The article discusses the possibility of bridging the gap between the personal and contextual practical knowledge of teachers on the one hand and presumptive generic teacher knowledge on the other. Within the framework of two research projects and with the help of several different methods, data concerning the practical knowledge of teachers have been collected. To begin with, data are related to Martin Buber’s theories regarding experience as insight. Teachers’ will and ability to be present in the classroom, their desire to realize a relationship, is suggested to be a crucial part of their practical knowledge. The article furthermore emphasizes the way teachers use metaphors to describe the core of their knowledge. The article discusses how these ways of talking about practice can contribute to professional development. The use of “living metaphors” highlights such a possibility.