Shares the insights and experiences of mentor teachers from an elementary-level Professional Development School (PDS), describing the development of the PDS and offering insights about the mentor teacher's role, opportunities, and qualities. Information comes from surveys of and interviews with 11 mentor teachers at the school. A checklist for…

Beginning elementary teachers (n=124) randomly selected from a pool of recent graduates and interns at a California State University campus completed the Teacher Concern Survey at the beginning and the end of their first year of teaching. The Teacher Concern Survey identifies three stages of concerns: (1) self--themselves and their own survival;…

The induction process for vocational education teachers was examined in a research study. A literature review indicated a growing research base illuminating the induction problems, successes, and needs of beginning teachers and other research proposing a general theory of human development. Major research activities included nominal group…

The American Federation of Teachers believes that the best way to bring an adequate supply of well-trained teachers into the classroom is not by avoiding collegiate teacher education but rather by strengthening it (by bringing higher quality, greater resources, and more coherence to how teacher education screens and prepares teacher candidates).…

The Kansas Goals 2000 Early Career Professional Development Program is a joint effort between universities, the Southeast Education Service Center, and 68 school districts. The program helps provide a seamless system of professional development for beginning teachers in their first 3 years of experience. The program relies heavily on trained…

This publication provides guidelines and worksheets for orienting This publication provides guidelines and worksheets for orienting principal, the new teacher, and the assigned, more experienced "buddy teacher" are outlined, and a schedule of key due dates for their responsibilities is provided. Worksheets are provided for new teachers to…

Andrews University, Michigan, developed the First Day of School Experience for preservice teachers, which coincides with the opening days of school in area K-12 public and private schools where preservice teachers are placed for their student teaching experiences. The program allows preservice teachers to develop competence in beginning the school…

This paper examines research on teacher shortages, attrition, recruitment, and retention. Teacher attrition is the largest single factor determining demand for additional teachers in the United States. Teachers leave for such reasons as: low salaries; unprepared for the realities of teaching; rigorous certification examinations; lack of career…

Four studies examined teacher socialization processes from four perspectives to document what happens during the learning process and what transition pattern occurs. Analysis of student/teacher journals indicated that preservice and beginning teachers go through similar transition processes in becoming teachers. Six themes dominated the transition…

A study using both quantitative and qualitative techniques investigated the role of institutional culture in socialization of newly-recruited faculty in social sciences/ humanities departments and compared them with perceptions of current faculty concerning institutional culture and departmental subcultures. Four stages of acculturation are…

Reports the essential findings of one phase of the assessment studies conducted during the California New Teacher Project, suggesting some implications from that study for the impending reform efforts. The paper concludes that California lacks a coherent, rigorous system of assessments guided by a clearly defined set of performance expectations.…

The purpose of this empirical study was to present a detailed description and interpretation of what happens in schools to beginning teachers who are prepared to enact reform-based practices in mathematics and science. The focus was on a select sample of graduates from the Maryland Collaborative for Teacher Preparation [MCTP], a statewide…

Describes a program designed to equip aspiring college professors with teaching techniques and an understanding of the nature of higher education. (Editor)

Eastern Illinois University's Beginning Teacher Assistance Program became effective Fall, 1985 for all graduates of the university who are currently employed as beginning teachers in the state of Illinois. Detailed information on all steps involved in the full operation of the program is presented. This program will provide Eastern faculty for…

Cites several factors undermining the value of "warranty" programs intended to ensure that teacher education institutions will stand behind their graduates and provide support to the districts that employ them. Suggests shifts in focus that could make first year teacher support programs effective. (PGD)