Mentoring new Teachers Helping Beginning Teachers
New teachers are full of energy and enthusiasm, but often naive about the day to day challenges of teaching. In many ways they still need teachers themselves to introduce ways in which to meet the challenges they encounter, some of which may be unique to their particular school. Such areas as student discipline, parent relations, and even establishing a grading system are not generally covered in college courses and must be acquired as on-the-job training. Their way can be greatly eased by the use of a mentoring program in their school system.
Many school districts employ highly successful, experienced teachers to act as mentors for beginning teachers. Having someone who is able to help the new teacher deal with problems in a non-threatening manner is a great asset to a school system. Without fear of criticism, the new teacher can speak frankly about problems and get practical advice. If the system's budget can not afford a master teacher program, it may still be possible to make exemplary teachers available to guide new teachers by releasing them for one period a day or paying them extra for after-school help sessions. If even this is not affordable to the system, experienced teachers may be asked to volunteer to mentor one beginning teacher. Several weeks into the semester, when the beginning teacher knows his or her students fairly well, it might be helpful to arrange for a sit-down discussion with last year's teachers of her class. The past teacher may have many helpful hints on how to understand or handle certain students and the new teacher is not likely to be as affected by prejudices the older teacher might have developed toward certain students. A partnership may even develop in which the new teacher relies on the experienced teacher for guidance and the new teacher shares modern teaching methods taught in their college courses.
The system's best teachers might be recruited to develop a manual of helpful teaching practices during their summer vacation for extra pay, of course. The internet can be very helpful in putting together a treasure trove of such advice. Newly recruited teachers could be given the manual when they sign a teaching contract so that they can study it before entering their classroom for the first time.
The system as a whole can do several things to assist beginning teachers. They can schedule 'support' sessions for groups of ten or so new teachers led by a master teacher. The new teachers can openly air their problems, get advice from their peers and the master teacher, and bond, giving support to each other, seeing them through their growing pains.
The system can also sponsor workshops of varied topics which are often difficult for beginning teachers, such as new teaching techniques, discipline, and scheduling their day efficiently. These workshops can also promote feelings of unity in the faculty community.
The new teacher is a valuable resource to the school system, offering enthusiasm, state of the art knowledge, and their own particular fund of experiences and skills. By showing support and tutoring them, a school system can help both the teacher and the school system to be the best they can be.
