Teacher socialization: A spiral process

Four studies were undertaken to examine the teacher socialization process from four perspectives in an effort to document what happens during the learning process and what transition pattern, if any, occurs. Each of the studies used analysis of student/teacher journals as the method of inquiry. Six themes and accompanying propositions that define the process of teacher socialization were discovered. Each study was generated out of the previous study(ies). As the research progressed, a pattern of transition emerged that appears to be spiral in nature. This realization has implications for the restructuring of field . experience teacher education programs.