Novice Teachers’ Mentoring Books Review

As part of a graduate research project, the author of this paper created a book review of

Mentoring in Action, a book for mentors who are also experienced teachers and of The

First Year Matters, a book for novice teachers. Both of these books are written by Carol

Pelletier Radford EdD, who is a founder and CEO of MentoringinAction.com.

By providing the review of these books, it is aimed to spread the books to more people,

organizations and schools, which would eventually contribute to more effective

mentoring programs for novice teachers and those teachers would lead their classrooms

with their best talent and ability.

Review of MENTORING IN ACTION: Guiding, Sharing, and Reflecting With Novice Teachers

Summary and structure of the book The book, MENTORING IN ACTION: Guiding, Sharing, and Reflecting With Novice Teachers, is composed of two parts, Part I: Inducting a Novice Teacher Into the Teaching Profession and Part II: Month-by-Month Mentoring. When we just start to be a mentor, our idea of what it is to be a mentor may be often unclear; it is different from being a teacher or being an advisor. Part I in this book explains and provides the definition of ‘mentor’ and lets us be ready to start preparing to be a mentor. Part II illustrates actual action steps we can go through as a mentor, and this part forms a large part of this book. This part is composed of Month-by-Month guideline from August to July. In each month, we have five different stages: 1) Plan, 2) Connect, 3) Act (1~10), 4) Reflect, and 5) Set Goals. How does this book work? – SURVI (ve)! Supportive: The Connect page in each month helps us realize who, where and what we can reach out to ask for more support to draw full potential of novice teachers. Oftentimes, mentors assume that we have to do everything to support novice teachers. However, by utilizing The Connect page, we can come up with more effective support and resources to apply to novice teachers’ training. Useful: Plan and Act page introduce multiple questions that we can ask our novice teachers and ourselves when we go through mentoring session. While mentors are expected to gain profound understanding about novice teachers and the reality they are facing (mentees), it is often very difficult to come up with effective questions. This page provides some helpful questions we can immediately apply. Realistic: In Part I, there is an explanation of how novice or beginner teachers normally feel in their first or second year of being a teacher, and why a mentoring session is helpful to them. As an experienced teacher (a mentor), it is sometimes difficult to remember how we actually felt in our first year. By reading this part, we are able to be ready to be compassionate to those teachers who need mentorship. Visible: The online video we can access either through links on the website or QR code can visually help us know how our mentoring conversation should look or how we should frame the relationship with mentees. Informative: In the Plan page of each month, we have a Monthly Needs Assessment completed by mentees. By asking them to answer questions, we will easily be informed of the realities they are facing in their classroom.

Review of THE FIRST YEARS MATTER: Becoming an Effective Teacher

Summary and structure of the book The book, THE FIRST YEARS MATTER: Becoming an Effective Teacher, is composed of two parts, Part I: Beginning Your Journey Into Teaching and Part II: Month-by-Month Mentoring: Being Mentored in Action. In Part I of this book, we are provided the insight into the advantages and the importance of having a mentor and what we can focus on as a novice teacher. Part II illustrates actual action steps we can go through as a novice teacher, and this part forms a large part of the book. This part is composed of Month-by-Month guideline from August to July. In each month, we have five different stages: 1) Plan, 2) Connect, 3) Act (1~10), 4) Reflect, and 5) Set Goals. How does this book work? – ABLE! As an individual who has experienced being a beginner teacher, I discovered multiple elements that I feel very helpful and useful in this book. Applicable: I found such elements as “Introducing the School and District” (ACT 4 in August) and the example of “Buzz Words” listed (ACT 6 in August) very helpful when we enter into a new and real world of teaching. Getting to know those people who can help us, and learning those common languages we can use help us feel being included and being supported. Balanced: The contents of the ACT page vary month by month. These pages are composed of those elements that are useful in each stage. By skimming them in advance, we are able to be ready for the potential events in classroom and focus on one thing at a time. ref L ective: By utilizing the “Novice Teacher Journal” (PLAN), the “Monthly Needs Assessment” (ACT), and the monthly “Novice Teacher Reflections” (REFLECT), we are able to reflect on our teaching experience frequently. It is not just about the actual events but also about emotional events that we can reflect on. By using these parts, we are also able to plan our next steps more smoothly and effectively. Exciting: Finally, I found this book very exciting. As we can see in the book, the color and format of this book are very simple, and organized. While using this book, we can freely customize it in a way we like. In ACT 3 of August, there are questions that ask us how we can contribute to our school. There are also some questions related to our daily lesson plans in ACT 9 of August. While they are absolutely necessary elements, the answers depend on each of us. I expect these answers motivate us to think of our unique strengths and let us enjoy our classroom experience.