Journey to Excellence

Iowa Training Model for Mentors of Beginning Educators Mentor – Session 1 Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008

“The sweetest path of life leads through the avenues of learning, and whoever can open up the way for another, ought to be esteemed a benefactor to mankind.”

- David Hume, Scottish philosopher 1711-1776

Mentor Session 1 Goals…

• • • • • • Opening….Introductions

Your first year?

Mentor as a Growth Agent Beginning Educator Developmental Needs and Challenges Supportive Environment Pluses & Wishes Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008

Tips for First Time Teachers

Share these with your beginning educator… Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008

Journal…

What I’m learning about

…

* my role * Induction: content, process * Legislation * Ethics Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008

“There comes that mysterious meeting in life when someone acknowledges who we are and what we can be, igniting the circuits of our highest potential.”

- Rusty Berkus Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008

Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008

Emotional

Learning Focused Relationships Offering Support

Physical

Creating Challenge

Technological Informational Goal-driven Data-focused Thought provoking

Facilitating Vision

High Expectations Lifelong learning Professional identity Mentoring Matters Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008

Research on Induction Iowa Technical Assistance Guide

• • • • Induction is a: PROCESS that supports teachers learning PERIOD of time PHASE within the continuum of a teaching career, transitioning from student to teacher SYSTEM: complex, interconnected, varied, responsive, dynamic Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008

Research on Induction Iowa Technical Assistance Guide

Mentoring is seen as a way to engage, challenge, and retain accomplished teachers.

(Smith & Ingersoll, 2004) Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008

Belief Statements Iowa Technical Assistance Guide

• • • • • Focuses on research-based teaching and learning theories Requires close relationships between veteran teachers and beginning teachers that are supported by building administrators. (3 way conversations throughout the year) Is part of an overall effort to support quality teaching and to increase the achievement of all students.

Is planned, reviewed and modified…data are used to evaluate effectiveness and make adjustments Promotes informal culture of support within schools that continues after the program has ended.

.Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008

Belief Statements Iowa Technical Assistance Guide

• Explains district, building, departmental, and grade level policies, procedures, and expectations.

• Establishes a balance between entering an established community with conventional practices and developing new kinds of teaching that advance student learning.

• Promotes continues professional learning through reflective practice and professional conversations about teaching.

.Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008

What needs to be present for Professional Growth?

• Brainstorm 4 to 5 characteristics of an environment that supports professional growth….

• Be prepared to share with the group Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008

Nature of Professional Learning

• • • Reflection on practice Collaboration Self-assessment and self-directed inquiry • • Community of learners Formative assessment Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008

Teachers in a learning community… are not “inserviced.” Instead, they engage in continuous inquiry about teaching. They are researchers, students of teaching, who observe others teach, have other observe them, talk about teaching, and help other teachers. In short, they are professionals..

Roland Barth, Improving Schools From Within, 1990

A Learning Community

Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008

• • • • • • •

Supportive Organizational Structure

Includes released time for mentors and beginning teachers to plan, Supports the demonstration of successful/effective classroom practices, Allows for beginning teachers to observe successful/effective teachers’ practices, and receive feedback Allows for mentors to observe beginning teachers’ classrooms and provide feedback, Determines who will be in the mentor/beginning teacher partnership, Supports the roles and responsibilities of the mentor, and Allows for the dissolution of the mentor/beginning teacher partnership. It is critical to monitor partnerships and address mismatches or conflicts as soon as possible.

Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008

The Most Powerful Form of Learning

The most powerful form of learning, the most sophisticated form of staff development, comes not from listening to the good works of others but from sharing what we know with others…By reflecting on what we do, by giving it coherence, and by sharing and articulating our craft knowledge, we make meaning, we learn.

Roland Barth Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008

The Challenges of Beginning Teacher Practice…

Journal….

Dialogue….

Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008

“The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves.”

Helen Keller 1880-1968 Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008

Pluses… Wishes

Journey to Excellence 2007 - 2008