Survival Guide for New Teachers
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.
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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
