A faculty-school partnership study in Turkish teacher education: teacher questions

Abstract

This study aims at applying inquiry-oriented approach, which recently has been highly-valued in teacher education and thus providing preservice teachers of Turkish language with an opportunity of conducting research. For this purpose, teacher questions, an under-studied issue in Turkey has been chosen as the focus of the preservice teacher research. Potential teachers observed 14 teachers of Turkish language in 3 schools in groups of 6 to prepare observation reports. In these reports preservice teachers evaluated the teacher questions in reading activities. Also, at the end of the spring term, considering the research they conducted and their own teaching practices, their stances were collected through a survey. Findings from this study give some clues about the theory developing and reflective practice of the preservice teachers of Turkish language. Raising preservice teachers as researchers could develop their awareness of theory-practice balance and help them find instant solutions to problems.