This paper examines the influence of life histories and apprenticeship of observation on the formation of student teachers' idealised identities. The life histories of 15 student teachers are decoded. Through eliciting from the student teachers the teacher they wish to be, the paper focuses on the interplay between the personal histories and ideal…

Discusses several reforms in the late 1990s that were introduced to improve the teaching of reading in primary (elementary) schools and raise reading achievement levels in Ireland and in England. Examines some of these reforms, in light of emerging knowledge about effective reading instruction and differing perspectives on the role of the teacher…