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Overview
Quality mentoring can provide the support and guidance critical to an educator's first years of teaching. In the latest edition of the best-selling Mentoring New Teachers, Hal Portner draws upon research, experience, and insights to provide a comprehensive overview of essential mentoring behaviors. Packed with strategies, exercises, resources, and concepts, this book examines four critical mentoring functions: establishing good rapport, assessing mentee progress, coaching continuous improvement, and guiding mentees toward self-reliance. Tools and topics new to this edition include: Teacher mentor standards based on the NBPTS Core Propositions and validated by members of the International Mentoring Association and other practitioners, Classroom observation methods and competency instruments, Tools to assess preferred learning styles, Approaches to mentoring the nontraditional new teacher, A guide for careerlong professional development. School leaders, experienced and prospective mentors, and staff developers can use this step-by-step handbook to create a dynamic mentoring program or revitalize an existing one.
Synopsis
Written for those mentoring new teachers and for those in mentor training programs, this work focuses on the critical mentoring functions of relating, assessing, coaching, and guiding. A series of exercises, supplemented by anecdotes, commentary, and examples, spans several chapters. An annotated bibliography, updated for this edition, is included, and the Connecticut Competency Instrument is presented as an example of teaching competencies expected of a beginning teacher. There is no subject index. Portner is a former K-12 teacher and administrator, now a consultant and trainer. Annotation c. Book News, Inc.,Portland, OR
Editorials
Kaye Dean
"This book captures the essence of mentoring and the process necessary to be an effective mentor."
Gerald N. Tirozzi
"A timely, instructive, and important book on mentoring new teachers. It provides direction and guidance and clearly outlines how to be a mentor."Norma Gluck
"An invaluable resource for anyone who is currently a mentor or planning to be one. I’ve not seen any other book like this—one that actually provides guidelines, and serves to facilitate an individual’s transition to the role of mentor. It models behavior by including clear and concrete examples and advice in a friendly manner."
Christine Brown
"Provides a much-needed framework for quality mentoring of beginning teachers."
Sharon Wise
I appreciate the excellent tool your book has become for me. The opportunity to mentor has a clearer definition and description of the process, insuring a much more effective experience for both mentor and mentee.Mentoring and Tutoring
"The author writes in a conversational manner as if he were talking directly to the reader. Portner maintains the reader’s interest throughout his books by using factual data, case studies, and by providing suggested practical activities. Furthermore, Portner’s recommendations appear concrete with carefully described step-by-step instructions.Kathy Grover
“The book gets straight to the point of mentoring and provides practical, doable strategies and guidance to mentors, as well as the opportunity to practice those strategies with immediate feedback.A short and easy read for people who need good advice but don’t have a lot of time to spare.”Debra Pitton
“Provides a concise overview of all the issues mentors need to consider when working with a new teacher. Mentors who are working on their own can easily use this text to support their development.”Mark Bower
"Bravo for basing this on the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards! Standards for mentoring are long overdue. This book will become a primary resource for our annual mentoring staff development, to be used with both mentors and mentees."Priscilla Miller
"A much-needed resource for teacher mentors. The new and updated strategies and practical approach will give mentors crucial support as they provide assistance and encouragement to new teachers. Portner has clearly demonstrated the importance of both theory and practice in this practical guide."William E. Collins
“With the guidance of Hal Portner, our new teacher induction/mentoring program made a turnaround from a bare minimum, “letter of the law” program into a dynamic, teacher-affirming program! Our mentoring team now has a shared vision of the components of effective mentoring and, more importantly, our mentees are reaping the benefits. I wholeheartedly encourage anyone interested in improving their school’s mentoring program to read this book.”Joy Rose
“Mentoring is an activity in which both participants gain experience and knowledge, and this book reflects that. Portner presents very practical suggestions for both the mentor and the mentee.”The Bookwatch
"An essential key to passing on wisdom and an important pick for any education collection."CHOICE, 1998 -
Praise for first edition:"This short but effective book could be the perfect guide to help experienced teachers as they work with new colleagues through their first (often the most difficult) months of teaching. Porter has included specific activities and exercises to teach mentors behaviors that develop trust as they work through the mentoring process. He shows the teacher mentors and their proteges how to develop an effective working relationship as the new teachers grow from dependence on their mentors to a high degree of self-reliance as effective teachers in their own right."