Novice Teachers’ Concerns, Early Professional Experiences and Development: Implications for Theory and Practice

Abstract

Quality teaching, being a key factor in shaping students’ academic and personal growth, has been at the centre of scientific debate for many years. Sustainable professional development of novice teachers has recently been recognized worldwide as one of the key areas for improving the quality of teaching and learning in schools. Given that the initial years on the job are generally characterised by novice teachers as the most challenging and intense in their career, the following questions typically arise: What can be done to sustain and facilitate teaching at the early developmental stages in teachers’ career? What are the contextual factors and the prerequisites leading to the quality of teaching and learning?

Keywords

• novice teacher
• continuum of teacher development
• induction
• mentoring
• education for sustainable development