#28 Phases of First-Year Teaching by Kimberley K. Cuero

Essential Questions:

• How are the phases of first-year teaching defined?
• How will each phase affect the 1St-year teacher's attitudes toward teaching?
• How can the lSt-year teacher seek support in constructive ways?
• How will the knowledge of these phases be useful to a 1St-year teacher and other support personnel?

Topics to be presented:

1. Open discussion with the statistic that 1/4 of teachers leave the profession within the first 3 years of teaching.
2. We will openly discuss possible reasons for this phenomenon.
3. I will distribute the article "Phases of First-Year Teaching" and we will discuss the cycle of phases: Anticipation >> Survival >> Disillusionment >> Rejuvenation >> Reflection >> (and once again) Anticipation
4. We will talk about how the knowledge of these phases will be useful to them as they enter their 1st year. Some reasons might include: easier transition from student-teacher to 1st year teacher; support sought out sooner and more constructively; and less severe peaks and valleys of the phases.
5. Students will form 5 jigsaw groups to discuss important ways to seek support.
   The jigsaw groups will each have a different focus:
   • How to seek support from school personnel
   • How to seek parental support
   • Organizational strategies to implement
   • How to increase student motivation
   • How to minimize "time crunchers" (e.g., afterschool activities, lesson planning, grading papers, meetings, decorating classroom, paperwork)
6. We will conclude with the jigsaw groups reporting their conclusions to the other groups.

Assessment Procedures:

The students will record at least 1 idea from each of the 5 jigsaw focus groups that they will try to implement to reduce stress.