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Article
Developing Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Literature-Based Discussions in a Cross-Institutional Network
English Education
  • Emily R. Smith, Fairfield University
  • Dorothea Anagnostopoulos
Document Type
Article
Article Version
Publisher's PDF
Publication Date
1-1-2008
Disciplines
Abstract

This article examines how secondary English teachers who served as mentors' for preservice English teachers developed their pedagogical content knowledge (PCR) of literature discussions through participating in a cross-institutional teacher educator network. In particular, we document how the joint creation of dialogic space in the English Educators' Network provided a context within which the mentor teachers expanded their understandings of discussions from disparate kinds of classroom talk to a dialogic view of literature-based discussion involving the interaction of reader, text, and multiple worldviews. We explore two central dimensions of this work: (1) how shifts in university and school participants' discourse, affiliation, and participation supported and expanded mentors' thinking about discussions; and (2) the central role of boundary objects, shared texts, and conversational brokers in facilitating these shifts. We begin with a brief review of literature on PCR to highlight the need for more research on cross-institutional contexts as sites for mentor teacher learning.

Comments

Copyright 2008 National Council of Teachers of English

Published Citation
Smith, E., & Anangnostopoulos, D. (2008). Developing Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Literature-Based Discussions in a Cross-Institutional Network, English Education, 41(1), 39-65.
None
Peer Reviewed
Citation Information
Emily R. Smith and Dorothea Anagnostopoulos. "Developing Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Literature-Based Discussions in a Cross-Institutional Network" English Education Vol. 41 Iss. 1 (2008)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/emily_smith1/5/