Giving is Caring

Always remember:

The value of time, the success of perseverance, the worth of character, the power of kindness, the influence of example, and the obligation of duty.



Tuesday 15 January 2013


 
 
 

Induction: The Best form of Professional Development

 

The article starts mentioning that to redesign professional mentoring is not enough to have mentors but to have effective induction processes.

The main message of the article is that new teachers need more than just mentors who they try to reach whenever trouble arises and that institutions need to create a culture of professional growth and lifelong learning before beginning teachers ever see their first class.

 

Some of the characteristics of effective induction programmes are:

  • They should help new teachers establish effective classroom management procedures, routines and instructional practices.
  • They should promote unity and teamwork.
  • They should train and support new teachers engaging them in the fulfillment of the institution´s mission.
  • They should start with 4 or 5 days of workshops before school begins.
  • They should integrate a mentoring component and some kind of framework for modeling effective teaching.
  • They should provide opportunities for inductees to visit demonstration classrooms
Demonstration classrooms: Experienced teachers set up their rooms to model the first day of school in an effective classroom. Afterwards, observers discuss the strategies that new teachers found useful.
  • They could provide  a SPA Day.
A SPA (Special Professional Assistance)Day is for mentees to spend a day with a mentor observing each other and then having lunch together to exchange ideas on what they have observed.

  • There could be monthly support meetings and Curriculum facilitators
Curriculum facilitators: teachers to whom mentors and teachers can go to and who provide support, teach demonstration lessons, conduct informal teacher observation and offer sugestions for improvement.

According to Mr. Wong, what is needed is a sustained training programme to keep new teachers, nurture them and take them step-by-step through the year and beyond.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

I joined the TESOL CALL Interest Section Electronic Village Online (EVO) Sessions last year when I read the invitation sent by RELO Andes in ELTeCS and really learned a lot. I am sharing this with you so you can join the different activities this year; some of the courses are really demanding but learning is guaranteed.
"For five weeks in January-February, participants can engage with volunteer ESOL experts in collaborative, online discussion sessions or hands-on virtual workshops of professional and scholarly benefit. The sessions are free and open".
I have joined the session on podcasting and am really looking forward to learning more about this.
Enjoy your learning!!