How New Teachers Can Work Effectively with Veteran Teachers,

Parents, Principals, and Teacher Educators

Ifyou are newto the teachingfield—orifyou work alongsidesomeonewho is—thenthis bookwas writtenforyou.

Initarethereflectionsofaward-winningfirst-yearteacherswhotalkcandidlyabouttheirsuccesses andsetbacks,withaparticularemphasisontherelationshipstheyformedwiththeircolleagues,univer– sityprofessors,andtheirstudents’parents.

Theserelationshipsplayedacrucialroleininfluencingtheirsuccessonthejob,accordingtothefirst- yearteachersweinterviewed.Veteranteachers,especially,areapowerfulfactorinanewteacher’s experience,whichexplainswhysomanyofthe53teachersinvolvedinthisbookspokeoftheneedfor hands-onassistancefrommentorteachers.

Relationshipswithprincipals,professors,andparentsalsotookprominenceinourdiscussions, which yieldedpracticaltipsbothforteachersandforthepeoplewhoworkalongsidethem.Suggestions focusedonhownewteacherscanfostersupportiveprofessionalrelationshipsand whattheystandto gainfromthem.First-yearteachersalsodiscussedwhatprincipals,veteranteachers,universityprofes- sors, andparentscandotomake first-yearteachingasuccess.

TheImportanceofSupport

Whyisitsoimportanttofostersupportandsuccessforfirst-yearteachers?Becausedissatisfiedfirst- yearteachersareexitingtheprofessioninrecordnumbers,costingtaxpayersmoneyforretrainingand leavingasignificantportionoftheteachingforcewithlittleprofessionalexperience.Theexodustakes perhapsitsgreatesttollonstudents, whoseproductivityisaffectedby thehighturnoverandunstable educationalprogramsthatareoftentheresult.

Accordingtoarecentlyreportedstatistic,morethanhalfthenewteachersinLosAngeles,California, giveuptheirprofessionwithin3years,atacostof$15millionayear.A1996studyinNorthCarolina foundthat17percentofthestate’steachersleavetheprofessionafterthefirstyearintheclassroom,30 percent by the endof3 years and36 percentby 5 years.

Nationally,22percentofallnewteachersleavetheprofessioninthefirst3yearsbecauseoflackof supportanda“sinkorswim”approachtoinduction.

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Vishal Jain

Editor