Despite the growing appreciation among professional educators, teachers unions, school districts, and university researchers of the need for effective school-based mentors, many new teachers still report a "sink or swim" experience as they enter the profession. Not surprisingly, about one third of new teachers in the United States leave…

In recent years there has been a growing interest in support, guidance, and orientation programs--collectively known as induction--for beginning elementary and secondary teachers during the transition into their first teaching jobs. This study examines whether such supports have a positive effect on the retention of beginning teachers. The study…

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…

In 2003, the University of Central Florida began a Transition to Mathematics and Science Teaching (T-MAST) program, a one-year, fast-track program that prepares and certifies bachelor's degree holders who will work as teachers in a job-sharing paid internship, while completing a Master of Arts degree in middle grades (5-9) mathematics education or…

A shortage of quality teachers in high-risk urban schools has compelled school leaders to examine innovative methods of recruiting and retaining new teachers to hard-to-staff campuses. Principals must work aggressively to attract new teachers to their campuses by forming university partnerships for early recruitment, and initiating on the job…

This case study explores the reality shock experienced by a White novice teacher, committed to socially just teaching, in her first year in an urban context. The apparently successful novice held three beliefs about her practice and herself: that socially just teaching was a holistic practice; that it could and should be done "right"; and that,…

This handbook assesses the tasks of school leaders in developing a successful mentoring program in their schools. Information is provided on: (1) identifying essential components of effective mentoring programs; (2) responsibilities of the building principal, mentors, and beginning teachers; (3) funding arrangements, including alternatives to…

This monograph surveys the literature and provides a broad understanding of the concept of mentoring and of the application of mentoring to teaching. A synthesis is presented of the research on mentoring, including an explication of the origin, value, and essence of the mentoring concept; the rationale for mentoring beginning teachers; and…

The Teacher Assistance Through Mentorship Program currently being implemented in Minnesota schools provides grant funding to 11 districts/coalitions willing to explore a variety of mentoring models. Legislative initiatives for expanding the program include grant funding, regional/statewide training, and technical services. This publication is…

This report reveals that the 16 member states of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) are making progress in supporting new classroom teachers, but if effective, well qualified teachers are to be recruited and retained, even greater support needs to be provided. Teachers will need more and better training as many schools cope with rising…

The purpose of this study had two objectives, first to determine the number of new teachers that had left the teaching profession in a five year period (2000-2005), and to learn about mentors teachers' perspectives regarding the mentor training and the program as a whole. Methodology: A questionnaire was administered to some mentor teachers, and…

This guide is intended to help the reader understand: the value of teacher induction programs designed to orient, support, train, and assess novice teachers; what makes induction programs work; the essential ingredients of an effective induction program; and how to get started improving efforts to support and assess novice teachers. Six sections…

This document summarizes a presentation and student responses from a workshop for graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) attended by 84 GTAs. The focus of the presentation and discussions was on the first day of class, setting goals for the course and introducing the subjects and the instructor. Participants entered their comments into an Alpha Smart…

This study explored the moral features of mentoring that emerged when mentors in the Arc Mentoring Program (AMP) worked with new teachers in a challenging, high needs urban context. The AMP is committed to retaining new teachers, supporting their professional growth, and acting as a catalyst for enhancing the school's professional culture. AMP…

Using data from a longitudinal study of beginning music teachers in Michigan, this paper examines how policy makers and induction program designers can provide for the content-specific induction needs of music teachers. The study examined beginning music teachers' early teaching experiences, how school districts and communities supported their…