An instructional coach recently sent me a request which matched some conversations I have had with coaches working with alternative teacher entry programs. It struck me that it might also match for experienced teachers who are now finding themselves in virtual or hybrid teaching environments that seem not to match any of their previous teaching […]

In part one of Some Thoughts on Mentoring,  I examined mentors focusing beyond the survival needs of beginning teachers to building belonging, power, freedom, and fun.  Teachers who know how to fulfill their passion for teaching, while meeting required standards, are empowered. Developing a new teacher’s coachability was also addressed. As the school year progresses, […]

Mentors should focus on empowering beginning teachers. Years ago, I did a lot of work with William Glasser’s Control Theory/Choice Theory regarding motivating students. Glasser described a focus on survival, belonging, power, freedom, and fun. If you had a classroom where students’ survival needs were met (physical and emotional safety) and you created a sense […]

In this week’s episode of the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast, Steve ponders how to best support and mentor beginning teachers. Subscribe to the Steve Barkley Ponders Out Loud podcast on iTunes or visit BarkleyPD.com to find new episodes. Thanks for listening! PODCAST TRANSCRIPT Speaker 1: Conduct better educational leadership evaluations in less time […]

I was recently stranded overnight and then delayed while traveling to Rochester, NY to conduct a two day training for Mentors. I called my colleague, Sandra Fink, who lives close by and requested that she step in to cover until I could arrive. When I arrived, I found that Sandra had the group deeply engaged […]