Mentor Minute
November 2023
Dear Lead Mentors and Mentors:
We are entering the time of year when the idea of teacher disillusionment sets in. You may have noticed this in conversations you are having with your mentees. Is your mentee having doubts about their abilities and dedication to teaching? Do they seem to be withdrawing? Have they hit the ground running at a pace that is not sustainable, and they are losing that momentum? This is part of the normal phases first-year teachers experience. It's important to remind them that this feeling is not permanent and that change is inevitable. In a podcast episode, Angela Watson, 40-Hour Teacher Workweek, says, "The best way to fight disillusionment is to view setbacks as situation-specific, temporary, and changeable." She adds that it helps when we can focus on one day at a time. Consider how you can help your mentee through this phase. As a mentor, take time to listen to your new teacher, remind them that mastery takes time, they are not alone, and look for ways to help them simplify classroom systems. Remember, at some point, every teacher has felt this phase--and in many cases, they have felt it more than once.
*photo credit: https://theeducatorsroom.com/new-teachers-survival-guide-creating-support-network/
Professional Learning facilitated by Stephanie Wyman, Kelly Stead, and Tasha Shine, Teacher Induction Specialists, Office of Professional Growth and Innovation
This quarterly opportunity focused on leveling up our instruction as new educators. We took time for celebrations, self-reflection, sharing our struggles, and aligning to the teacher evaluation rubric in the areas of Learning Environment (relationships, routines, and procedures) and Instructional Delivery. Consider attending with your mentees. OPEC coordinators and specialists joined the crowd to offer some support in specialized instruction in conversations with teachers. During the affinity mapping activity (see pictures below), common themes emerged across Elementary, Middle, and High School teachers. The biggest struggles centered around classroom management (specifically disruptive behaviors), time management and planning, and parent communication.
Shout out to Shaylee Ryan, math coach at Landstown HS, and Lisa McKee, Instructional Technology Specialist at Virginia Beach Middle School, for attending with their new teachers. They voiced how much this helped them support and guide their new teachers while providing opportunities to bond with one another. Research shows that learning together is an excellent way to promote healthy adult well-being.
If you weren't able to join us this time, January 17th and January 18th will be our next offerings.
