More on teacher research...

So, in thinking more about my ideas for teacher research and after our discussion in class, I've realized, yet again, that these questions are too great and too broad for one project. I believe the next step is to ground myself in thinking about what data I can collect. As the authors of What Works? suggest, I will also have to define certain words in my research question, such as "discussion", "open-minded", etc., since inevitably we all may think of these differently. I can't say I've narrowed it down yet, but your comments and resources have been helpful in figuring out what exactly I'm trying to accomplish.

To complicate matters, I also am taking an amazing class on advanced multicultural curriculum, which has heightened my interest in bringing conversations about power, race, and positionality to the classroom. I've had these conversations with students previously in spurts depending on what we're reading, but I would really like to explore this deeply in relation to identity. If I go back to the classroom next year, I think it would be interesting to have students write about who they think they are in the beginning of the year, which I ususally do, but extend that from a one-project kind of deal to them tracking the shifts in their identities throughout the year, seeing if their views change or if they feel like they have more agency based on our discussions and critical thinking of race, power structures, and positionality. Again, this is just kind of a seed in my brain right now.

I know, why can't I just make things simple? Don't worry. Hopefully, I'll figure out how to fit one of these ideas into a teacher research project.....eventually. Any thoughts are always greatly appreciated...