Citation

Overschelde JPV, Saunders JM, Ash GE. Middle Sch. J. 2017; 48(5): 28-38.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, The Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE), Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis)

DOI

10.1080/00940771.2017.1368319

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The university's teacher preparation program has implemented and continually refined a professional development school program, with extended university-school relationships in its middle-level certification program. This program offers dialogue, targeted learning activities, and intensive field-based experiences to help ease preservice teachers from student identity to teacher identity. Preservice teachers spend several semesters working under the guidance of practicing middle-level teachers before assuming control of their own classrooms, mitigating potential reality shock and improving middle-level teacher retention. This program has led to higher than average 5-year retention rates for middle-level teachers. Recommendations for other teacher preparation programs are included.

Language: en

Keywords

middle level; professional development schools; teacher attrition; teacher preparation; teacher retention