Research on… Teacher wellbeing and its implications for professional development

This event provided a stimulating morning of research presentations on teacher wellbeing from different perspectives. Dr Suzanne Culshaw gave a passionate keynote helping us to relate deeply with the research. Suzanne shared how struggling is embodied, and a fractured state that can lead to impaired performance. She moves the concept of struggling from one of performativity to one of wellbeing. If you missed it – you are in for a treat – just click on the link below.

We moved from considering the experience of struggling as a teacher, to reflecting on two approaches to support teacher wellbeing – Jennifer Linsdell shared her Masters’ Research on using an arts-based approach and Zelna Lauwrens & Bonita Ackerman Du Preez shared research and practice around building a coaching culture in the classroom. The morning was nicely rounded off by Amira Abdou considering teacher motivation for professional learning in Dubai, where there are similar issues, and a need to listen to the voice of teachers, and to provide for the needs of middle leaders.

In our upcoming events, we hope to pick up on this thread of cultural change to provide a humane working environment that motivates and encourages teachers and provides for their wellbeing first, so that they can effectively care for the needs of their learners.

You can see many of the themes that came out in our discussions that have been picked up in our tweets.

Presentations

Dr Suzanne Culshaw, University of Hertfordshire: ‘What it means to be struggling as a secondary teacher in England’ 
Use the media player to listen to the presentation.

Zeynep Ekin, Bilim College, Cankaya, Ankara: Can teaching quality be maintained as teacher workload increases?

Jennifer Linsdell, Media & Graphic Design teacher in sixth form college in Birmingham: Could using Art as a coping mechanism help staff improve their mental health resilience, and if so – how could this be adopted into schools and colleges?

Zelna Lauwrens & Bonita Ackerman Du Preez, Kids Life Studio: How teacher mental wellness contributes to build- ing a coaching culture within the classroom

Amira Abdou, doctoral stu- dent, Leicester University school of education : Teacher motivation to engage in Teacher Professional Learn- ing: Voices from Dubai

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