I stated m caee in an
The Challenges Facing
Beginning Teachers
New teachers bring varying backgrounds, motivations, experiences, and preparation levels to their initial teaching experience. Their view of the profession and their role in it is shaped by these motivations, as well as by the context in which they begin their work. This chapter explores the commitments that new teachers bring to their roles and the challenges they face. It sets forth the need for the development of a comprehensive induction program to help all new teachers become fully committed and more effective in the classroom.
A CASE OF BEGINNING TEACHING
Anna was a first-year teacher in an urban school. Although Business was her undergraduate major, she found her initial foray into the business world to be very unsatisfying. She wanted a career that would allow her to make a contribution to society. She heard about the need for teachers— particularly for math teachers—in her area. Not being quite sure what she needed to do to become eligible to work in a teaching capacity, she attended a recruitment fair put on by the local school district. There she heard about the program that would allow her to begin teaching while she completed work on a teaching credential through a district-led or a university-led alternative certification program.
1
Bartell 01.qxd 7/21/04 5:45 PM Page 1
After taking a test that measured her “basic skills” (reading, math, and writing), she was sent on some interviews at several middle schools. She was hired immediately and was told to sign up for a credential program.
She was accepted into a program at a nearby university. She chose the university program because she knew she could earn a credential and a master’s degree at the same time. However, she knew it would take two or more years, including summers, at a pretty intensive pace.
Because she was hired two