Beginning teachers face significant challenges as they assume the complex work of teaching while they are still learning to teach. In addition to the activities involved with learning to effectively teach, they must also learn to work with others; collaborate with colleagues, administrators, paraprofessionals, and parents; and manage varied…

The primary goal of this handbook is to provide relevant and practical information for mentors as they guide the development of beginning special education teachers. Even the best prepared of new entrants face steep learning curves as they work to apply in complex school settings what they have learned from their pre-service programs. At the same…

Principals have a significant influence on the well-being of novice teachers. In fact, they can be the decisive factor in a new teacher's commitment to staying in or leaving teaching. The quality of the relationship with school administrators is as important to novice special education teachers as it is to novice general education teachers.…

Mentoring and induction support influence novice special education teachers' determination to remain in teaching. Those with high levels of support tend to report greater job manageability and success in teaching challenging students. They also tend to feel better about their preparedness to teach, knowledge of pedagogical content, and ability to…

E-mentoring--the use of technology-based communication formats in which mentors and mentees interact--is emerging as a solution for supporting novice teachers, especially when they have limited access to inbuilding support. This Brief describes the possibilities of using e-mentoring with novice special education teachers.

Most states have policies for new teacher induction and mentoring programs that districts use as a foundation when designing and implementing local programs. Although most state policies do not differentiate programs for novice special education teachers, there are particular aspects of their experience--discussed in this Brief--that may affect…

Although novice special education teachers benefit from the same types of support and induction that their general education colleagues receive, certain aspects of their experience require attention. This Brief summarizes why a mentoring model is needed for special novice education teachers and what administrators can do to help these teachers…

Having a quality relationship with school administrators is important to novice teachers. Principal support influences teachers' job satisfaction and decisions to remain in teaching. Although special education teachers can benefit from general administrative support, they also may require additional supports that address the unique obstacles they…

Increasingly, principals play an important role in new special education teacher induction. Although novice special education teachers benefit from the same types of support and induction that their general education colleagues receive, certain aspects of their experience require additional attention. This Brief summarizes what principals can…

Beginning special education teachers have the same responsibilities as their more experienced counterparts. However, as these new teachers assume full teaching responsibilities they also must become familiar with district and school policies, curriculum, and assessment procedures. At the same time they are expected to build relationships with…

Principals play an important role in new teacher induction. The quality of the relationship with school administrators is as important to novice special education teachers as it is to novice general education teachers. Although special education teachers can benefit from general administrative support, they also may require additional supports…

E-mentoring--the use of technology-based communication formats in which mentors and mentees interact--is emerging as a solution for supporting novice teachers, especially when they have limited access to in-building support. This Brief describes the possibilities of using e-mentoring with novice special education teachers.

E-mentoring--the use of technology-based communication formats in which mentors and mentees interact--is emerging as a solution for supporting novice teachers, especially when they have limited access to in-building support. This Brief describes the possibilities of using e-mentoring with novice special education teachers.

Although novice special education teachers benefit from the same types of support and induction that their general education colleagues receive, certain aspects of their experience require attention. This Brief summarizes why a mentoring model is needed for novice special education teachers and what teacher educators can do to help establish a…

In this paper, the authors review and analyze state policy regarding beginning teacher mentoring with a focus on special education. Mentoring policies guide the selection, assignment, and training of mentors and the process with which novice teachers are matched with veteran mentors. Mentoring is a component of induction; but induction also…