One of the most pressing issues facing policymakers is how to staff classrooms with a stable teaching force responsive to complex student needs and the growing demands of the knowledge economy. Recurrent teacher shortages are a function of both declines in entrants to teaching and high rates of teacher attrition, especially in low-income schools.…

Research suggests that the development of a teacher educator identity is a central process in becoming a teacher educator. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the concept of teacher identity. However, teacher educator identity seems to be still under-researched. In this article, a review of literature on teacher educator identity is…

Concerns about inadequate development of subject expertise for American elementary school teachers have been well documented. There are many exceptions to this narrative, and there are many exemplary U.S. teacher preparation programs. However, it is clear that, overall, the preparation of elementary teachers in the United States in key subject…

In this position paper, we examine the science teaching orientation component of the S. Magnusson, J. Krajcik, and H. Borko (1999) pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) model for science teaching. We trace the origin of the construct in the literature, identifying multiple definitions that have lead to ambiguity. After examining published studies…

This article analyses the literature on staff induction into international schools. It defines what is meant by the term "induction" and identifies the benefits to both individuals and organization if it is done well. It stresses that induction is a process, not an event, and discusses the various stages involved: the initial recruitment, the…

A review of current literature related to assistance for beginning teachers focused upon the following questions: (1) In what areas do beginning teachers need assistance? (2) What types of assistance do beginning teachers need? (3) Who should provide the assistance? (4) How should this assistance be timed? and (5) What other important…

This article provides an overview of current teacher induction programs. The need for such programs, sources of existing programs, and the need for comparative analysis of program types are addressed. (Author/MT)

This article briefly reviews literature on beginning teachers and the need for induction programs. An existing teacher induction program at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is described, and results of a study of the program's effectiveness is presented. (MT)

This research review considers the literature on monitoring in education, suggests considerations for successful monitoring programs, and includes a selected bibliography of additional readings on mentorship. (CB)

Many local education agencies, as well as independent school districts, are currently designing induction programs for beginning teachers. One feature of these induction programs is the appointment of a mentor or sponsor teacher. This review is designed to summarize existing literature from the teaching profession on the mentoring relationship in…

Induction has been identified as a crucial stage in a teacher's career development. The role of the university in an induction program, along with factors in the university and school culture which support or thwart program development, are outlined in this article. (MT)

Reviews "The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action" (1987) and "Educating the Reflective Practitioner" by Donald Schon. Notes that in these works reflection-in-action leads a teacher to an elevated level of professional knowledge. Relates the authors' interpretation to current thinking in teacher…

Long-term observational research was conducted in the classrooms of two inductee teachers to examine their formal policy documents, curriculum planning, and curriculum enactment. The purpose was to examine the gap between the policy and planning materials and the enacted curriculum to determine what really counted as curriculum in the classrooms.…

Most research on teacher education has taken a functionist approach to socialization, emphasizing the importance of moulding individuals to the norms of the profession. Weaknesses have been noted in this approach, and recommendations have been made which call for a theoretical and empirical reorientation to the study of teacher socialization which…

Intended for educational leaders, this three-section monograph presents information and perspectives regarding support given to beginning teachers. The first section reviews a variety of perspectives on the purposes that teacher induction programs can serve. Among the perspectives discussed are those based on studies of beginning teachers'…