Beginning teachers given a flying start

MARCH 2009
By Kelley Porter

This year, more than 1000 graduate beginning teachers will take up their first positions in a Queensland state school.

Cover of the Flying Start induction toolkit

It can be both an exciting and nervous time for these new recruits, but one that can be made easier with quality induction and support from school leaders.

The department's Professional Development and Leadership Institute has revised and updated the Flying Start Induction Toolkit for Beginning Teachers.

This second edition of the tool kit, sponsored by Teachers' Union Health, is a valuable resource that beginning teachers can turn to in their first critical months of teaching.

To complement the toolkit, the Flying Start Induction Ideas for Beginning Teacher Induction Programs brochure has also been updated, to continue to support school leaders in designing effective induction programs.

Professional Development and Leadership Institute principal Kris Holm said the induction ideas brochure had plenty of tips to help school leaders review their induction programs.

'The brochure offers new ideas and activities to include in school induction processes,' Ms Holm said.

'Most importantly, it has a checklist to enable induction coordinators to ensure new teachers are supported in their profession.'

Blackwater North State School deputy principal Nickie Wardle said the resources greatly support the school's induction processes.

'At Blackwater North we use the induction ideas brochure to guide the induction of our beginning teachers,' Ms Wardle said.

'We also strongly recommend our new teachers use the Flying Start Toolkit to support their own continued induction.

'There are complementary checklists in both the tool kit and brochure to ensure expectations are met by both the school and the teacher.

'We also have programs in place, including social networking activities and school cluster meetings, that help the teacher adapt to their new job as quickly and smoothly as possible.'

All state schools should have received a copy of the brochure and the tool kit at the end of last year.

All permanently employed beginning teachers and teachers with temporary engagements longer than 30 days should have received an individual copy of the tool kit.

All other beginning, returning and supply teachers and their mentors can access these resources from the Professional Development and Leadership Institute website.