This report examines key elements of effective new teacher assessment and support, reviews southeastern states' progress in developing quality induction programs, and offers recommendations for action. More dollars are being invested in new teachers than ever before, and some states have markedly increased the quantity of new teacher support…

Using survey data collected through the Illinois Teacher Study, this report provides results about teachers' satisfaction with their preparation courses and their participation in induction activities. It describes the relationship between participation in specific induction activities, the number of activities in which respondents participated,…

This case study examines the growth of Chris, a novice string teacher who, after two years of near-failing evaluations, successfully received tenure following his third year of teaching. Observations and interviews with Chris and his supervisors and mentors provided varied perspectives on his progress. Improvement came during the third year, when…

Collaborative exchanges between teachers and educational researchers were studied through a project that focused on the induction of new community college teachers in Ontario (Canada). Each instructor was interviewed and much time was spent collaboratively developing full life history profiles. The focus of this exploration is on the on-site…

This has been written as a handbook for administrators who want to develop a first-year teacher-induction plan. The book provides a profile of the beginning teacher's needs, expectations, common problems, and transition issues. A framework for structuring year-long assistance and strategies for problem solving are included. The work draws from the…

The mission of an effective mentoring program for beginning teachers is critical to their successful professional development. In order to successfully prepare veteran teachers for the role of mentor to beginning teachers, a combination of cognitive coaching and Pathwise Performance Assessment (PPA) is suggested. Included in such a staff…

This report describes a recommended high school program which requires that students take specific courses for graduation, including credits in the core subject areas, in foreign languages, and in other areas. One relevant issue of concern is the availability of certified teachers in specific subject areas. The report focuses on: current course…

Urban Impact is a Title II Teacher Quality Enhancement Act partnership grant supporting the development of new strategies and structures to strengthen the preparation and development of beginning teachers in urban settings in Tennessee. This study evaluated the success of Urban Impact in restructuring university coursework and university/school…

This study investigated whether preservice teachers' self-ratings of their skills and knowledge were comparable to the ratings of the same set of skills by their closets faculty members, in this case, their assigned mentor leaders. The participants were eight cohorts of students receiving their initial teacher certification and about to graduate.…

In 2000, the Finance Project received a planning grant to launch a new initiative on financing professional development in education. This report reflects and summarizes what the Finance Project learned during the planning year about both traditional systems of professional development and reform efforts and how they are financed, focusing on…

The work of mentoring educational professionals includes establishing strong models to help educators and potential education leaders define operating principles that guide their professional work. The University of Central Florida partners with several public schools in developing models of mentoring. Teaching faculty at the college work directly…

Primary school teachers are the group who must alter their pedagogy to improve the literacy performance of Australian children. Statistics suggest that 70% of Australian primary school teachers are female and that 41% are 45 or older and therefore likely to retire within the next decade. This paper seeks to document histories of women primary…

This paper describes the Entry Year Assistance Program (EYAP), a mentoring program for novice teachers, offered by the School of Education at Chadron State College (Nebraska). The program supports beginning teachers who are geographically isolated in Nebraska's panhandle. A discussion of the theoretical basis for teacher mentoring includes…

This study surveyed 156 special education teachers in South Carolina after their first year of teaching. Teachers reported they received less assistance than needed in all areas, especially in learning special education policies, procedures, and paperwork; materials and resources; and curriculum and instruction. They reported receiving the most…

Empathic e-mailing is one way of bringing new teachers together with their mentors without changing established schedules. This article notes the basic elements of effective and poor e-mail communication and describes how one public school system augments its mentor training staff development program with empathic writing, both during summer…