Investigated how certified athletic trainers initially learned and continued to learn their professional responsibilities in the high school setting. Interview data highlighted two thematic categories: an informal induction process (aspects of organizational learning) and creating networks for learning. Results indicated that informal learning was…

A description is given of a mentor-protege program which promoted growth, recognition, experience-enhancing roles, and collegiality for mid- to late-career teachers who served as mentors. (Author/IAH)

Details the experiences of a beginning English teacher and her mentor. Describes how the first-year teacher made the transition from college student to practicing professional. (HB)

Contends that beginning teachers must learn quickly to be passionate about teaching. Provides five pieces of advice for beginning English teachers. (HB)

Provides advice from 15 veteran English teachers for smoothing the transitional period of beginning teachers. (HB)

Addresses three concerns regarding beginning secondary English teachers: the shock of entering the real world of public schools; specific ways that postsecondary English departments can ease that transition; and weaknesses the new teachers often bring with them. (RS)

Offers perspectives from a first-year English teacher and from a veteran English teacher on how to deal with the extraordinary amount of paper and paperwork heaped upon teachers and on the importance of the topic of curriculum and curriculum strategies. Argues that teacher preparation programs need to implement courses to train teachers to work…

Discussion of the importance of induction and support programs for new special education teachers notes the substantial additional demands placed on new special educators in addition to the frustrations and stresses that all new teachers experience. The article notes the high numbers who leave teaching after the first year and identifies national,…

Describes a beginning teacher mentoring program in which veteran teachers serve as coaches, confidantes, role models, and friends to all new teachers in the district (experienced or not). These relationships benefit everyone involved. The program involves a collaborative staff development project with a nearby university. Evaluation of the program…

Examined newly certified Irish secondary teachers' feelings about the adequacy of their preservice teacher preparation, experiences with beginning teacher supports, and visions for induction. Results indicated they were generally satisfied with preservice training, enjoyed the rewards of seeing students learn, but were concerned about discipline…

Presents suggestions for principals who want to maximize the benefits of their beginning teacher mentoring programs. This includes: highlighting the mentoring program; selecting mentors; making appropriate teaching assignments; orienting faculty and staff; informing parents and students about the mentoring program; respecting confidentiality;…

Depicts the experiences of representative new women and racial/ethnic faculty to illustrate the realities faced by these faculty in entering and managing the academic environment. Recommendations for enhancing the success of women and racial/ethnic faculty are divided into four levels of responsibility: university administrators, departmental…

Beginning teacher development involves both a personal and professional reorganization of major individual investments. In a longitudinal study of first-year teachers across the first year of teaching, these dual processes were found to significantly challenge beginning teacher development and confidence. In this paper, the simultaneous…

It is difficult to retain teachers who work in isolated communities, in very poor communities and communities where parental levels of education are not high. This paper describes the creation of a "New Teacher Academy" in one such unstable school district. Working closely with the new teachers in the district, a program was created based on peer…

Teacher mentoring programs have existed for only about a generation, but they are making a difference in the lives of young, not so young, and beginning or transitioning teachers. The prevailing financial crunch, increasing student enrollments, and escalating rates of teacher retirements are among current challenges facing all school systems.…