date of Award
8-1-2002
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Master of Education (M. Ed.)
Department
Institute for Educational Development, Karachi
Abstract
This qualitative study, where I was involved as a researcher and mentor, with two primary school mathematics teachers, who were in the beginning of their first year, describes the mentoring process in a particular setting. I conducted the study with the research participants in their classrooms during seven-week fieldwork. The data comes from semi-structured interviews (pre and post fieldwork), descriptive and reflective field notes, audiotape transcripts and teachers' journals. I played different roles such as: a support teacher, demonstrator/teacher and a critical friend. The findings of the study show that in a context like Pakistan, where teachers often enter the teaching profession without any professional training, need support not only in pedagogy and classroom management, but also in subject matter content as well. In the context of the mentor-mentee relationship, support from an experienced teacher seemed to enable them to address the challenges that they face. The study further sheds light on a mentor-mentee relationship and the roles that a school based mentor plays in supporting beginning teachers. Mentoring, in the untrained beginning teachers' context seems to be more enactive and supportive relationship rather than an advisory one, but the question still remains whether or not schools can afford to have mentors for professional development of the beginning teachers.
Recommended Citation
Khan, H. (2002). Mentoring primary school mathematics teachers in the classrooms (Unpublished master's dissertation). Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.