Teachers’ Induction Needs: A Report of Ongoing Research on New Teachers

Presenters: Clive Beck, Clare Kosnik and Research Team
OISE

“New teachers see a need for preservice education to address more fully certain key aspects of teaching. These aspects include: program planning; pupil assessment; and classroom organization and community building…we report the views of the new teachers on these topics and discuss how they might be attended to more adequately not only in preservice education but also in induction programs.”

• new teachers identified three important aspects of teaching that needed to be addressed more fully in their preservice programs
• grades taught during practice teaching were important
• some teachers experienced excellent induction, but access and quality were uneven
• choice of mentor was crucial
• schools with broad initiatives seemed to be more supportive of beginning teachers
• observing other teachers was excellent professional development
• significant changes between Years 1 and 2 were noted for some

Discussion Questions include:

Program Planning:

• What is it realistic to expect beginning teachers to be able to do?
• Why does program planning tend to be difficult for beginning teachers?
• What should be the priorities in preservice and induction programs for teaching about program planning?

Assessment:

• Why does assessing pupils tend to be so difficult for beginning teachers?
• What resources should beginning teachers use for assessing pupils?
• What should be the priorities in preservice and induction programs regarding assessment?

Classroom Organization and Community Building:

• Why does classroom organization tend to be difficult for beginning teachers?
• Are there principles of classroom organization and community building that all teachers should follow?
• How can new teachers be helped with classroom management?

1. Beck, C., & Kosnik, C. (2006). Teachers’ induction needs: A report of ongoing
          research on new teachers. In J. Kitchen (Ed.), Teacher Induction, Mentoring
          and Renewal: Selected Conference Papers (pp. 37-65). Toronto, ON: Centre
          for Teacher Development, OISE/University of Toronto.
2. Beck, C., Kosnik, C., & Research Team. (2006, November). Teachers’ induction
          needs: A report of ongoing research on new teachers. [PowerPoint slides]