Supporting schemes for novice teachers
There are many programs designed to support newly recruited or inexperienced teachers. Below are some common methods at Vinschool.
Buddy Program
In this program, a more experienced or competent teacher is assigned to assist a newly recruited, inexperienced or less competent teacher. The focuses of their buddy supporting support includes:
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Mentoring Program
This program shares some similar features with the Buddy Program when a senior teacher (mentor) is assigned to support new or less experienced colleagues (mentees). However, the mentor can work with more than one mentee, and more often than not their focus is placed more on professional skills (such as: lesson planning, instructional strategies, or classroom management).
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Focus Group
Some typical activities integrated in the mentoring program includes: Observations: Different kinds of observations will take place:
Focused training: After observations, mentors discuss and identify common issues and arrange them in the order of urgency to be addressed. These issues will be selected as the topics of training. However, it is vital that mentors should give an impression that their goal is to learn along with the mentees instead of showing them how teaching is done. It is likely that mentees have suggestions and ideas that can immediately be put into use—be ready to collaborate on implementing them. Group discussion: Group discussions can occur at any phase of the program: during the focused training, prior to observations or after observations. The purpose is to provide mentees with opportunities to share what they know, reflect on past practices and come up with solutions to their persistent issues. In fact, they may have abundant new and refreshing ideas which can be spread among the group. Mentors should also be involved in this step, sharing their experiences and providing resources that mentees can use. |