In recent years there has been a growing interest in support, guidance, and orientation programs-collectively known as induction-for beginning elementary and secondary teachers during the transition into their first teaching jobs. This study examines whether such supports have a positive effect on the retention of beginning teachers. The study alsofocuses on different types and components of induction, including mentoring programs, collective group activities, and the provision of extra resources and reduced workloads. The results indicate that beginning teachers who were provided with multiple supports, were less likely to move to other schools and less likely to leave the teaching occupation altogether after their first year. Some forms of assistance and support, however, did not appear to increase beginners' retention.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Arends, R. I., & Rigazio-DiGilio, A. J. (2000). Beginning teacher induction: Research and examples of contemporary practice. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Japan-United States Teacher Education Consortium. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED450074)
2.
Evertson, C., & Smithey, M. (2000). Mentoring effects on proteg6s' classroom practice: An experimental field study. Journal of Educational Research, 93(5), 294-304.
3.
Fideler E., & Haselkorn, D. (1999). Learning the rapes: Urban teacher induction programs and practices in the United States. Belmont, MA: Recruiting New Teachers.
4.
Feiman-Nemser, S., Schwille, S., Carver, C., & Yusko, B. (1999). A conceptual review of literature on new teacher induction. Washington, DC: National Partnership for Excellence and Accountability in Teaching.
5.
Grissmer, D., & Kirby, S. (1987). Teacher attrition: The uphill climb to staff the nation s schools. Santa Monica, CA: RAND.
6.
Grissmer, D., & Kirby, S. (1997). Teacher turnover and teacher quality. Teachers College Record, 99, 45-56.
7.
Henke, R. R., Chen, X., & Geis, S. (2000). Progress through the teacher pipeline: 1992-93 college graduates and elementary/secondary school teaching as of 1997. Washington, DC: National Center for Educational Statistics.
Huling-Austin, L. (1990). Teacher induction programs and internships. In W. R. Houston (Ed.), Handbook of research on teacher education (pp. 535-548). Reston, VA: Association of Teacher Educators.
10.
Ingersoll, R. (2001). Teacher turnover and teacher shortages: An organizational analysis. American Educational Research Journal, 38, (3), 499-534.
11.
Ingersoll, R. (2003a). Is there really a teacher shortage?Seattle, WA: Center for the Study of Teaching and Policy, University of Washington.
12.
Ingersoll, R. (2003b) MWo controls teachers' work?: Power and accountability in America's schools. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
13.
Ingersoll, R., & Kralik, J. (2003). A review of empirical research on the effects of teacher mentoring programs in elementary and secondary schools. Denver, CO: The Education Commission of the States.
14.
Ingersoll, R., & Smith, T. (2003). The wrong solution to the teacher shortage. Educational Leadership, 60(8), 30-33.
15.
Johnson, S. M. (1990). Teachers at work: Achieving success in our schools. New York: Basic Books.
16.
Johnson, S., & Birkeland, S. (2003). Pursuing a "sense of success": New teacher explain their career decisions. American Educational Research Journal, 40(3), 581-617.
17.
Lortie, D. (1975). Schoolteacher: A sociological study. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
18.
Mobley, W. (1982). Employee turnover: Causes, consequences, and control. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
19.
Murnane, R., Singer, J., Willett,J., Kemple,J., & Olsen, R. (Eds.). (1991). Who will teach?: Policies that matter. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
20.
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (H.R. 1), 107 Cong., 110 (2002) (enacted).
21.
Price, J. (1977). The study of turnover. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press.
22.
Price, J. (1989). The impact of turnover on the organization. Work and Occupations, 16, 461-473.
23.
Scherer, M. (Ed.). (1999). A better beginning: Supporting and mentoring new teachers. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
24.
Schlecty, P., & Vance, V. (1981). Do academically able teachers leave education? The North Carolina case. Phi Delta Kappan, 63, 105-112.
25.
Smith, T., & Ingersoll, R. (2003, April). Reducing teacher turnover: What are the components of effective induction? Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL.
26.
Texas Center for Educational Research. (2000). The cost of teacher turnover. Austin, TX: Texas State Board for Educator Certification.
27.
Tyack, D. (1974). The one best system. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
28.
Veenman, S. (1985). Perceived problems of beginning teachers. Review of Educational Research, 54(2), 143-178.
