The best leaders use multiple frames or lenses to view common challenges and to solve their most difficult problems. This book contains a series of dialogs between a novice and a master teacher, and between a new and a seasoned principal as they demonstrate how framing and reframing challenges can bring clarity, help to anticipate problems, and…

This book was written especially for first year teachers of grades 6-8, but even veteran teachers can benefit from its multitude of ideas, examples, and tips for teaching science the way middle school students learn best. Topics include the basics of cooperative learning and assessment, discovering effective ways to help students strengthen…

This book shows how a school district's local teacher evaluation committee can design evaluation systems in which educators can achieve the dual purposes of accountability and professional development and even merge these purposes. A structural framework for designing the evaluation is proposed that locates teachers in one of three tracks: the…

Teachers just out of college need the help of their principals in adjusting to their new roles. This article discusses six difficulties that often face new teachers and suggests eight long-term orientation techniques that have proved successful. (PGD)

Suggests steps for a teacher preparing to teach a technical writing course for the first time. Stresses materials with which the teacher should be familiar and the need for making contacts with local people in business and industry as well as with faculty members. (TJ)

A beginning teacher's audiovisual portfolio would give the prospective employer a clear idea of the applicant's actual teaching style and ability. (Author/MLF)

The Jefferson School District in Daly City, California, uses a systematic procedure for selecting and pairing master teachers and novices. (Author/TE)

One way to exert leadership in orienting new teachers is to act confidently as master teacher. This can be accomplished by scheduling informal monthly orientation meetings centered on priority topics. Roundtable discussions of sensitive topics foster a different image of the principalship, increase administrator visibility, and facilitate both…

Describes one beginning teacher's experience with a bad, nonsupportive principal. Teachers formed a support group to determine how to handle the principal. Their most successful tactic was to substitute positive, self-supportive thoughts for negative ones. The teacher worked to regain her self-confidence and to communicate with the principal. The…

Presents cooperative-statistics teaching ideas. Argues that the cooperative-teaching approach strengthens introductory statistics teachers' sense of professional community, minimizes the amount of additional time and resources required, and increases the quality of statistics education. Contains 11 references. (ASK)

This book presents practical strategies to help secondary teachers succeed in their first year of teaching. The 16 chapters include the following: (1) Learning Your Way Around the School (getting oriented, making friends, learning rules and traditions, meeting others); (2) Organizing Your Room (taking inventory and assessing flow, movement, space,…

This book helps school systems and teacher mentors achieve a systematic approach to teacher induction and mentoring programs, offering over 60 checklists, planning guidelines, and assessment tools. Part 1, "Preparation for Mentor Training," includes (1) "From Master Teacher to Masterful Mentor," (2) "Assessing Your…

This practical guide for new teachers is written by teachers and offers strategies for the early years of teaching that cover classroom practice and professional development. Seven chapters address teaching practice and cover the following topics: getting to know students at the beginning of the year; strategic planning for the whole year;…

This guide for novice teachers includes ten sections: (1) "A Knowing Colleague as Counsel...About the Policies, Practices, and Politics!" (proactively seek a mentor); (2) "A Place Called 'My Room' for Students To Grow, To Groom, and To Zoom!" (create a climate that fosters growth and pride); (3) "A Method for Managing 1,500 Decisions: On Your…

A principal can provide support for beginning teachers by gaining specific knowledge of each teacher's curriculum, by developing rapport, and by encouraging teachers in seven key areas. Rapport is built with friendly, solicitous behavior and a lot of listening; it can be destroyed by too much criticism, insensitivity, and aloofness. A principal…