This article presents a study of mentor teachers who work with residents in an urban teacher residency program in New York City. Forty-six mentor teachers (i.e., cooperating teachers) were asked to describe moments of effective mentoring, as well as their own strengths, weaknesses, and goals as mentors. Implicit in mentor teachers’ descriptions of effective mentoring were their perspectives on effective teaching. These perspectives offer much insight into the challenges of clinically rich teacher preparation for a particular urban context, raising several dilemmas that should be considered amid the calls for teacher preparation that is deeply rooted in field practice.
Summative performance assessments in teacher education, such as the Performance Assessment for California Teachers (PACT) and the edTPA, have been heralded through polices intended to enhance the quality of the teaching profession and raise its stature among other professions. However, the development and implementation of the PACT, and subsequently the edTPA, have not been without controversy and Políticas de la política: La evaluación de la aplicación, impacto y evolución de la Evaluación de Desempeño de Maestros de California (PACT) y edTPA Resumen: Evaluaciones de desempeño sumativas en el área de formación docente, como la Evaluación de Desempeño de Maestros de California (PACT) y la edTPA, han sido promovidas como políticas destinadas a mejorar la calidad de la profesión docente y elevar sus prestigio profesional. Sin embargo, el desarrollo y la aplicación del PACT, y posteriormente edTPA, no han estado exentas de polémicas y debate. El propósito de este artículo es evaluar la aplicación, impacto y evolución del PACT y edTPA. Para ello, se revisa la literatura sobre el impacto y la aplicación del PACT y analizamos críticamente las políticas de Estado en torno a edTPA. Planteamos preguntas sobre la política y las implicaciones prácticas de la evolución de la PACT y edTPA. Palabras clave: formación docente de pregrado; enseñanza de evaluación del desempeño; certificación de maestros / licenciaturas; responsabilidad de los maestros; reforma educativa; políticas estatales Políticas da Política: avaliação da implementação, impacto e evolução da Avaliação de Desempenho para Professores da Califórnia (PACT) e edTPA Resumo: Avaliações de desempenho sumativas na área de formação de professores, como a Avaliação de Desempenho para Professores da Califórnia (PACT) e edTPA, têm sido promovidas como políticas que melhoram a qualidade da profissão docente e elevaram a posição profissional. No entanto, o desenvolvimento e implementação de PACT, e depois edTPA, não foram sem controvérsias e debates. O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar a implementação, o impacto e a evolução do PACT e edTPA. Avaliamos a literatura sobre o impacto e a execução de PACT e analisamos criticamente as políticas estatais ao redor edTPA. Se apresentam questões sobre as políticas e as implicações práticas da evolução do PACT e edTPA. Palavras-chave: ensino de professores na graduação; ensino de avaliação de desempenho; e certificação de professores ; responsabilidade do professor; reforma educacional; Políticas de Estado
Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to examine mentor teachers’ approaches to mentoring preservice teachers in a yearlong teacher residency program (TRP).
Design/methodology/approach
– This multiple-methods study examined 15 mentor teachers’ approaches over the course of a year in an urban TRP through the lens of Wang and Odell’s (2002) framework for mentoring. Data sources included mentors’ self-assessments over three points in time across one academic year. These self-assessments included numerical ratings of practice (quantitative) as well as open-ended rationales and goal setting (qualitative).
Findings
– Mentors predominately provided support and technical assistance to the residents learning to teach, drawing on humanistic, and situated apprentice perspectives on mentoring. They worked to develop residents’ self-confidence and exposed residents to a range of practices and school contexts. Glimmers of a more critical constructive approach were apparent in some mentors’ discussions of reflection and collaboration.
Research limitations/implications
– This study informs the work of teacher education programs as they develop mentoring structures that align with program visions, expand notions of mentoring, and consider the many roles of a mentor teacher.
Originality/value
– Increased emphasis on clinical experiences for preservice teachers highlights the need to attend to the practices of the mentor teachers with whom they work. These mentors, as field-based teacher educators, play a critical role in teacher education, and teacher education programs need to support their professional development as mentors. Understanding mentors’ approaches to mentoring is necessary in order to provide this support.
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