Teacher Guilt: How Can It Inform Instruction in Foundational Skills in Reading

I was the teacher that didn't know how to teach reading. Once I learned, I had an overwhelming sense of guilt for the students that passed through my doors. When I began working on my dissertation, I couldn't shake the feeling that I probably wasn't the only one. 

These factors combined led me to choose the topic of teacher guilt for my dissertation. I quickly learned that I wasn't the only one. 

Other teachers had guilt; however, what I came to realize is that there are two types of guilt: persecutory and depressive(Hargreaves et al., 1991). 

1. Depressive Guilt: When you realize that you may be harming or neglecting others .  THIS WAS ME! 
2. Persecutory Guilt: Feeling forced to do something or failing to do what is expected of you.  If you are feeling forced to implement a curriculum that you know is not evidence-based. 

You just might be one of these educators.