Drawing directly on the work of teachers and other professional trainers concerned with programmes for continuing professional development, this book promotes action research for practitioners so as to develop qualities of critical appraisal and analysis of practice, appropriate to professional contexts. The authors suggest activities and give support for teaching, and evaluation of teaching, by using actual examples of teacher research into professional issues. They also aim to encourage teachers' narrative writing and autobiographical approaches to researching their professional lives. There is a specific focus on processes of professional development, which connects with current needs, demands and challenges of the `modernized' profession. This book will support those involved in appraisal activity, performance management and threshold application.This book is for schoolteachers and others involved with professional training across all age phases, and for those who support teachers' professional development: university tutors, consultants and senior staff in LEAs. It is also suitable for police and nurse trainers, further education tutors and advisory teachers.