The Fragmented Journey of Becoming/Being a Teacher

A Poetic Currere on Teacher Wellness

Abstract

Being well and staying well at work and at home is an important aspect for teachers.  Leadership Quality Standards identify that in order to foster effective relationships, educational leaders must “demonstrat[e] a commitment to the health and well-being of all teachers, staff and students” (Alberta Education, p. 3). In connection to health and wellness learning, as a capstone reflective assignment to finish their teacher education program, students are asked to write a letter to their future self about their own health and wellness journey. Rather than focusing on the statistics of teachers who leave the profession in the first 2 years or even 5 years, this exercise is an opportunity to identify factors of health and wellness that may hinder one's success on their own wellness journey. Currere offers a methodology to address the regressive, progressive, analytical, and synthetical components of reflecting (Pinar, 2012). Using this framework, I poetically represent my own teacherly wellness as an example of what has been, what is and what is to come in consideration of the fragmented wellness journey of becoming / being a teacher and looking ahead to my future self.