Background for New Teacher Induction: Growing into the Profession

December 10 2003

Background for New Teacher Induction: Growing into the Profession

• New Teacher Induction: Growing Into the Profession (302 KB)

• News release

About New Teacher Induction: Growing Into the Profession

• Unanimously endorsed as a policy paper by the Ontario College of Teachers Council following months of research and province-wide consultation with teachers,
  school and system administrators and parents
• Calls for full provincial funding of a $40 million, mandatory two-year program of support for newly certified Ontario teachers

Elements of an Induction Program

• provides initial school and classroom orientation
• benefits from ongoing, school-based peer support
• includes a mentoring component
• provides resources, time and support structures
• offers professional learning opportunities for new teacher and their mentors
• demonstrates administrative support, understanding and commitment
• creates opportunities for reflection and self-assessment
• focuses on new teacher concerns as well as system priorities
• is standards-based.

Why the College is proposing this

An effective induction program will help teachers make the transition from their pre-service education to the classroom. By supporting teachers in their new environment and helping them enhance their knowledge and skills, we help them find satisfaction in teaching and more of them will stay in the profession. By helping them improve their teaching practice, we improve student learning.

Proposed investment

The College recommends that the school funding formula be amended to provide new, sufficient, targeted and sustained funding for induction programs in every Ontario school board.

What Teachers say about Mentoring