An Individualized Approach to Mentoring new

teachers

Estela Proaño- Vice PrincipalLeah Yepez- Curriculum Coordinator

Find a small group or partner and discuss the

following questions:

What are your current systems in providing support for new teachers?

Do you feel new teachers have a difficult time adjusting to your school?

Many new teachers have a difficult time adjusting to a new position, new school and new culture. Even though there are induction programs in place, we believe a mentor program offering one on one conferences with the new teachers will support the adjustment to the new position as well as prevent negative attitudes toward their new job thus promoting a positive effect on student achievement.

Brainstorm

What are some challenges new teachers face in a new school, culture, or assignment?

What are the biggest challenges for new teachers in your school?

New Teacher challenges

School policies (deadlines, standardized documents, procedures)

School culture ( parents, school organization)

New teaching position ( classroom management, student motivation, differentiation, assessment, parents

Adapting to new country, language and culture (security, sickness, culture shock, traditions, frustrations with language)

Research

Stansbury and Zimmerman (2000)

“A third of beginning teachers quit within their first three years on the job”

“...teachers face the emotional challenges of adapting to a new workplace and new colleagues-from simply figuring out where things are located to learning policies and procedures, finding kindred spirits, and generally speaking, getting the lay of the land.”

Israel (2008)

“New teachers need people who are observing and giving them feedback... They need support to help them refine what they do to overcome obstacles related to classroom management, lesson planning, grading and contacting parents.”

According to John Holloway, director of the Teacher Quality Initiative, one of the greatest reasons new teachers leave the profession is lack of support and assistance in dealing with many frustration they face.

McManus and Kauffman (in Yoon and Gilchrist) (2003)

“...lack of administrative support has consistently been linked to teacher stress and low commitment to the profession of teaching”

Essential Elements in supporting teachers

Personal and Emotional Support Place to ask questions, clarify doubts, receive

guidance about the school culture and procedures

How to balance work and life Cultural Differences

Task and Problem-Focused Support Lesson plans, grading, discipline issues and

procedures, parent-teacher conferences, school policies

• Stansbury & Zimmerman (2000) Eason & Edwards (2010)

Chart Activity-Column 2

In groups, classify your challenges by

stating if they are Personal and Emotional Support

(PES) or Task and Problem-Focused Support (TPS)

Our Program:

Instruments:

1. Likert Scale

2. One on one meetings

3. Visibility

4. Communication

5. Exit Interview

One on one Conferences

Curriculum Coordinator:

Curriculum Content

Unit Plans

Clarify any doubts, questions about procedures, school policies

Personal and Emotional Support

One on one conferences

Vice Principal: Feedback from classroom visits

Guidance with student data

Support for classroom management

Advice for parent communication and meetings

Feedback on curriculum documents

Communication: upcoming events, procedures, policies

Visibility

Provide resources and supplies

Chart Activity-Column 3

What are some questions you could ask to address the challenges listed in column 1

Key Questions to ask

Personal and Emotional Support

Task and Problem Focused Support

How was your weekend?Do everything set up in your house?What are your plans this weekend or break?How are you adjusting to this culture? School? Policies?How are your classes going? Your students?What are your questions?Do you feel ready for next week classes?How is going with your administrators?

Have had any problems with Moodle? Is your plan book ready?Do you need any help writing unit plans?Are your exams ready?How is the grading coming along?Are there any students you are worried about?I saw your email to XXX parents, what strategies will you use?How can I help you?

Mock Conversation

Beginning of the Year Situation A: Teacher is overwhelmed and stressed

because there are not enough textbooks in the Bookstore

Situation B: Teacher does not feel comfortable using the technology required for using the system to send attendance and/or get in contact with parents

Addressing a specific situation Situation C: It is the end of first semester, and you

have received several complaints from parents about the way the teacher responds to a disruption in class

Situation D: The teacher is worried and frustrated because students are not complying with deadlines and their grades are going down

Visibility and communication

Announced and unannounced visits to classrooms

Mentor meetings

Weekly communication-calendar of events

Open communication for any concerns or doubt (emails, office visits)

Exit Interview

Suggestions for implementing mentor

programs

One on one conferences

Visibility

Open Communication

Mentoring program with lead teachers

Online mentoring program (Dabbs, 2011, Moir, 2009)

CONCLUSION

After this presentation, what are some ideas you can take back to your school and implement into your induction program?

References

Eason, L., and S. Edwards (2010). New Teachers on the Block. Teacher Training Teachers: Cotopaxi Academy, Quito.

Dabbs, L. (2011). Twenty Tidbits for New Teachers. Retrieved September 6, 2011fr Edutopi.org. Web site: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/20-tips-new-teachers-lisa-dabbs

Israel, M. (2008) Guidance from the Get-Go: Mentoring New Teachers. Retrieved Februar 18, 2010 from Education World. Web site: http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin

Moir, E. (2009 October) Accelerating Teacher Effectiveness: Lessons Learned from Two Decades of New Teacher Induction. Phi Delta Kappan, 14-19

Queensland Government. (2006) Flying Start Induction Ideas for beginning Teacher Induction Programs. Department of Education and Training.

Stansbury, K., and J. Zimmerman (2000). Lifelines to the classroom: Designing Suppport for Beginning Teachers. WestEd. 1-15.

Yoon, J.S., and J. Gilchrist ( 2003) Elementary teachers’ perceptions of 鄭dministrative Support�. Retrived February 18, 2010, from Questia com. Web site: http:// www. Questia.co,/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=L9mMX4Q