Teachers' Stories

This book shows how teachers and educators can use stories of their professional experiences to reflect on their own practice, articulate values and beliefs, give shape and form to teaching theory, and better understand decision-making processes. Foreword.

1. Teachers' Stories, Teachers' Knowledge.

2. How Narrative Connects.

3. What Students Can Teach Us.

4. The Practice of Reflection.

5. Dilemmas of Teaching.

6. Professional Development.

7. From Narrative to Insight.

8. Strategies for Generating Narrative. MARY RENCK JALONGO is an author, consultant, and teacher educator.She has written five books and numerous articles on a variety ofeducational topics. Jalongo was named outstanding professor atIndiana University of Pennsylvania, where she is a graduate programcoordinator and teaches undergraduate methods courses and doctorallevel courses in the College of Education.

JOAN P. ISENBERG is a professor in the Graduate School of Educationat George Mason University, where she coordinates three programsand, in 1990, received the Distinguished Faculty Award. She is theauthor of four books and numerous articles. Storytelling--or narrative--is gaining acceptance as an important tool for professional development, research, and teaching. This book shows how teachers and educators can use stories of their professional experiences to reflect on their own practice, articulate values and beliefs, give shape and form to teaching theory, and better understand decision-making processes. The book offers strategies for generating, sharing, and using narrativeand illustrates its points with many rich classroom stories.Individual chapters built around specific themes show how teachers use narrative to forge connections, learn from students, reflect upon experience, resolve conflict, develop as professionals, and enter the educational dialogue. A wealth of examples and specific suggestions show teachers at all levels, preschool through high school, how to compose and give voice to their own stories, forcing them to dig beneath the surface, think more deeply about teaching and learning, and become truly reflective practitioners. Storytelling--or narrative--is gaining acceptance as an important tool for professional development, research, and teaching. This book shows how teachers and educators can use stories of their professional experiences to reflect on their own practice, articulate values and beliefs, give shape and form to teaching theory, and better understand decision-making processes. The book offers strategies for generating, sharing, and using narrativeand illustrates its points with many rich classroom stories.