ABSTRACT
Trevor Stewart begins his narration of this chapter by discussing the ways two of his colleagues provided support that was vital to his success as a first-year teacher, which stood in stark contrast to Rachel's early experiences with collaboration. Rachel's stories and reflections in this chapter provide an up close look at the challenges of isolation and the complexity of collaboration as she works to find her place on her team. She then discusses feelings of fatigue near the end of the year while also exploring the tension between her personal and professional identities. Rachel's reflections and questions about how to engage in productive dialogue with herself and others as she seeks to sustain her ability to teach from a dialogic stance invite readers to consider what beliefs and identities will inform their own journeys of becoming.
