Discusses the importance of training, supporting, and retaining new teachers, presents a step-by-step process for structuring an induction program, and features a list of replicable induction programs.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Based on a three-year study, the authors describe how comprehensive teacher induction systems can both provide teacher support and promote learning more about how to teach. This book calls for re-thinking what teacher induction is about, whom it should serve, what the ‘curriculum’ of induction should be, and the policies, programs, and practices needed to deliver it.
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 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
In this practical yet visionary book, Ellen Moir and her colleagues at the New Teacher Center review what current research suggests--and doesn't--about the power of well-designed mentoring programs to shape teacher and student outcomes. They set forth the principles of high-quality instructional mentoring and describe the elements of a rigorous professional development program. Detailed case studies show how these principles can be applied at the district level and highlight the opportunities and challenges involved in implementing these programs in different contexts. This book makes a powerful case for using new teacher mentoring as an entry point for creating a strong professional culture with a shared, aligned understanding of high-quality teaching. "One of the biggest challenges facing educational leaders today is finding strategies to keep our best and brightest teachers in our nation's classrooms. Mentoring new and veteran teachers is critical to meeting that challenge. New Teacher Mentoring: Hopes and Promise for Improving Teacher Effectiveness is a must read for educators who are serious about transforming America's classrooms." -- Beverly L. Hall, superintendent, Atlanta Public Schools and 2009 National Superintendent of the Year "A combination of theory and practice makes this book particularly useful to educators who are responsible for the success of new teachers. The wisdom, experience, and dedication of the authors ensures that the field has a book that will endure as a valued resource for decades." -- Stephanie Hirsh, executive director, National Staff Development Council "Ellen Moir and her colleagues are world leaders in teacher mentoring. Tens of thousands of children and young people would be far worse off had it not been for the significantly better classrooms that their well-mentored teachers have created. Moir and all those at the New Teacher Center know how to do mentoring, how to improve mentoring, and how to achieve all this on an immense scale. Here, they show just how well they can write about mentoring too. If you are a teacher or want to help one, then read this book! Its rigorous, evidence-based analysis and riveting prose will inspire you, inform you, and spur you on to do even greater things for your own and other teachers' students." -- Andy Hargreaves, Brennan Chair in Education, Boston College Ellen Moir is founder and executive director of the New Teacher Center. Dara Barlin is the associate director of policy for the New Teacher Center. Janet Gless is associate director of the New Teacher Center. Jan Miles is northwest regional director at the New Teacher Center.