The purpose of this study is to examine the development of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) for two purposefully selected beginning mathematics teachers. The PCK development of these two individuals varied due to their focus on developing particular aspects of their PCK, with one individual focusing on assessment and student understanding, and the other individual focusing on curricular knowledge. The findings of this study demonstrate the differences that exist in the development of PCK for beginning mathematics teachers. These findings also demonstrate that PCK can develop in different ways for beginning teachers.

This study, which grounded in a sociocultural view of teacher learning, explores how non-native English as a Second Language (ESL) student teachers developed their understanding of professional learning in the light of their experiences of engaging with their significant others during an eight-week practicum. The study reveals rich interactions between these student teachers and their significant others in the school settings. The findings reveal that the process of learning to teach was described as experiencing, which is connected to engagement in activities in personal social context that is counted as doing. This study suggests a pressing need to develop university–school partnership to facilitate the development of collegial relationships among student teachers and their significant others.

The purpose of this study was to examine the value of providing pre-service teachers with opportunities to examine, justify and challenge their beliefs about classroom motivation in interaction with peers. Results showed participation in this study influenced pre-service teacher beliefs. Specifically, participants’ beliefs about classroom motivation shifted from a sole emphasis on individual cognitions to acknowledging also the importance of educational practices. The major change over time, however, was the consolidation of pre-service teachers’ motivational beliefs.

This article examines the effect of a National Writing Project professional development model on a group of middle school writing teachers. Specifically, the authors examine how contact with other professionals in intensive week-long sessions as well as mentoring from the professional development coach affected the teachers’ concept of themselves as professionals, as writers, and as colleagues, as well as how this attitudinal change affected their classrooms and students. The findings reveal that through participating in the literacy academies, these teachers appear to have revived their interest in teaching and gained confidence in their expertise. The authors find that activities with more positive structural features tend to provide professional development with more positive core features, which in turn tend of produce more positive teacher outcomes.

This study examines dialogue for evidence of inquiring habits of mind within mentor–mentee interactions. The findings revealed that learning and development was found but at differential rates not necessarily related to experience as a teacher or mentor prior to the programme. Furthermore, while the goals typically aligned with the philosophy of the programme, conversation content analysis revealed a discrepancy between intended goals and actual conversation.