Focuses on mentoring as a professional behavior that can address both the quantity and the quality of the teaching force. Argues that recruiting teachers is only a small part of the challenge to place a qualified person in every classroom: retaining good teachers requires a commitment to professional growth, a goal that can be addressed through…

While teacher educators prepare students throughout their coursework for successful teaching careers, the subjects of interviewing and the rigorous demands of full-time teaching are often not specifically covered. This paper reviews the essentials of interviewing techniques and addresses issues related to the realities of a first full-time…

This book is intended to help teacher preparation educators, building level leaders, staff developers, and teacher mentors address school-work patterns in five critical areas that may impact teacher attrition and retention. It supports a view of professional development that fosters the active involvement of teachers in customizing their own…

Reviews research on "mentors"--experienced teachers assigned to assist those less experienced. Covers mentor characteristics, behaviors, and roles; appropriate matching of mentors and proteges; the needs of beginning teachers; and the changes in the mentor-protege relationship that occur as proteges gain experience and need mentors less. (PGD)

"Learning and Teaching" concentrates on the practical teaching skills that an HLTA needs to be able to use in the classroom. It offers guidance and support on fulfilling the standards and succeeding in the classroom role. This book includes: (1) Real-life case studies that put the theory behind the standards into a whole-school context; (2)…

To help new and prospective urban teachers deal with the practical problems and moral dimensions of the occupation, this book offers advice about successful urban teaching. The chapters are: (1) "A Book of Advice for Prospective and New Urban Teachers"; (2) "What's Different about Teaching in Urban Schools?"; (3) "Dealing with the Urban School…

Offers an edited version of an online dialog between two theatre educators: one a middle school math teacher who was asked to take over his school's elective theatre class on five days notice; and the other a long-time middle school theatre teacher. (SR)

Suggests communication department chairs question the usefulness of mentoring for new faculty members. Examines the mentor's functions and indicates special concerns that may affect mentoring in academia. Argues that a formal mentoring process benefits the new hiree. Provides concrete guidance that a mentor can offer in the areas of scholarship,…

Suggests teacher resiliency is a critical element in classroom success and teacher retention. Identifies significant adult relationships, a sense of personal responsibility, social and problem-solving skills, a sense of competence, expectations and goals, confidence, a sense of humor, and a sense of accomplishment as resources important in the…

Examines problems faced by first year teachers, focusing on the shortage of well-qualified minority group beginning teachers. Recommendations for inducting and retaining an ethnically diverse teaching force are offered, emphasizing the roles of public school educators, university personnel, state legislators and agencies, and advocacy and…

This report describes several ways for experienced teachers to function as a colleague and provide assistance to beginning teachers. The interaction strategies described are supported by illustrations from the data base of the Model Teacher Induction Project (MTIP), a study of first-year teachers and their support teachers. The three types of…

The Model Teacher Induction Project will: (1) identify needs of beginning teachers; (2) develop and implement a model teacher induction program designed to meet those needs; (3) assess the effects of the model program on new teachers in a school setting; (4) inform the teacher education community about the program; (5) study the subsequent…

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 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)