Teacher Induction And Mentoring

This book draws together various theoretical and research-based perspectives to examine the institutionalization of mentoring processes for beginning teachers. Teacher induction, defined as the guidance provided to new teachers, is increasingly gaining traction as a key stage in promoting quality education. Major efforts have been put into reducing transitional challenges from being a student teacher to a practicing teacher; optimizing professional relationships and socialization into school dynamics; and increasing teacher retention. Mentoring has been proven to add benefits in assisting beginning teachers during the early years of their teaching career, because it provides the required knowledge and skills to face uncertain school scenarios and the complexities of practice. However, teacher induction programs are not part of regular instruction in many countries. The lack of teacher training during the induction phase might result in lower levels of commitment, professional isolation, or even attrition. This book calls for more concrete mentoring processes for early career teachers, and questions how this can be put into practice.

Larry Cubans How Teachers Taught has been widely acclaimed as a pathbreaking text on the history and evolution of classroom teaching. Now Cuban brings his great experience as a classroom teacher, superintendent, and researcher to this highly anticipated follow-up to his groundbreaking work. Focusing on three diverse school districts (Arlington, Virginia; Denver, Colorado; Oakland, California), Hugging the Middle offers an incisive portrayal of how teachers teach now. It is a revealing look at a range of current, workable pedagogical options educators are using to engage students while satisfying parents and policymakersoptions that succeed by creating hybrid practices that combine both teacher-centered approaches (e.g., mostly direct instruction, textbooks, lectures) with student-centered ones (e.g., team projects on real-world problems, independent learning, small-groupwork). This book serves as a state-of-the-profession assessment in an era of top-down educational policy.

Use these step-by-step strategies to develop and implement a proven program that links to districtwide goals and results in highly qualified teachers and increased student achievement.

The ordeals and stresses of the first year of teaching have often been cited as reasons why many new teachers become discouraged and even abandon their teaching careers. One strategy that has proven successful in providing support to novice teachers is to match them with experienced classroom teachers, or mentors, in order to ease their induction into teaching. Mentoring also provides a meaningful challenge for experienced successful teachers. As more districts begin to implement mentoring and induction programs, they will need information and models to answer basic questions regarding how mentors are selected and how schools can provide training and support to all personnel involved in such programs. This book provides an overview of the induction into teaching and mentoring processes, describes five effective school-based models, and reports the results of a large-scale study of those elements found to be most helpful by experienced mentor teachers.

In this groundbreaking work, Harry K. Wong, Laura Lipton, Bruce Wellman, and other top names in the field examine how successful mentoring and induction programs are developed and demonstrate how they can be replicated.

The book also contains a special emphasis on under-prepared teachers and urban schools-those most in need of effective induction and mentoring and also the group that benefits the most from these types of programmes

"A must-read for anyone interested in ensuring the ongoing effectiveness of teacher induction and mentoring. Sweeny mentors the reader by sharing details from his two decades of developing and leading high-impact mentoring programs. I′ve improved my own effectiveness by employing these insightful strategies." —Hal Portner, Educational Consultant Author of Mentoring New Teachers "Offers many suggestions and guiding principles for organizing mentoring programs and succinctly addresses many complex issues of program development and interpersonal relationships in mentoring roles. There is so much information in an easy-to-read, direct presentation." —Lori Helman, Professor of Curriculum and Instruction University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Develop a high-impact training and mentoring program that strengthens teacher and student performance! While resources are abundant for helping the mentor and the new teacher, very little has been written to guide the leaders of teacher and mentor development. In Leading the Teacher Induction and Mentoring Program, Second Edition, Barry W. Sweeny provides an effective, proven model for developing, implementing, evaluating, and sustaining an induction and mentoring program that results in highly qualified teachers. A nationally known mentoring expert, the author offers comprehensive guidance and a wealth of practical strategies that allow leaders to support mentors and novice teachers and to promote school improvement and professional development initiatives. Extensively revised to include the latest research, this second edition: Presents step-by-step directions for each part of the program development and implementation process Links induction and mentoring to districtwide goals for improved teaching practice and increased student achievement Includes sample schedules, templates, and reproducible forms Provides solid recommendations for avoiding pitfalls and increasing program effectiveness Ideal for principals, district administrators, teacher trainers, and mentor leaders, this resource offers essential tools for designing and implementing a new induction and mentoring program or improving an existing one.

"The author has done an excellent job of highlighting the key aspects of a comprehensive induction program and offers rich examples across urban, rural, and suburban setting. Anyone interested in developing induction programs that both support and accelerate beginning teacher development should read this book. —Ellen Moir, Executive Director New Teacher Center, University of California, Santa Cruz "State level policy makers can take a positive step forward by providing every district and school leader with a copy of this book. Expertly organized and written, Villani′s work provides answers to school leaders′ key questions regarding establishing a comprehensive induction/mentoring program. Readers will keep the book within reach as a most valued resource." —Stephanie Hirsch, Executive Director National Staff Development Council "A significant addition to the literature on mentoring in the education profession. This book provides various models of comprehensive programs implemented in school districts around the country and confirms the importance of mentoring to retain teachers, maintain consistency in academic programming, and develop a culture of continuous improvement in professional practice." —Gail Connelly, Executive Director National Association of Elementary School Principals "Susan Villani presents comprehensive mentoring programs as catalysts for school improvement and reflective practice. With a wealth of tools and models for establishing effective programs, this book addresses cultural competence, peer coaching, and retention of math, science, and special education teachers. Villani′s framework will strengthen professional learning communities and improve the effectiveness of our most valuable resource—teachers." —Mary Forte Hayes, Executive Director Massachusetts Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Establish a quality comprehensive mentoring program and improve teacher retention rates! This updated edition of Mentoring Programs for New Teachers outlines mentors′ roles, mentor preparation, and the ways comprehensive mentoring programs support new teachers and educators. Readers will find: Descriptions of 18 successful real-world, comprehensive mentoring programs on the state, district, regional, and national level A list of 5 factors to consider when developing a comprehensive mentoring initiative A rubric based on seven components of comprehensive mentoring programs New material for supporting special education, math, and science teachers Resources to use in program development or revision