In this article, we investigate first-year student teachers’ teacher identities through their practical theories and ask what these practical theories reveal about their emerging teacher identities? This study approaches teacher identity from a dialogical viewpoint where identity is constructed through various positions. The empirical part of this study analysed the practical theories of 71 first-year student teachers in order to determine what kinds of positions are involved in their teacher identity at the beginning of their teacher education and what positions are emphasised. The results showed that when student teachers begin their teacher education, the majority of positions concern didactical issues, that is, how to promote pupils’ studying and learning processes. In addition, student teachers’ teacher identities as teachers strongly emphasise the moral nature of teaching. Contextual issues about school and society and matters related to content, such as the curriculum, had little representation in first-year student teacher identities. On the basis of the results, the role of teacher education is considered in the process of promoting development of student teachers’ teacher identity during their studies.

This article presents a design for supporting theory–practice reflection in teacher practicums. This design is based on three design principles that promote a transformative stance towards the creation of novel pedagogical approaches: mutual transformation of theory and practice, co-design among supervising teachers, university lecturers and student teachers, and participating in the long-term development of pedagogical practices. To evaluate the design, we analyse and compare student teachers’ portfolios across two implementations of the teacher practicum: a thematic practicum based on the proposed design and the conventional class teacher practicum of the University of Helsinki. The results show that the student teachers who participated in the thematic practicum used theory more frequently in their reflections. Moreover, their theory–practice connections were more robust than those made by student teachers who participated in the conventional practicum. On the basis of our results, we make suggestions regarding how to promote theory–practice reflection in teacher education.

Teaching is a highly complex profession, one in which teachers have to make continuous pedagogical decisions. In this study, we argue that practical wisdom is needed in order to act thoughtfully and effectively. The prerequisite for using practical wisdom is teachers’ awareness of the pedagogical beliefs behind the decision-making. In this study, this has been described as personal practical theories: PPTs. In other words, practical wisdom is possible if PPTs are consistent with pedagogical decision-making and furthermore teaching practice. The aim of this study is to seek the ways teacher education may support the cultivation of practical wisdom in student teachers. For that purpose, we carried out a qualitative descriptive study by interviewing 15 primary school student teachers about their experiences with PPTs, and their manifestation in their practicum studies. Further, what factors support the manifestation, or create obstacles to them. Based on the results, in this study, we suggest ways in which practical wisdom could be promoted in initial teacher education.

Education makes a difference and teacher educators are an important part of that circle. However, there is very little research done in Finland on teacher educators’ professional development. The main purpose of this study was to develop and test the psychometric properties of three scales that measure the components of teacher educators’ professional development, namely (a) developmental needs, (b) preferred ways of fulfiling those needs and (c) hindrances to fulfiling developmental needs. The differences between different occupational groups were also discussed. The survey was distributed in May 2019 to all eight Finnish universities that offer teacher education. The final sample size was 354. Using scale development techniques, we succeeded in generating items to all three inventories. We also tested the psychometric properties and the construct validity of the inventories. Our study revealed that teacher educators are not a homogenous group. Different occupational groups have different professional development interests.

Teacher education (TE) plays a pivotal role in fostering student teachers’ teacher identity development, and furthermore, their readiness and motivation for continuous professional development. In this article, we explore the differences in student teachers’ teacher identity during TE. For this purpose, we investigated personal practical theories) of beginning and advanced primary school student teachers. Personal practical theories (PPTs) are defined as pedagogical beliefs that guide classroom actions. We found out that there are gradual qualitative differences in student teacher identities as TE proceeds. However, the results indicate that the overall differences in teacher identities are minor during TE. On the basis of the results, we consider the ways TE may promote student teachers’ continuing professional development