Summary: In this NWP Radio program, moderator Elyse Eidman-Aadahl and teachers from the Southern Arizona Writing Project provide an overview of teacher research in general along with various approaches and settings (first 16 minutes), followed by stories of how the projects of three teachers impacted their practice, built connections with students and families, and benefited from a shared community of practice (16:00-51:35 total; 16:16 Laurie; 29:05 Denise; 39:11 Leah). Each segment provides unique insights that could inform new and experienced teachers engaged in teacher research and speaks to the power of teachers writing and talking about their work.
Original Date of Publication: September 23, 2010
Listen to the Show
Duration: 59 minutes
Excerpt
I really like the Action Research Program because I have the chance to take a look at my own instruction and take time and really investigate things that are troubling me about instruction. This year I was looking at oral language development and how to get my students to actually produce English, and that may seem a simple task, but it’s not. It’s very, very difficult and challenging.
I wanted to step it up a notch this year, but I wasn’t quite sure how to go about doing that, and with Action Research you have the opportunity to talk to…a very supportive community. You have the opportunity to talk to other teachers and get feedback and some ideas, and go back to the classroom and try it out and see if it works. And if it doesn’t, then you know you need to try something else. But it’s a really great opportunity for teachers to look at themselves, their instruction and how to improve it.
Download “The Southern Arizona Writing Project Teacher Research and Inquiry Community (NWP Radio)”
Related Resources
- “Out of Our Experience: Useful Theory,” Excerpt from Teacher Research for Better Schools
- Lessons from Tony: Betrayal and Trust in Teacher Research
Original Source: National Writing Project, https://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/3282