Tough Turf: Restoried Moments in the Dissipation of an Urban Knowledge Community

Abstract

This chapter is guided by Abdulkader Mokhtari's reflections on participation in the Writers in the Schools Collaborative. As a member of the professional development program on two campuses in the Houston Area, Mokhtari recalls the program model as part of a structured enactment of DuFour and Eaker's (1998) Professional Learning Community concept and an organically nurtured, portfolio-based knowledge community (Craig, 2007). During what he recalls to be a difficult time on campuses seeking to engage learners in a fresh approach to literacy, Mokhtari recounts pivotal moments of success and struggle to Chestin T. Auzenne-Curl and KaLeah Hicks, both former high school teachers and contributors to research on teacher development programs.

Citation

Mokhtari, A., Auzenne-Curl, C.T. and Hicks, K. (2021), "Tough Turf: Restoried Moments in the Dissipation of an Urban Knowledge Community", Auzenne-Curl, C.T. and Craig, C.J. (Ed.) Developing Knowledge Communities through Partnerships for Literacy (Advances in Research on Teaching, Vol. 37), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 117-128. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-368720210000037008