NAEYC. org / resources / pubs / VOP
The Pedagogical Narrative as a Form of Teacher Research
Stories for Inquiry, Reflection, and Transformation
Barbara Henderson
Barbara Henderson, PhD, is the director of the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership at San Francisco State University and professor in elementary education with an early childhood specialization. Her research expertise is in practitioner and teacher research. She is one of the founding editors of Voices of Practitioners. barbarah @ sfsu. edu
Stories are central to human connection, offering ways to understand ourselves, others, and our world( Bruner 1996). For teacher educators, school leaders, and early childhood educators who work directly with children, stories can be more than a means of connection; they are tools for inquiry, reflection, and transforming practice.
There is a long tradition of amplifying educators’ voices and stories in Voices of Practitioners articles. In fact, the very first one featured a story
66 Young Children
Summer 2025