A Companion to Research in Teacher Education

Table 16.1 Observations and email exchanges focusing on lesson-planning

Dates Observation visits related to email

exchanges about lesson-planning

Context and referential content of texts

Feb. 28 Denisereflective email to the other

embedded ethnographer

I am beginning to see missing lesson plans

for teaching from both candidates and

scarce written reflections from Brad

Mar 4 Denise emails Brad Denise reminds Brad of doing his missing

field journals

Asks for missing journals in email.

Denise assigns several questions to be

considered

Mar 7 Brad answers and sends his requested

reflection. Denise responds

Brad makes great progress. Denise makes

suggestions and adds ideas

Mar 18a Brad responds to email from Denise To inform Denise that he is missing his

lesson plans due to job interviewing

Mar 18b Denise sends reminder emails to all of her

assigned candidates

Restating program norm and expectations

about policies on lesson plan preparation

and absences

Mar 19 Denise visits both candidates and has three

way conferences each: Brad,

Mentor-Teacher and Supervisor; Amy,

Mentor-Teacher and Supervisor

Checking progress for individual

teacher-candidates [does not meet as whole

with full team]

Apr 27 Brad sends email to Denise Required weekly email reflection of lessons

taught

Apr 28 Denise emails Brad Denise responds to his reflection

Denise notices his lesson plans lacks several

components of required format

Denise send him some good sample lesson

plans

Apr 29a Denise emails Brad Asks for week’s lesson plans

Apr 29b Brad emails Denise Sends last week’s lesson plans

Apr 29c Denise emails Brad Asks for the current week’s plans

Apr 30a Brad sends the current week’s plans Denise sees many missing pieces in thinking

and thorough planning for lessons

Apr 30b Denise contacts program manager for

feedback

May 1 Program manager emails supervisor with

feedback

Agrees with Denise’s concerns that lesson

plans need attention. Requests additional

information

Apr 30 Amy also sends in her plans

May 11a Denise emails program manager and

director

Informs them of missing lesson plans and

Amy’s absence

Provides information about Amy’s pattern

of absence

May 11b Denise emails Amy Reminds her again about program norms

about absence

May 11c Denise emails Brad Requests lesson plans

(continued)

244 L. Katz and J. Green