Teacher Induction

Teacher induction programs are intended to support the professional development of beginning teachers and thereby contribute to the reduction of teacher attrition during the early teaching years. Teacher induction programs are often based upon a deficit model with a focus on the better organization and management of classroom instruction. It is difficult to draw conclusions about the effects of teacher induction programs due to several shortcomings in the research to date. Nevertheless, mentoring, in combination with group activities, appears to make a difference. Many teacher induction programs are neither based on a clear vision of good teaching nor formulated from the perspective of continued professional development. Close cooperation between schools and teacher-training institutes is needed in order to develop and implement comprehensive and more educative induction programs. But most importantly, new teachers should be valued as colleagues who can make a difference for both the students and the school.