The induction stage occurs during the first few years of teaching and is the time when teachers are socialized into the profession. During this time, the new teacher works for acceptance and attempts to become comfortable with teaching on a day-to-day basis. This may be a time when the beginning teacher finds a location or situation where he or she "fits." Teachers may move from building to

Question

building or grade to grade until they find a situation where they feel most comfortable. The stress of beginning a new profession may be compounded by other events in individuals' lives. New teachers are usually adjusting from viewing themselves as students to having a full-time job and getting to know a new community. They are dealing with issues related to personal relationships, finances, and activities outside of work. It is an exciting time for new professionals, albeit a busy and stressful one. During this stage, many school districts provide support in the form of experienced mentor teachers to help induct new teachers into the profession. Mentors provide new teachers with a support system by acting as peer coaches, helping with planning, sharing ideas, introducing school routines, judging appropriateness of assignments, and explaining the context of specific teaching situations. Mentors ease new teachers into the profession and increase the possibilities that they will stay in the teaching field for a longer period of time. This is an important role for an experienced teacher because 40 to 50 percent of new teachers leave teaching after seven years or less. New teachers who receive appropriate mentoring during their first year or two in the profession continue to learn, grow, and develop more positive attitudes toward the profession. The author's claim that mentors "increase the possibilities that they will stay in the teaching profession for a longer period of time" is

a. inadequately supported because of a lack of factual details.
b. adequately supported by factual evidence.

Answer 1

a