Believes that mentoring helps new music teachers remain in the profession. Discusses the use of mentoring, focusing on the benefits of mentors for new teachers, mentor programs, and tools for mentors. Includes stories about teachers with mentors as well as a bibliography of resources. (CMK)

A phenomenological analysis of interviews with four beginning elementary school teachers examined their experiences of support in a new situation and the themes of support allowing growth choices; support through comparisons with others; and needs for reciprocity of support, appropriate levels of support, concreteness and specificity, and…

Examined relationships between perceived workplace conditions and morale, career choice commitment, and planned retention among first-year teachers. Data from the U.S. Department of Education's School and Staffing Survey indicated that a school culture which supported collaboration and participative decision making most strongly related to higher…

This study examined the recruitment of teachers through alternative routes to teacher certification in an effort to address teacher shortage in the state of North Carolina through North Carolina Teachers of Excellence for All Children (NCTEACH), a statewide lateral entry teacher licensure program. Specifically, this study investigated alternative…

Background/context: Professional development is an important element of professional practice and teachers are expected to engage in activities that not only improve practice but also have a positive impact on pupil learning. Physical educators worldwide have acknowledged the need to improve the continuing education of teachers and have called…

Teacher induction may be defined as the period of transition from student to professional when beginning teachers need supervision and support to adjust to their new roles. Concerns within the profession about the large numbers of beginning teachers leaving the profession during their first 2 years as well as innovative reforms origination from…

This brief overview of a larger report focuses on a study of flaws in teacher selection and suggests improvements. It is noted that students do poorly in school because they often have new, inexperienced teachers. When these teachers get seniority, they transfer to "easier" schools, leaving new positions open to be again filled by novice teachers.…

TO IDENTIFY AND ANALYZE FACTORS RELATED TO JOB SATISFACTION AND DISSATISFACTION IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHING, QUESTIONNAIRES WERE SENT TO A RANDOM SAMPLE COMPRISING APPROXIMATELY FIVE PERCENT OF THE TOTAL NEW YORK STATE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHING FORCE. 1,349 (4.9 PERCENT) RESPONDED. IT WAS FOUND THAT (1) MOST TEACHERS ARE NOT FULLY COMMITTED…

Four suggestions are offered for making teachers' first year on the job more than just a test of endurance: provide adequate supplies, make assignments carefully, do not overload them, and provide a support system. (TE)

A literature review emphasizes the role of stress on teacher morale and leads to a description of an "inoculation" program used with beginning secondary school teachers which helps them to cope with common stressors. (Author/CB)

A music teacher talks about the hard lessons he learned in his first year of teaching in a small, rural, elementary and secondary school. Student discipline problems, poor class attendance, exhaustion, and problems with parents reduced his initial idealism and optimism. (RM)

Focuses on why new music teachers, those who have taught three years or less, have left the music teaching profession. Asserts the importance of having veteran music teachers act as mentors to new teachers in the field. Includes suggestions for recruiting teachers to combat the teacher shortage in music education. (CMK)

This article examines some of the advantages and problems in using qualitative (naturalistic) research methods to understand teaching, learning, and schooling. An example of naturalistic research involving first year teachers is included. (IAH)

This article describes the challenges faced by a first-year special educator of children with emotional disturbances. In addition to academic diversity and behavioral challenges, there were also issues related to working with a team of special educators and being the newcomer. These issues included instructional time, behavioral management, and…

Investigated the influence of, and interplay between, biographical and contextual factors in Portuguese teachers' professional learning and development during their first teaching years. Teacher interviews and surveys highlighted the powerful influence of prior experiences as students, the low impact of preservice education on socialization, and…