Making a Difference with Mentoring

First Year Elementary Teachers discuss ideas from the book: Seven Simple Secrets by Annette Breaux and Todd Whitaker 

When I think about all the helping hands that helped shape who I am as an educator and a person, the list is long.  When I student taught, I was fortunate to have great cooperating teachers who patiently guided my professional practice.  Then I got my first teaching job and I.WAS. ALONE.  That was twenty years ago.  Fortunately, things are changing in education in a BIG WAY.

Mentor Coaches at Linn-Mar were created to work extensively with first and second year teachers. The intent of this portion of our Teacher Leadership program is to help teachers new to the profession learn to manage the various needs of the job and to embrace their passion for teaching.  In addition to observing these teachers weekly and working with them on planning, co-teaching, curriculum pacing, good teaching strategies, and applying the teacher standards into their classrooms, our mentor coaches are also offering an extra layer of support to our new teachers in the form of professional development.

Our mentor coaches have set up book clubs for first year teachers, or study groups, to read current literature in the field of education, collecting data, best practice, assessment, and classroom management.  These clubs meet on a regular basis to discuss implementing theory and practice into their daily lessons.  The laughter, camaraderie, and team building in these groups is infectious.

First year teachers have a support group unlike years past.  This is a great way for them to see each other's classrooms.  They have another opportunity to collaborate and build their efficacy in their profession and knowledge and pedagogy.

New teachers goof around with new centers and tricks their Mentor Coach,
 Carol Kesl provided them at a recent book club meeting.