Perceived Usefulness Of Three Mentoring Strategies For Beginning Physical Education Teachers

Abstract: Research supports the use of mentoring programs and induction assistance for retaining quality teachers and easing beginning teachers' transition into their professional roles. Observation has been documented in the research literature as a strategy for mentoring yet there are few physical education studies that have use other mentoring strategies for assisting beginning physical educators during their induction years. This qualitative study explored the perceptions of four beginning physical educators regarding the usefulness of three mentoring strategies (observation, telephone mentoring and telementoring). Other supporting research questions related to the teachers' concerns and resources utilized. Participants taught in a high school and middle schools located in urban, suburban and rural areas of the Midwest. Data were collected over six weeks during spring 2000 through formal and informal interviews, observations with field notes, audiotaped telephone mentoring sessions, telementoring emails saved to discs, and documents such as lesson plans and handouts and teaching artifacts. Collected data from the case studies were analyzed using constant comparison among the various data sources. A cross case/site analysis was conducted to explore emerging themes as well as similarities and differences across the cases. One of the key findings was that concerns of these participants were similar to other beginning teachers. Secondly, adequate resources were available to support and assist the participants in addressing their concerns. Third, although a wealth of resources was provided by the researcher few were utilized. Finally, each of the three mentoring strategies was useful to the beginning physical education teachers in this study and they found the combination of the three mentoring strategies to be the most useful.

Mentoring Physical Education Teachers in the Secondary School helps trainee and newly qualified mentors of physical education teachers in both developing their own mentoring skills and providing the essential guidance their beginning teachers need as they navigate the roller-coaster of the first years of teaching. Offering tried and tested strategies based on the best research and evidence, it covers the knowledge, skills and understanding every mentor needs and offers practical tools such as lesson plans and feedback guides, observation sheets, and examples of dialogue with beginning physical education teachers. Together with analytical tools for self-evaluation, this book is a vital source of support and inspiration for all those involved in developing the next generation of outstanding physical education teachers. Key topics explained include: Roles and responsibilities of mentors Developing a mentor-mentee relationship Guiding beginning physical education teachers through the lesson planning process Observations and pre- and post-lesson discussions Filled with the key tools needed for the mentor’s individual development, Mentoring Physical Education Teachers in the Secondary School offers an accessible guide to mentoring physical education teachers with ready-to-use strategies that support, inspire and elevate both mentors and beginning teachers alike.

This book examines factors surrounding the partnership between school-based training and mentoring in Physical Education. Contributors look at all angles of the collaboration between schools and higher education institutions, including: How mentor training programs are planned and the issues involved *Trainees' experiences of school-based training and mentoring *The needs of PE mentors in schools *A full explanation of mentoring Drawing on recent findings and the views of physical education teachers in the UK, Australia and the USA, the editor combines a wealth of information on factors which influence mentorship and the effectiveness of school-based partnership schemes.

An authoritative guide to educational supervision in today’s complex environment The Wiley Handbook of Educational Supervision offers a comprehensive resource that explores the evolution of supervision through contributions from a panel of noted experts. The text explores a wealth of topics including recent and dramatic changes in the complex context of today’s schools. This important resource: Describes supervision in a historical context Includes a review of adult learning and professional community Reviews new teacher preparation and comprehensive induction systems Contains perspectives on administrative feedback, peer coaching and collaboration Presents information on professional development and job-embedding learning Examines policy and implementation challenges in teacher evaluation Written for researchers, policy analysts, school administrators and supervisors, The Wiley Handbook of Educational Supervision draws on concepts, theories and research from other closely related fields of study to enhance and challenge our understanding of educational supervision.

This book assists mentors in developing their mentoring skills, offering guidance needed to support the development of beginning teachers in early years, primary and secondary schools in the Scottish education system, as well as supporting all teachers in their career-long professional learning. Based on research and evidence, Mentoring Teachers in Scotland explores and discusses the knowledge, skills and understanding that underpin mentoring that is responsive to individual mentees' needs. The book includes reflective activities to enable mentors to consider the application of mentoring processes in their own practice, as well as case studies and other learning activities. This book is a valuable source of support and inspiration for all those involved in mentoring and sustaining teachers’ professional development at all stages of their career. Key topics explored include: roles and responsibilities of mentors within the Scottish education system, and the Scottish model of teaching and teacher development; developing a mentor–mentee relationship; guiding beginning teachers in Scotland through the mentoring processes; strategies for observation, analysis and reflection on practice; and mentoring for beginning teachers and career-long professional learning. Mentoring Teachers in Scotland offers an accessible and practical guide to mentoring teachers in Scotland that aims to support, inspire and guide mentors and mentees.

`This is simply the physical education book of its time. The editors must be congratulated on bringing together so many quality authors from so many different parts of the world. As a handbook, it represents how far the study of physical education has moved forward in recent times. What we have is a clear portrayal of physical education at the start of the 21st century′ - Mike Jess, University of Edinburgh `This Handbook is a "must read" for all physical educators who are serious about understanding their subject and developing their practices. The list of authors involved reads like a "who′s who"′ of physical education at a global level - the editors are to be commended on bringing together such collective expertise - this is a key strength of the book. The Handbook successfully expresses a view of knowledge about physical education pedagogy which embraces different research traditions and emerging areas of interest across the global scholarly community′ - Jo Harris, Loughborough University `This comprehensive and eclectic exploration into the field of physical education draws on the vast expertise of its renowned international contributors with astounding results. The Handbook of Physical Education serves to firmly reinstate physical education to its position as the core discipline of sport and exercise science. The Handbook is destined to become an indispensable academic resource for scholars, students and enthusiasts of physical education for years to come′ - Pilvikki Heikinaro-Johansson, University of Jyväskylä What is the current condition of the field of physical education? How has it adapted to the rise of kinesiology, sport and exercise science and human movement studies over the last thirty years? This Handbook provides an authoritative critical overview of the field and identifies future challenges and directions. The Handbook is divided in to six parts: - Perspectives and Paradigms in Physical Education Pedagogy Research; - Cross-disciplinary Contributions to Research on Physical Education; - Learners and Learning in Physical Education; - Teachers, Teaching and Teacher Education in Physical Education; - Physical Education Curriculum; - Difference and Diversity in Physical Education. This benchmark work is essential reading for educators and students in the field of physical education.