This article represents one portion of a systematic examination of a narrative inquiry project designed for pre-service English education students. It offers a narrative writing and a reflective writing of one student, Lisa, to demonstrate how the project worked in her efforts to investigate the nature of students, teaching and students' learning. It also points to some implications for English language arts teacher preparation. First, what kinds of pedagogies might support prospective English language arts teachers as they grapple with complex concepts, and how might teacher educators create "safe spaces" where these pedagogies then become possible? How might teacher educators locate themselves in the classroom in order to enact these pedagogies? Furthermore, how do projects such as the one described reflect visions--though arguably problematic--that can be developed into segments of teacher preparation curriculum in ways that support the knowledge base for teaching and that are also responsive to prospective teachers' perceived needs?