Induction support for beginning education professors is rarely provided. To address this gap, qualitative descriptive research was conducted by asking a national sample of experienced education professors about challenges faced and met as new faculty members. The resulting seven induction themes for beginning education professors are discussed in…

This study examines how three novice teachers experienced feedback in their learning-to-teach journeys, from their yearlong student teaching experience through their first-year teaching. As student teachers, the participants received frequent, focused feedback. During their first-year teaching, they continued to desire feedback, yet had different…

The similarity of teaching assignments between mentor and novice teachers are typically regarded as necessary prerequisites for successful mentoring relationships. Yet, due to the personnel shortages and specialized teaching assignments in special education, it is not always possible to match novice special educators with veteran special…

As beginning teachers encounter their first classrooms, they struggle to enact curriculum and negotiate expectations of local context with their visions of "good teaching." This article is a qualitative research design utilizing interview data and narrative analysis to examine the storied experiences of beginning teacher participants…

The purpose of this study was to explore perspectives held by student teachers about induction and mentoring programs and how teacher education programs could contribute to a broader continuum of supports that span from preservice to in-service teaching. Using survey research, this mixed-method study sought to understand what student teachers from…

This study explores the experience of becoming an elementary teacher in an educational climate where standardization and accountability increasingly affect what happens in classrooms across the country by following two beginning teachers. Specifically, this longitudinal study in which two first-year teachers' stories are analyzed and restoried…

In this article, the author provides a conceptual framework to guide the design of coursework to prepare teacher educators. Given the absence of a stronger research base to inform the preparation of novice teacher educators, the author argues that theoretical perspectives focused on K-12 preservice teacher learning can be a useful heuristic for…

The shortage of certified science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers is of concern throughout the United States because of significant numbers needed over the next over the next 10 years. Addressing this issue in education, this study examined the experiences of three new STEM teachers who entered teaching through different…

In light of the fact that policy makers are attempting to build accountability systems that will hold teachers, and the teacher education programs that prepared them, accountable for student achievement results, failure on the part of teacher educators to repeatedly and assertively advocate for a significant role in shaping the accountability…

The recruitment and retention of public school teachers has been an area of concern for many years. Teacher recruitment has been addressed through the development of alternative pathways to teacher certification. Teacher retention has been addressed primarily through induction programs that provide mentoring and other support resources to…

In response to the high attrition rate of new teachers, more and more induction programs are being implemented across the country. Current financial constraints, coupled with no systematic way to coordinate resources across schools and state organizations, present a challenge to many small or poorly funded schools and districts. In this article,…

Hiring new teachers and continuing their professional growth so that they remain in the profession and become effective teachers have been a challenge for decades. Research suggests that induction programs can achieve these outcomes if they are highly structured, include mentoring, focus on professional learning, and emphasize collaboration that…

With an inadequate supply of qualified teachers, education stakeholders continue to investigate teacher attrition issues and induction/mentoring practices to improve retention rates, especially in the critical first years of teaching. What types of support do beginning teachers value, and what do they actually receive? What types of support do…

A questionnaire survey of beginning and new-to-district teachers in a large school district studied use of self-selected mentors. Teachers indicated they did self-select mentors, generally from the same area or grade level. Most needed mentors to provide information on policy and procedures. All perceived the experience as valuable. (SM)

Levels of confidence of novice teachers were investigated pre- and post-induction program. In sum, 119 beginning teachers completed a New Teacher Confidence Survey on 28 teaching performance behaviors. There was a statistically significant confidence gain from pre- to postinduction on 20 of 28 teaching behaviors. Statistically significant gains…