Induction - The Transition from PST to Teacher
23rd September, 2016
Teacher induction: What is it? Why is it important? Will reflects on the fast approaching reality of becoming an actual classroom teacher.
My time as a
pre-service teacher is nearing the end as my peers and I prepare to finish
university and take the plunge as 'in-service teachers'. Many are counting down
the days to finish their studies and complete the formal 'learning and
training' to get a piece of paper that claims they can teach. For me it is
really just the beginning. All too often I hear graduates and long-term
teachers reflect on the amount they learnt, changed and developed in just their
1st year teaching after university. As excited as I am, there are natural
anxieties that come with joining the profession and 'bridging the gap' - our
first ever blog post written by Alex.
Luckily, this thought is well known and shared by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). In their Guidelines for Teacher Induction, they highlight the importance of effective teacher induction and what this should look like. Below is their summary video:
Luckily, this thought is well known and shared by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). In their Guidelines for Teacher Induction, they highlight the importance of effective teacher induction and what this should look like. Below is their summary video:
Three key points I took from the induction information from AITSL:
- You are not alone. The school you end up working at is your first and most valuable source of support. Through a (no doubt lengthy) application process, they have chosen to invest in you as a graduate teacher because they believe you have something to offer their school community. Establishing a positive relationship with a mentor to engage in regular discussions, observations, feedback and modelling is an important step in the induction process.
- AITSL discuss that opportunities to learn, practice and refine teaching make up the journey from Graduate to Proficient career stage. I see these as integral but also consider them as continual cycle. This cycle of learning, practicing and refining is what we love doing on placement and will continue to do in our first year of teaching; ultimately it is something teachers do at every stage of their career.
- Finally, it is stated but no doubt obvious that high quality induction reduces the likelihood of teacher attrition rates - that is, teachers leaving the profession. Another AITSL document on this topic is very interesting and I encourage PSTs and teachers to read it. I see benefits of simply being aware of some of the reasons people leave the profession. I hope that those that find themselves considering such a decision can spot negativity early and reflect on the positive impact they are having and the true joys teaching brings each day.
- Will