Cultivating High Quality Teaching Through Induction And Mentoring

The book also contains a special emphasis on under-prepared teachers and urban schools-those most in need of effective induction and mentoring and also the group that benefits the most from these types of programmes

Use these step-by-step strategies to develop and implement a proven program that links to districtwide goals and results in highly qualified teachers and increased student achievement.

Larry Cubans How Teachers Taught has been widely acclaimed as a pathbreaking text on the history and evolution of classroom teaching. Now Cuban brings his great experience as a classroom teacher, superintendent, and researcher to this highly anticipated follow-up to his groundbreaking work. Focusing on three diverse school districts (Arlington, Virginia; Denver, Colorado; Oakland, California), Hugging the Middle offers an incisive portrayal of how teachers teach now. It is a revealing look at a range of current, workable pedagogical options educators are using to engage students while satisfying parents and policymakersoptions that succeed by creating hybrid practices that combine both teacher-centered approaches (e.g., mostly direct instruction, textbooks, lectures) with student-centered ones (e.g., team projects on real-world problems, independent learning, small-groupwork). This book serves as a state-of-the-profession assessment in an era of top-down educational policy.

The International Handbook of Research on Teachers and Teaching provides a fresh look at the ever changing nature of the teaching profession throughout the world. This collection of over 70 articles addresses a wide range of issues relevant for understanding the present educational climate in which the accountability of teachers and the standardized testing of students have become dominant.

In this groundbreaking work, Harry K. Wong, Laura Lipton, Bruce Wellman, and other top names in the field examine how successful mentoring and induction programs are developed and demonstrate how they can be replicated.

"As the authors so aptly suggest, good teaching is more a journey than a destination. This book will help both mentors and teachers to navigate this journey successfully." Stephen Sroka, Health Education Consultants Case Western Reserve University "What a great book to provide for all veteran teachers so that when we are chatting in the lunchroom and ′new′ teachers share a dilemma, anyone on staff can chime in with advice, backed by research and experience." Diane Mierzwik, Teacher and Mentor Parkview Middle School, Yucaipa, CA "What Successful Mentors Do is easy to use, linked to best practices and is certain to be an invaluable resource for new and returning mentors." Theresa Ford, Developer/Consultant Educational Testing Service, Downey, CA Be the best mentor you can be with these state-of-the-art strategies! The first-day jitters. The first encounter with an angry parent. The first performance review. As a seasoned teacher, you remember each of these "firsts." But how can you relate your experiences to a new teacher? Find answers to these questions and the research to back them up in this tool-packed guide. What Successful Mentors Do offers sensible strategies to help mentors help new teachers. Using state-of-the art research as a bas, the authors provide 81 ways to put those "firsts" in perspective for your new teachers. Working from decades of experience, the authors synthesize theory and practice to show mentors how to: Increase new-teacher retention with the surest methods for classroom success Encourage teachers in ten essential areas of teaching, from using assessment tools to developing a personal teaching style, and more Guide teachers in their relationships with colleagues, parents, and administrators Improve their own mentoring approach and develop a mentoring style Avoid common mentoring pitfalls Sometimes life teaches us the lessons we need to grow. Other times, a trusted mentor prepares us for the challenges and guides us to success.

This book draws together various theoretical and research-based perspectives to examine the institutionalization of mentoring processes for beginning teachers. Teacher induction, defined as the guidance provided to new teachers, is increasingly gaining traction as a key stage in promoting quality education. Major efforts have been put into reducing transitional challenges from being a student teacher to a practicing teacher; optimizing professional relationships and socialization into school dynamics; and increasing teacher retention. Mentoring has been proven to add benefits in assisting beginning teachers during the early years of their teaching career, because it provides the required knowledge and skills to face uncertain school scenarios and the complexities of practice. However, teacher induction programs are not part of regular instruction in many countries. The lack of teacher training during the induction phase might result in lower levels of commitment, professional isolation, or even attrition. This book calls for more concrete mentoring processes for early career teachers, and questions how this can be put into practice.

"The author has done an excellent job of highlighting the key aspects of a comprehensive induction program and offers rich examples across urban, rural, and suburban setting. Anyone interested in developing induction programs that both support and accelerate beginning teacher development should read this book. —Ellen Moir, Executive Director New Teacher Center, University of California, Santa Cruz "State level policy makers can take a positive step forward by providing every district and school leader with a copy of this book. Expertly organized and written, Villani′s work provides answers to school leaders′ key questions regarding establishing a comprehensive induction/mentoring program. Readers will keep the book within reach as a most valued resource." —Stephanie Hirsch, Executive Director National Staff Development Council "A significant addition to the literature on mentoring in the education profession. This book provides various models of comprehensive programs implemented in school districts around the country and confirms the importance of mentoring to retain teachers, maintain consistency in academic programming, and develop a culture of continuous improvement in professional practice." —Gail Connelly, Executive Director National Association of Elementary School Principals "Susan Villani presents comprehensive mentoring programs as catalysts for school improvement and reflective practice. With a wealth of tools and models for establishing effective programs, this book addresses cultural competence, peer coaching, and retention of math, science, and special education teachers. Villani′s framework will strengthen professional learning communities and improve the effectiveness of our most valuable resource—teachers." —Mary Forte Hayes, Executive Director Massachusetts Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Establish a quality comprehensive mentoring program and improve teacher retention rates! This updated edition of Mentoring Programs for New Teachers outlines mentors′ roles, mentor preparation, and the ways comprehensive mentoring programs support new teachers and educators. Readers will find: Descriptions of 18 successful real-world, comprehensive mentoring programs on the state, district, regional, and national level A list of 5 factors to consider when developing a comprehensive mentoring initiative A rubric based on seven components of comprehensive mentoring programs New material for supporting special education, math, and science teachers Resources to use in program development or revision

Making Mentoring Work is a practical guide for school leaders interested in beginning or enhancing their mentoring programs for new teachers. Readers can use the mentoring program rubric to pre-assess their program and then choose the chapters that correspond to areas of growth. Each chapter provides background research as well as practical steps and tools to make mentoring work in a school environment. At the end of each section, readers will find discussion guides that support program leaders in making the next steps; organizing conversations with stakeholders that will transform and streamline new teacher support programs; and increase new teacher retention and practice.

In response to a growing interest in mentoring and new teacher induction, the authors offer a unique view of developing quality mentors. Drawing on empirical research, practitioner action inquiry, and field-tested practices from induction programs, they explore effective mentoring in diverse educational contexts. With richly contextualized and thoughtfully analyzed excerpts from actual mentoring conversations and powerful examples of practice, the volume offers educators, researchers, and policymakers a reform-minded vision of the future of mentoring. Challenging conventional wisdom, this essential resource: Argues that mentors are not born, but developed through conscious, deliberate, ongoing learning; Provides a needed link between research and practice in the field of new teacher mentoring, to define a knowledge base for effective mentoring; Documents induction and mentoring practices that focus new teachers on individual learners, equity-oriented curriculum and pedagogy, and the educator's role in reforming school culture; Highlights problems and complexities of enacting mentor knowledge and learning in diverse contexts.