Stories from Novice Teachers: This is Induction?

by Lisa Scherff, Mike Daria

Overview

Why do new teachers change schools or leave the profession? Stories from Novice Teachers: This is Induction? attempts to address this question. In this book, we feature the stories of a dozen novice teachers and how they were, or were not, mentored or inducted by their schools. Using data collected over a three-year period-close to 1,000 emails and face-to-face interviews, the cases presented in this book can inform school principals and district-level administrators of the situations that promote or hinder new teacher growth so that we can lower attrition rates and foster student achievement. The cases presented in this book range from problems in the faculty lounge to unsupportive colleagues to "too much" induction.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761850854
Publisher:	University Press of America
Publication date:	08/14/2010
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	150
Product dimensions:	6.06(w) x 9.15(h) x 0.35(d)

About the Author

Lisa Scherff is currently associate professor of English education at the University of Alabama, where she teaches courses in adolescent literacy/literature, writing, methods of teaching, and teacher effectiveness. Her research focuses on teacher preparation/induction/mentoring and opportunity to learn. Previously, Scherff taught high school English and reading.
Mike Daria is a practicing educator as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and director of personnel. Daria also teaches courses in educational leadership and curriculum and instruction. He earned his doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Alabama.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Foreword
Chapter 2 Introduction
Chapter 3 Chapter 1: Induction and Mentoring
Chapter 4 Chapter 2: Help with Discipline
Chapter 5 Chapter 3: Choosing Parents and Students over Teachers
Chapter 6 Chapter 4: Professional Learning Communities
Chapter 7 Chapter 5: Supporting Your Teachers
Chapter 8 Chapter 6: From School to School and Classroom to Classroom: Permanently Part-Time
Chapter 9 Chapter 7: Unhealthy Departments
Chapter 10 Chapter 8: The Faculty Lounge
Chapter 11 Chapter 9: Lowering Expectations for Special Education Students
Chapter 12 Chapter 10: The Emotional and Professional Development of Teachers
Chapter 13 Chapter 11: Piling on the Paperwork and Pushing Teachers Out
Chapter 14 Chapter 12: "Superteacher"
Chapter 15 Epilogue
Chapter 16 References

Editorial Reviews

…authors Lisa Scherff and Mike Daria provide tremendous insight for administrators and mentor teachers in understanding the needs of new teachers from real-life experiences. What comes across clearly is that a "one-size-fits-all" approach will not work; new teachers need differentiated, individualized support and attention. Stories From Novice Teachers: This is Induction? will provide schools and districts with thoughtful guidance to review and revise their concept of induction programs for new teachers.

Vicki Stockman

Real books about teaching are always a treasure. Not told from the lofty perch of an ivory tower or by another blue-ribbon committee intent on producing a top-down approach to learning, this book is special because it is the voice of teachers - English teachers, special ed teachers, and just plain teachers - filled with all the complexity and ambiguity that all good teachers face when they are met with the realities of classroom life. This is a terrific read, one that will be embraced by all teachers of all levels and interests - who are seeking to do the 'right thing' for kids (students) of all ages.

Jeffrey S. Kaplan

Through the use of the real-life experiences, struggles, and stories of a dozen novice teachers, Scherff (Univ. of Alabama) and Daria (practicing educator) present an informative insight into the life of a first-year teacher. A key concept advanced in Stories from Novice Teachers is that "new teachers must have the time to focus on learning opportunities of the first year of teaching." The authors encourage administrators to be ready to assist first-year teachers with "those issues that detract them from their abilities to teach," which include inadequate mentoring, additional extra-curricular responsibilities or duties, insufficient knowledge of school/district rules, lack of administrative communication and/or encouragement. The stories of these novice teachers and the authors' use of "Questions for Administrators" can certainly inform district-level administrators about ways to assist new teacher development. However, with the issues and needs facing any first-year teacher, as well as any master teacher within a given year, it may be that more succinct assistance is contained in Lane's response in the epilogue: "I've realized that to find success as an educator requires one to focus solely on the well being of his or her students, not the external forces that are beyond anyone's control anyway." Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate and professional collections.

Choice

Through the use of the real-life experiences, struggles, and stories of a dozen novice teachers, Scherff (Univ. of Alabama) and Daria (practicing educator) present an informative insight into the life of a first-year teacher. A key concept advanced in Stories from Novice Teachers is that "new teachers must have the time to focus on learning opportunities of the first year of teaching." The authors encourage administrators to be ready to assist first-year teachers with "those issues that detract them from their abilities to teach," which include inadequate mentoring, additional extra-curricular responsibilities or duties, insufficient knowledge of school/district rules, lack of administrative communication and/or encouragement. The stories of these novice teachers and the authors' use of "Questions for Administrators" can certainly inform district-level administrators about ways to assist new teacher development. However, with the issues and needs facing any first-year teacher, as well as any master teacher within a given year, it may be that more succinct assistance is contained in Lane's response in the epilogue: "I've realized that to find success as an educator requires one to focus solely on the well being of his or her students, not the external forces that are beyond anyone's control anyway." Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate and professional collections.

From the Publisher