What are the stages of teacher development?Teachers provided with sufficient support can move through a series of stages: survival, consolidation, renewal, and maturity. Teachers become more effective as their focus moves from personal concerns (such as classroom management) to broader educational issues (school strategies that could enhance student learning). Teachers make a difference. Studies underscore that, dollar for dollar, investments in teacher qualifications and training directly and substantially improve student achievement, even more than reduced class sizes and greater teaching experience do. What resources do school districts provide for a teacher's first year in the classroom?School districts are implementing a variety of induction programs designed to assist first-year teachers. Mentors, or consulting teachers, work with intern teachers to help them succeed in their new position. Mentors provide both personal and professional support, and sometimes are responsible for observing and evaluating new teachers' skills. Classroom observations of teachers are done not only by mentors but also by supervisors or colleagues. When other teachers do the observation, the approach is called peer review. Professional development is an integral part of a teacher's life, not just for new teachers but for all teachers. Effective professional development is directly related to a teacher's work, links subject content with teaching skills, uses problem solving, and is research-based and supported over time. Collaborative action research connects daily teaching activities with professional growth. This is done as practicing teachers identify real classroom problems, then research the problem, and use that information to improve the quality of student learning. How can new teachers increase their chances of working in a school of their choice?Looking for a teaching position takes careful planning. Teaching candidates need to give careful consideration to questions such as: Do other teachers enjoy working in this school? Are benefits satisfactory? What are the children like? What kind of support do teachers receive? Does the community support its school system? A strong résumé or portfolio may land you an interview. An effective interview is a critical arena for demonstrating your commitment, skills, and philosophy of education. How do school districts, states, and the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards recognize and reward teachers?Established in 1987, the National Board for Professional Standards (NBPTS) seeks to identify and assess experienced teachers who are performing at a superior level. Candidates must take written tests, submit videotapes of their performance and samples of student work, and participate in simulations at assessment centers around the nation. Most states and many school districts offer additional incentives for board certification, including salary bonuses and supplementary responsibilities. Merit pay and career ladders are two other efforts aimed at professionalizing teaching. Merit pay offers teachers more money based on various criteria, including gains in student performance, typically measured by standardized tests; teacher performance, as measured by outside evaluators; individualized plans, in which teachers have a voice in setting their own goals; and the nature of the teaching assignment. Career ladders offer more systemic change. Teaching responsibilities increase, as does salary, as teachers move up a"ladder" to additional responsibilities and incentives. The intent is to reward superior performance with both increased salary and greater influence in the education of others. Merit pay and career ladders offer additional money for superior performance, but critics charge that these programs are compromised by unfair practices and do not improve education. What are the differences between the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers?The National Education Association (NEA) is the largest professional and employee association in the nation. Formed during the second half of the 1800s, initially it was slow to work for the needs of its members, and was dominated by administrators and professors. During the 1960s and 1970s, the NEA became a stronger advocate of teachers' rights. In the 1980s and 1990s, the NEA refined its position on a variety of educational reform proposals while exploring merger possibilities with the AFT. When teacher unions from the Midwest affiliated with the American Federation of Labor in 1916, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) was formed. While significantly smaller than the NEA, the AFT has historically taken a more militant position, demonstrated by its early support of teacher strikes. Under the longtime leadership of Albert Shanker, the AFT changed its image from that of a scrappy union to that of an important force in education reform. Today both the NEA and the AFT offer a range of services, including magazines, journals, and other professional communications; legal assistance; workshops and conferences; assistance in collective bargaining; and political activism. Other professional associations, journals, and websites offer new teachers resources and professional development opportunities throughout their teaching career. Are America's schools a secret success story, doing better than the press and the public believe?The lower performance of American students on international tests may be attributed to curricular and cultural differences, not necessarily to educational deficiencies. Many indicators, from SAT scores to high school graduation rates, reflect an improvement in American schools. According to educators like Berliner and Biddle, school bashing reflects an old tradition of journalists and a popular activity of today's neoconservative politicians. We also have unrealistically high public expectations of what schools can do, yet schools confront significant challenges, including high levels of poverty and high numbers of non-English speakers. The bottom line is that despite the press and current perceptions, America's schools may be doing far better than we realize. |