Description
A useful guide for teacher mentors as they face new and difficult challenges in their work
New teachers often struggle to apply their knowledge in real-world settings, and the idea of mentoring these teachers during their first years in the classroom has captured the imagination of schools all over the world. Drawn from the experiences over the last twenty years of the New Teacher Center, the book illuminates the subtleties and struggles of becoming an excellent, effective mentor. The book discusses the five big tensions of mentoring: developing a new identity, developing trusting relationships, accelerating teacher growth, mentoring in challenging contexts, and learning leadership skills.
- Describes in-depth the most common challenges of the mentor role
- A wonderful guide for both new and veteran mentors
- Includes engaging firsthand narratives written by mentors working in a variety of settings
This book is from the New Teacher Center, an organization whose highly respected mentor training model has served over 50,000 teachers nationwide. The New Teacher Center is dedicated to improving student learning by accelerating the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders through comprehensive mentoring and professional development programs.
Table of Contents
Foreword vii
Ellen Moir
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xv
About the Authors xvii
Introduction 1
Part One THE TENSIONS OF MENTORING
TENSION ONE: Building a New Identity 9
TENSION TWO: Developing Trusting Relationships 21
TENSION THREE: Accelerating Teacher Development 35
TENSION FOUR: Mentoring in Challenging Contexts 43
TENSION FIVE: Learning Leadership Skills 51
Part Two STORIES OF MENTORING
STORY ONE: The Waiting Place 65
Leslie Baldacci
STORY TWO: Fired, Hired, and Inspired 81
Kathleen Aldred
STORY THREE: Finding a Way 105
Mary Eldred
STORY FOUR: Savior, Friend, Mentor 121
Frank Pantano
Conclusion: What Can We Learn? 141
Appendix: Mentor Prompts 147
Index 155
