First Year Of Teaching Research Articles

The Predictive Role of Teaching Experience in Teachers’ Implementation of Metacognitive Knowledge

Aim. While there is so much emphasis on teachers' metacognition, little is known about the role of teaching experience in teachers' metacognition and their instructional practices. Therefore, the current study aimed to provide new insight into the extent to which experience in teaching might predict teachers' metacognition or their awareness of each metacognitive component and sub-factor. Furthermore, the use of teachers' metacognition in their instructional practices was explored. Method. A quantitative research method was used to investigate teachers’ metacognition and their teaching experience. For this purpose, 130 teachers participated and completed the Metacognitive Awareness Inventory for Teachers (MAIT) questionnaire. Independent T-test and Enter regression were used to analyse the data. Results. The analysis of the collected data revealed that years of teaching experience could be a predictor of teachers' metacognitive knowledge but not their metacognitive regulation. Conclusion. Teachers can enhance their metacognition from the first years of teaching, and through training and practice, they can strengthen their abilities.

Novice teachers’ challenges and strategies in coping with COVID-19 at a rural school

The study was undertaken to investigate and understand the challenges and strategies of novice teachers in coping with COVID-19 at a rural school. The researcher observed and experienced many challenges during the first year of teaching, including stress, anxiety, depression, lack of support, and lack of collaboration with teammates. This study explores the challenges faced by novice teachers in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic at a rural school. The study employed a qualitative approach, interpretive paradigm, and case study design. Four high school novice teachers participated in this study. Guided by ethical considerations in research, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. This study used narrative analysis to analyse data from the participants. This study found overcrowded classrooms, heavy workloads, lack of resources, lack of support, tribalism, lack of orientation, lack of discipline, lack of knowledge of subject content, and pressure from school administration as challenges encountered by novice teachers during COVID-19. This study also revealed frustration, discouragement, Insomnia, and mood swings as the effects affecting novice teachers’ well-being. In conclusion, novice teachers applied different strategies to deal with challenges during COVID-19. The Department of Education in Free State should provide mobile classrooms so learners are comfortable and enjoy the lesson, and teachers can also move around when presenting a lesson. The government must develop supportive social networks and proper orientation for novice teachers to limit the lack of support.

A case study of how first-year early childhood teachers figure their roles within the profession and whether to remain in it

ABSTRACT The first year of teaching can be overwhelming, and many early educators in elementary schools located in the United States often choose to exit the classroom. Despite various suggestions for reversing this trend, many early childhood teachers working in elementary schools still leave teaching as their profession’s complexity continues to increase. Here, we examine how first-year early childhood teachers whom we have followed since they enrolled in their teacher education program figured their roles within the profession and whether they thought they would remain in it. Through this analysis, we illuminate the complexity of the world of teaching in which these beginning teachers figured their identities as professionals, and we offer suggestions for teacher educators to employ figured worlds as a construct to support novice as well as preservice teachers as they navigate the realities and unexpected challenges of teaching in the early childhood grades in elementary schools.

Embarking on a Teaching Career: Experience of Beginner Teachers in Laamu Atoll, Maldives

Embarking on a teaching career involves significant adjustments as beginner teachers undergo a transition period marked by a shift from guided practice and mentorship to independent teaching responsibilities. Beginner teachers face a lot of challenges during this transition period. This study utilised a cross-sectional quantitative survey methodology to investigate the experiences of novice teachers within schools across Laamu Atoll, Maldives. A total of 56 beginner teachers from Laamu Atoll participated in this research. Data was collected through an online questionnaire comprising both open and closed-ended questions. The findings of this study indicate that first-year teachers commonly encounter stress, lack adequate support, and develop feelings of unpreparedness in addressing both behavioural and academic challenges among their students. This study suggests the implementation of mentoring programs as pairing new educators with experienced counterparts significantly aids novice teachers in navigating and addressing their apprehensions during their inaugural year in the classroom.

Negotiations and reconciliations in the first year of teaching

This study investigates the lived experiences and developing identities of three secondary first-year teachers, exploring the practices each employed to reconcile expectations of teaching with their realities. Authors present distinct narratives synthesized from weekly reflections and interviews, identifying factors that supported new teacher reconciliation including a strong connection to community, healthy social emotional skills, and the recalibration of the role of curriculum. This study advocates for teacher preparation programs to recognize areas of misaligned expectations and provide support for new teachers in the construction of realistic views of teaching as essential to developing teacher identity and impacting retention.

‘It was painful then, but I can laugh about it now’

Abstract This study investigated the lived experiences of 11 teachers who immigrated recently from four African countries to teach in Florida schools. The study explored their perceptions, expectations, lived experiences and realities during their first year of teaching in US public schools in south-west Florida. In this qualitative, phenomenological research design, using field notes and in-depth individual semistructured interviews with the immigrant teachers, three themes emerged from the thematic analysis. These were: 1) challenges facing immigrant teachers from African countries during their first year of teaching; 2) adaptation to a completely different culture and the related culture shock; and 3) support from their employers (the school district) and local communities.

“I need more help, but everyone expects me to know it”: perceived mentoring needs of contemporary second-year early career teachers

ABSTRACT While there has been theoretical and empirical address of the changing characteristics of teachers as they progress through the early years of their professional careers, much less research has considered how this influences the changing ways in which early career teachers (ECTs) may prefer to experience mentoring during this time. Most ECT mentoring research and in-school mentoring programmes focus on teachers in their first year of the profession, or ECTs in very broad terms. Consequently, the specific mentoring needs and preferred approaches of second-year teachers, in particular, remain unclear. In this paper, we report on data collected via researcher field notes, an online survey, and professional learning activities with 15 mentors and ECTs in their second year of teaching in Queensland, Australia. Using a combination of descriptive statistics and directed qualitative content analysis, findings indicated that second-year teachers identify as having specific mentoring needs that they perceive require a unique combination of directive and co-exploratory mentoring approaches. Critically drawing on theories of teacher development, these findings have implications for schools and systems both in Australia and internationally in the development of policies and programmes for mentoring beyond the first year of teaching.

Novice Elementary Teachers’ Science Teaching: Instructional Planning and Discourse

ABSTRACT Teaching science to elementary school students is complex, and teacher preparation programs must support pre-service teachers’ learning to communicate science content and practices with children. Science teachers bring the experiences they have as students to their teacher preparation, and these experiences may support or conflict with what they are learning about effective teaching. In this study, we present stories of two first-year teachers who attended a STEM-focused teacher preparation program in the U.S. While effective science teaching requires a multitude of complex practices, we focus on the teachers’ science lesson planning and discourse. These two constructs were chosen as areas of foci because they are introduced in teacher preparation, preservice teachers are often evaluated on these constructs in preparation for licensure, and they are critical components of effective elementary instruction/ Data collection began during their teacher preparation and continued into their first year as teachers and include semi-structured interviews, observation field notes, and video recordings. While both teachers expressed similar intentions for incorporating instruction practices learned in their teacher preparation, we found differences in enactment. We discuss influences, such as school cultures and peers, on beginning teachers’ attempts to translate learning from teacher preparation into their first year as teachers of science and include recommendations for continued support of novice teacher learning.

Columns: The Future is Now: Teaching while Queer: Navigating the First Year

A candidate in a teacher preparation program leads and researches a queer book club, which invites opportunities for them to foster queer spaces, communities, and visibility in their first year of teaching.

Beginning to Implement Ambitious Mathematics Instruction: What Promising First-Year Elementary Teachers’ Lessons Can Teach Us

ABSTRACT Although teachers are expected to teach mathematics ambitiously, it is challenging for them to do so. Given that the first year represents a critical juncture between teacher preparation and inservice teaching, it may be particularly challenging to teach ambitiously. Understanding the nuanced characteristics in lessons taught by first-year elementary teachers identified as being generally ambitious can inform how mathematics teacher educators and school mentors support them. A thematic analysis of 15 transcribed lessons revealed instructional moves that were more and less prevalent. Task-level findings indicated that while first-year teachers solicited student input, encouraged them to participate in discussions, and had them attend to cognitively demanding tasks, they seldom assigned open-ended and non-procedural tasks. Students also had few opportunities to grapple with the mathematics. Turn-level findings indicated that first-year teachers maintained the task potential, facilitated student participation, and promoted student authority and perspectives. They further aimed to deepen students’ mathematical thinking, albeit the subtle ways they did so sometimes were apparent across lessons (e.g., encourage students to continue to problem solve) and other times were limited (e.g., provide an opportunity for students to agree or disagree).

Struggles Coping with Emotions in Professional Lives: First-Year Teaching Experiences of Indonesian EFL Novice Teachers

<p>Kesejahteraan emosional seorang guru pemula dapat dipengaruhi oleh kesulitan yang mereka hadapi dalam karir profesional mereka. Dapat dimengerti bahwa beberapa pendidik EFL tahun pertama mungkin merasa sulit untuk mengendalikan emosi negatif mereka ketika dihadapkan pada situasi yang menantang di dalam kelas. Meskipun dapat diterima untuk mengekspresikan beberapa perasaan secara terbuka, namun ada juga yang merasa tabu karena berbagai alasan. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menjawab dua pertanyaan: (1) perasaan apa yang biasanya dihadapi oleh pengajar tahun pertama di kelas? (2) Bagaimana cara pengajar bahasa Inggris sebagai bahasa asing tahun pertama mengelola perasaan mereka saat bekerja? Para peneliti dalam penelitian kualitatif ini menggunakan wawancara semi-terstruktur untuk mendapatkan informasi rinci tentang pengalaman para partisipan dalam mengelola emosi mereka.</p>

Centering First-Year Teachers’ Instructional Visions and Professional Voices in a Community of Practice

First-year teachers often experience tensions between their visions of high-quality and equitable mathematics instruction and the realities of school culture and politics. Subsequently, first-year teachers need a professional learning space where they can be supported in enacting their instructional visions while developing their professional voices. In this paper, we share the voices of four first-year teachers and how a community of practice supported them to navigate the individual challenges of their classroom practices. Findings from this study yielded two major themes: 1) the community of practice supported them to reflect, envision, and articulate alternative realities; and 2) instructional visions were filters that empowered them to strengthen their professional voices while developing as equitable mathematics teachers.

The Impact of an Induction Mentoring Programme for Novice Teachers. Reflections, Feedback, and Directions for Future Research

This paper examines the effects of an innovative induction programme that was provided to novice teachers during their first year of teaching. The opinions of the participants were gathered concerning the practicality and pertinence of the mentoring actions performed, the most significant outcomes of mentoring-style learning, and possible directions for the mentoring programme's continuing development. The participants explicitly mentioned the mentoring programme's formative value, placing particular emphasis on the importance of introspection and the establishment of communities for peer learning. The participants' feedback underscored the importance of maintaining an empirical approach to the matter of induction mentoring. Additionally, it emphasised the necessity of tailoring and individualising mentoring strategies to address the diverse requirements of the participants.

Are "well" teachers "better" teachers? A look into the relationship between first-year teacher emotion and use of evidence-based instructional strategies.

Teachers experience significant stress with 93% reported high levels of stress (Herman et al., 2018), and literature examining teacher stress levels during the COVID-19 pandemic reveals that 30 percent of teachers experience significantly high levels of stress (Silva et al., 2021). Low levels of teacher well-being and higher levels of stress have been linked to punitive behavior management (Jennings & Greenberg, 2009) and lower student academic achievement (Goddard et al., 2000). The aim of the present study is to explore the relationship between teacher emotion and use of evidence-based instructional strategies that promote student success. In this study, 17 first-year teachers completed a novel measurement, inclusive of single-item scales intended to assess feelings of stress, efficacy, and school connectedness, several times a day, each day of the week, for 1 month. The classroom strategies assessment system of evidence-based academic and behavioral instructional strategies was used in weekly teacher observations. Results indicated validity between these single-item scales and established measures of teacher well-being. A positive relationship between teachers' in-the-moment well-being and evidence-based instruction was found, as well as substantial variation in teacher emotional response across days and weeks. Implications and future directions are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

FELSŐOKTATÁSBAN TANULÓ, ELSŐ GENERÁCIÓS KISEBBSÉGI HALLGATÓK PÁLYAMOTIVÁCIÓI

The literature on the social mobility of first-generation students confirms that these students often start higher education at a disadvantage. The lack of cultural and economic capital, along with the educational background of their parents, nfluences their career choices and potential dropouts. In this study, we explore the factors influencing career motivation by examining issues related to the education of first-year national minority student teachers (N=97). Our aim is to analyze minority teacher candidates’ satisfaction with their skills, training, and future plans using a questionnaire method. The results of the pilot research show that the majority of teacher trainees are first-generation students living in minority communities in Ukraine, currently a war-torn country. According to the results of the pilot research, firstgeneration tudents make up more than half of the first-year teacher trainees. One of their most prominent motivations for choosing an institution is the ease of access to education, and they choose teacher training mainly to broaden their knowledge. This study examines the career motivations of student teachers from ethnic minority backgrounds. Professional socialization is a lifelong, dynamic process from the moment an individual makes a career choice, influenced by a number of factors. After graduation, the individual incorporates professional expectations into their self-image, leading to the formation of a professional identity. During training, students have the opportunity to acquire skills and knowledge that meet the expectations of the profession, which can lead to a greater sense of commitment to the profession. The target group of this thesis is young members of a Hungarian minority community enrolled in Hungarian-language higher education, specifically in teacher education. Therefore, we consider it important to delineate the characteristics of minority students. Keywords: teacher candidates, first-generation students, career motivation, national minorities

“I Never Explicitly Brought That Up to My Mentor”: Early Career Teachers of Color Navigating Whiteness With White Mentors in a University-Based Induction Program

We examined how three early career teachers of color (TOC) experienced mentoring with white mentors in a university-based induction program within a large urban school district. We found cross-racial pairs privileged whiteness by pursuing “success” through standardized teaching methods (e.g., classroom management) while also avoiding discussions about race, leaving little space or reason to address the overt forms of racism mentees experienced during their first year of teaching. Our findings highlight the need to bring race and racism to the forefront of university-based mentoring to address the harm early career TOC experience in entering a profession dominated by whiteness.

Influencing beginner teachers' autonomy: the impact of mentorship in fostering self-directed learning

PurposeThis paper aims to determine the impact of mentorship on the development of self-directedness among beginner teachers in their initial years of teaching.Design/methodology/approachThe researcher adopted a positivist paradigm to explore the situation of concern. Quantitative research was conducted, involving the collection and analysis of numerical data. Two closed-ended structured questionnaires were utilised, derived from the 40-item self-directed learning readiness scale (SDLRS) developed by Fisher and King, and a pre-determined questionnaire by Glazerman focused on the first-year teaching experience, induction and mentoring of beginner teachers.FindingsBeginner teachers merely relying on the knowledge obtained from their studies is insufficient to achieve a satisfactory level of self-directedness when starting a teaching career. Most beginner teachers faced significant challenges in their early years of teaching due to the absence of mentoring support. In addition, most indicated that they resume their teaching duties and rely on their district for general support, guidance and orientation. Finally, the results have shown that mentoring positively impacts beginner teachers’ self-directedness.Research limitations/implicationsThe first limitation was that this study was narrowed to one South Africa University part-time B.Ed honours students working as beginner teachers in different provinces at primary and secondary schools. As a result, the findings of this research might be interpreted by some critics as one-sided and not representative of the views of most beginner teachers in South Africa who are working. The second limitation of this study is the sample size. In this study, 222 responses were received. As a result, the findings of this research might be considered not representative of the target sample size.Practical implicationsThe presence and effective implementation of mentoring programmes in schools can positively impact beginner teachers' professional development and retention during their first years of teaching.Social implicationsWe contend that our research holds significance for international readership as it aims to garner attention towards potential research endeavours in diverse settings concerning mentorship programs for beginner teachers, specifically promoting self-directed learning. Our research offers opportunities to compare our findings with studies conducted in more comprehensive, comparative contexts and foster research possibilities in broader, contrasting contexts.Originality/valueBased on the findings of this research, the availability and effective use of mentoring programmes would significantly affect beginner teachers' self-directedness, improve their retention rate and alleviate their teaching challenges. This study was the first research on the perceptions of the influence of mentoring on the self-directedness of beginner teachers.

Taking the LEAP: a district-university partnership to address shortages in special education

PurposeDistrict-university partners increasingly rely on “grow-your-own” licensure programs to address teacher shortages. Because vacancies in special education represent a chronic issue, our district-university partnership developed LEAP – the Licensed Educators’ Accelerated Pathway, successfully preparing 26 paraprofessionals as special education teachers (SEs). We describe a model university-district partnership in which we collaborated to design and implement paraprofessionals’ SE licensure program.Design/methodology/approachIn this general review, we describe a district-university partnership collaboration that resolved barriers experienced by paraprofessionals working toward licensure in special education (Essential #4, Reflection and Innovation). The specialized design and partnership solutions were grounded in SE preparation research literature.Findings25 (28 entered the program and 25 completed) paraprofessionals from one large urban and several regional districts completed special education licensure through LEAP. Slightly more than half of LEAP participants were Black or Hispanic (see Table 1), contributing to the diversification of SE workforce. University-district partnership was successful in designing and delivering a program that allowed participants: a) to remain employed, b) attend evening classes in their geographic region or online, c) complete all field experiences in sponsoring districts (Essential #2) and d) receive concierge advising from a “completion coach.” We describe solutions to barriers experienced by paraprofessionals and advocate for district-university collaboration to address chronic teacher shortages.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations include lack of data on success of program completers during their first year of teaching as they began this work in Fall 2023. Further, because the participating district was large and urban, generalization of program details for small and rural districts is difficult.Practical implicationsPractical tips for developing grow-your-own special education licensure programs are providing. Detailed descriptions of barriers candidates experienced and ways the district-university partners resolved these issues are included. Programs like the one described has the potential to positively impact teacher pipeline issues.Social implicationsThe program described provided highly-trained teachers to fill chronic vacancies in special education in three participating districts/agencies. Because students receiving special education services are at risk for school failure and are disproportionately impacted by teacher turnover, addressing this area through grow-your-own licensure programs represents a diversity, equity and inclusion initiative. Further, upskilling diverse paraprofessionals to licensed teacher roles represent an economic boost, which they might not otherwise have achieved.Originality/valueAvailable research literature signals alarm over persistent teacher shortages in hard-to-staff districts and lack of diversity in the teacher workforce, but few published accounts describe successful programs. Partner collaboration fostered a re-imagining of course formatting and delivery to accommodate adult learners, avoiding problems often reported with alternative programs.

“I got knocked down”: factors impacting a novice teacher’s decision making

PurposeThis study explores how one novice teacher navigated his first-year teaching sixth-grade social studies.Design/methodology/approachOne-sixth grade novice teacher was observed during his unit on the Islamic Empire. The teacher was interviewed before the unit began to understand his approach to combating Islamophobia and interviewed again after the unit so he could reflect on the unit and discuss if he believed he had accomplished his original goal. Classroom artifacts (handouts, slide decks, etc.) were collected.FindingsThe findings highlight the various forces that impacted the decisions the teacher made in the classroom. Lack of support from administration and various colleagues left the teacher feeling overwhelmed and unable to accomplish his goals. While the teacher started the unit with a clear purpose for teaching against Islamophobia, he ultimately taught a unit where students memorized discrete pieces of information.Originality/valueThis study adds to previous research on the need for providing administrative support for novice teachers to be able to teach in ambitious ways by highlighting the numerous shortcomings.

Unleashing the Power of Love, Passion, Creativity, and Humanity in Novice Teachers' First Year

Purpose: This study explores the transformative impact of novice teachers who employ innovative methods and approaches to forge deep, meaningful connections with their students during their first year of teaching.
 Methodology: The present study employed a qualitative methodology. Seventeen novice teachers participated in comprehensive, in-depth interviews. After transcribing the interviews, a content analysis approach was employed to identify and define meaningful units pertaining to the symbiotic relationship between novices and their students.
 Findings: The findings reveal an extraordinary depth of educational passion, creativity, and empathy that significantly contributes to students' academic and emotional development. The study highlights the profound, empathetic bonds formed between teachers and students, transcending traditional educational outcomes. The novice teachers' success in fostering an inclusive and stimulating learning environment is underscored by their innovative methods and ability to harness personal narratives and cultural sensitivity as pedagogical tools.
 Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The research enriches the global body of knowledge on teacher education by showcasing the power of love, passion, creativity, and humanity in the teaching and learning process. It emphasizes the potential of novice teachers to effect significant, positive changes in their students' lives, even in their formative years of teaching. The study's findings underscore the importance of fostering supportive environments for the growth and development of novice teachers and call for reevaluating support structures in teacher education programs worldwide.