Evidence of Sway

This paper uses the metaphor of trees and their tendency to sway with the wind and grow new leaves and branches to represent teacher candidates as diverse learners who come to our classes with their own experiences and understandings. This collaborative research study analyzed a particular cohort of candidates' evidence of sway and how the sway influenced these candidates' ideas about teaching and learning. According to the data, we found most candidates showed signs of sway-subtle changes in their thinking. We propose that some candidates may resist swaying because it can feel disloyal to question, in an inquiring way, the ways you were taught.