• Ask questions and examine their underlying assumptions about teaching and learning.
  
• Develop research questions based on their own curiosity about teaching and learning in their classrooms.
  
• Learn to observe, reflect, and analyze their teaching and student learning.
  
• Discuss with colleagues relationships among theory, practice, and research.
  
• Systematically collect data and research methodology with fellow teacher researchers.
  
• Analyze and interpret their data and research methodology with the support of colleagues and fellow teacher researchers.
  
• Share their findings with students, colleagues, and members of the educational community. http://isnet.fcps.edu/teacherleadershipProject/
  
• Write about their research.
  

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• Impact teacher and student learning and/or student achievement.
  
• Support revision of instructional practice based on new knowledge about teaching and learning.
  
• Increase dialogue, sharing, and collaboration about instruction and student learning across departments, disciplines, grade levels and schools.
  
• Enable development of priorities for school-wide planning and assessment efforts.
  
• Contribute to the professional body of knowledge about teaching and learning.
  
• Enhance communication between teachers and students.
  
• Support teacher-designed and initiated professional development.
  

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Network programs include the following:

• The Networker, a newsletter which serves as a link among teacher researchers and is available to all educators.
  
• Workshops and programs to educate administrators, teachers, and parents about the work of teacher researchers.
  
• Training for teacher researchers and group leaders
  
• An annual teacher research conference to share teacher research findings.
  
• Online support for teacher researchers through FCPS Blackboard.
  

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The 17th Annual Teacher Research Conference was held at the Waterford at Fair Oaks on May 1, 2008. With an attendance of over 250, three dozen educators shared their research during round-table discussions. These educators were mostly from Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) but educators from other Virginia school systems also participated. The research discussed involved K-12 students. The topics included all four core subjects, as well as, using technology, the arts, and speech. During the evening, the FCPS teachers who had earned grants from the Apple Federal Credit Union for the 2007-08 school year were recognized. After having the opportunity to be inspired by educators’ research at a choice of three round-table discussion sessions, door prizes were awarded. Teachers learned, networked, had fun, and won prizes! The recipe for a great evening!

The Eighteenth Annual FCPS Teacher Researcher Conferencewill be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at the Waterford-at-Fair Oaks.  Proposals will be accepted in January for those wishing to present their research at the conference. Registration will take place in April, 2009.

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Support for groups of school-based teacher researchers currently includes the following:

• Substitute time for teachers to work with colleagues.
  
• Assistance from an experienced teacher researcher to help facilitate the research process at the school site.
  
• Training for teacher researcher group leaders.

Group guidelines:

• Any school or teacher can start a Teacher Research Group
• Meetings at school:
  
  • Can meet during the day or after school: this is a site decision
  • PLT will fund subs during the day meetings: up to 6 half days per researcher
    
• Meetings with our consultants:
  • Targeted towards novice Group Leaders
  • Twice a year school team members and administrators are invited to attend
  • 2008-09: Group Leader and School Group Meetings (PDF)
    
• Research Project:
  • All work in progress must be entered on the Teacher Leadership database in order to receive the 60 recertification points on My PLT
  • Researchers are invited to present at the annual conference

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