Conducts a critical review of empirical research focused directly on reflection activities with prospective teachers, and conducts a study in the authors' own literacy methods courses to learn what their students do when asked to reflect on course assignments. Concludes that engaging future teachers in multiple opportunities to critique their own…

Asks herself 5 provocative questions so that the author can better align her teaching practices with her beliefs. Addresses thoroughly each question. Concludes that her current challenge is to continually examine how her teaching practices align with her vision of the future. (SG)

Offers strategies teachers can use to keep their teaching fresh. Discusses what gives teachers energy and what takes away energy. Notes that when teachers had strong emotional connections with colleagues their teaching energy was high. (SG)

Presents a critical analysis demonstrating that scripted phonics programs hold student and teachers as curriculum hostages. Begins as an investigation into the uses of predictable texts to teach reading in primary classrooms. Discusses how the mandated program is so oriented to preciseness that the students are less willing to take risks as…

Describes the "Book Club Plus Inquiry Group," a group of classroom teachers and university teacher educators in Michigan involved in practitioner research. Offers perspectives from the group on the question of what counts as teacher research. Concludes with a model of their conception. (SR)

Makes visible how a linguistically diverse group of teachers who were themselves fearful of writing and teaching writing became engaged in writing their own stories. Considers differences and similarities in diverse cultures among the teachers. Notes that as teachers explore the "inscape" of their own cultural and personal stories, memory bridges…

Shares how the author's process of self-study led to the development of a planning framework that protected her from mandated packaged teaching programs. Suggests tips for starting and sustaining teaching journals. Describes the steps she took to approach the structured teaching plan of her new school that differed greatly from her holistic…

Presents a case study of one fourth-grade teacher researcher. Documents the teacher's initial reticence toward teacher research, how being part of a group was central to her participation, and how her preferences for methods of data collection and methods for presenting teacher research findings differed from the preferred methods of the group…