Our profession is one of the few that eats its young. We often fail to properly prepare and support new teachers. Short-term solutions include the development and extension of strong mentor programs. Above all we must recognize there is no one size fits all model for becoming a successful teacher. Good teachers are uniquely individual and we must nurture and support each new teacher as that person develops.
Teaching can be very lonely.
When the classroom door is closed, teachers are in their own world. Forming communities of teachers can break this isolation. Peer observation programs, team teaching, and educators planning and researching together can be used more intensively to increase teacher interaction. Whether based on professional organization meetings or working together informally around common goals and concerns, these communities can and should nurture teachers. In the long range we must work to create stronger communities to support children.