Teachers at the stage...

• Have many specific needs mostly focused on coping with the daily demand of teaching, management issues, classroom organization, and sense of personal and professional competence.

• Ask "Can I survive until the end of the week?"

• Focus on their own needs and have little understanding of what is happening for students in their classroom.

• Frequently do not take responsibility for what occurs in their classroom.

• Fail to acknowlege problems.

• Tend to blame students, others, resources, just not themselves.

• Have little sense of control.

• Feel a diminished sense of efficacy.

• Provide specific suggestions or "how to's."

• Do classroom demonstrations.

• Provide limited options so teachers can choose what is most comfortable.

• Co-teach with the new teacher.

• Give ongoing personal support.

• Connect new teachers with other teachers.

• Arrange for the new teacher to observe other teachers.

• Ensure that new teachers have all the resources they need including curriculum guides, student books, etc.

• Check in frequently.

• Listen and honor their concerns.

• Remember no problem is too insignificant to be a major one to a new professional.