The Induction of Early Childhood Educators: Retention, Needs, and Aspirations

by Laura K. Doan

Overview

The Induction of Early Childhood Educators presents new strategies for reducing the number of educators who are leaving the field within the first five years of work. Based on new research carried out with beginning early childhood educators in British Columbia, Canada, Laura K. Doan proposes a set of new best-practices in mentoring and inducting novice early childhood educators. The book offers a clear insight into the needs, identity, challenges, joys, frustrations, isolation, triumphs and support that all new educators face. The chapters cover a range of theoretical approaches such as communities of practice, teacher efficacy, adult learning theory, and professional identity development and show how these can be applied to mentoring, observations, feedback and continuing professional development. While the primary research was carried out in the Canadian context, Doan shows how best practice can be applied elsewhere with examples from around the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781350187245
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	01/11/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	174
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Laura K. Doan is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education and Social Work at Thompson Rivers University, Canada.
Laura K. Doan, Dr, is an associate professor in early childhood education in the School of Education, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, Canada, where she has taught for the past 24 years. Laura oversees the province-wide Peer Mentoring Program for Early Childhood Educators taking place in 32 regions across British Columbia, Canada. Laura is inspired by the wisdom, strength, and resilience of early childhood educators.
Website: https://ecepeermentoring.trubox.ca/
Email: [e-mail]

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Theories and Practices Related to the Development of Educators
Part I: Educators' Experiences in the First Five Years of Work
2. The Role of the Early Childhood Educator
3. Adjusting to the Field of Early Childhood Education
4. Supervisory Practices
5. Induction Support
6. Key Themes
Part II: Moving Forward
7. Towards a Best Practice for Early Childhood Educators
8. Theories and New Directions in Early Childhood Education
Conclusion
References
Index

Editorial Reviews

The evidence presented in this book tells a salutary tale about the challenges faced by novice early childhood teachers as they embark on their career in the early childhood profession. Laura describes how, in the main, these teachers receive little or no support and are essentially, left to sink or swim. Unfortunately, these challenges are not unique to early childhood teachers in British Columbia, and are replicated in many countries internationally. However, the book presents a way forward. Directed toward policy makers, the broader ECEC community, the workplace setting, and the beginning early childhood teacher, the Doan future focused model of mentoring offers hope for existing and future early childhood teachers.” —Mary Moloney, Assistant Professor in Early Childhood Care and Education, Mary Immaculate College, Ireland

From the Publisher