How to Use This Site
This website is designed as a resource for anyone who is interested in the question, how can we make schools excellent places for teachers to learn and grow?
On it you will find a toolkit of practical, field-tested resources, including
- guidelines for creating effective new teacher induction in a school;
- a tool for assessing a school's current practice;
- teaching modules that will help strengthen every facet of induction, from hiring to supervision;
- practical resources created by leaders in our partner schools; and
The heart of the toolkit is a series of teaching modules created by the Teacher Learning Project Team at the Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education at Brandeis University. Each module focuses on one aspect of comprehensive, school wide induction. The exercises in each module are designed for use with school administrators or faculty who are interested in thinking deeply about how the current professional culture and structures in their school facilitate -- or hinder -- ongoing teacher learning.
To get the greatest value for your school, we suggest systematically working through each module on the site over the span of several years. Ideally, this work would be completed collaboratively by an Induction Leadership Team and led by an Induction Leader, with the help of a facilitator or coach.
We know that every school is different, and such a commitment may not be possible for many schools. Therefore we designed the teaching modules to be used flexibly and in a wide range of settings. Wherever appropriate, we have provided Microsoft Word versions of templates and resources, so that you can download and adapt them for your particular use.
We hope they prompt insight and positive change!
The Teacher Learning Project Team
Questions? Comments? Send them our way via mandelcenter@brandeis.edu