Establishing A Teacher Research Team

Getting Started- forming a group

The beginning of a new the school year is a nice time to begin a teacher research project. It is important to have a colleague(s) that you can work with. When establishing a Teacher Research Team (TRT) first review the purposes of the team. As a team you will:

• develop research questions based on your own curiosity about teaching and learning in their classrooms
• systematically collect data and research methodology
• write about your own research
• share your findings with students, colleagues, and other members of the educational community
• discuss relationships among practice, theory, and your own research
• examine your own underlying assumptions about teaching and learning
• assume responsibility for your own professional growth

Once you have found one or more colleagues interested in forming a Teacher Research Team (TRT), set an agenda for monthly half day meetings. Some teams meet every other week for only a few hours. A supportive administrator or an administrative office may be willing to provide "start-up" funds for administrative leave that will enable you to meet during the school day. If funding to provide leave during the school day can not provided, your TRT may need to meet after school. Meeting after school with dinner out at a local restaurant is a nice way to end a school day and is something to look forward to each month.

See also:

Hubbard, Ruth Shagoury & Power, Brenda Miller (1993). The art of classroom inquiry. Portsmouth, NH: Heineman Publishers, p. xiii-xviii.

MacLean, Marion S. & Mohr, Marian M. (1999). Teacher-Researchers at Work. Berkely, CA: National Writing Project.

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