Deconstructing Inquiry in the Professional Development School: Exploring the Domains and Contents of Teachers' Questions

Abstract

Abstract Having facilitated, read, and collected more than 200 teacher research pieces written by prospective and practicing teachers, the authors conducted a systematic analysis of the domains and contents of teachers' questions as they embarked on their first research study. Focusing on the questions teachers ask led to the generation of a typology of “six passions” for teacher inquiry: An individual child; curriculum; teaching strategies and techniques; beliefs about management, teaching, and learning; personal and professional identity; and teaching and learning context. This article shares examples of teacher research in each of the six passions and the process of locating questions for teacher research efforts.