ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the idea of the teacher as a continual researcher. It provides arguments as to why conducting one's own education research is important and what it might look like. The chapter shows how to make research more rigourous and useful to others by through case studies and some challenging exercises. Research builds one's capacity to contribute to the learning community and helps engender the resilience one need to stay in education. Research into motivating, engaging and creating meaning for children and addressing guiding values like, sustainability, morality, community or living peacefully together in our world – should be the subject of continued and urgent research in education. Research suggests that happiness matters and that there are routes towards resilience even in the most difficult times. A fulfilling life in education may be more a product of values, creativity and friendships than of pay or conditions.
