This is a study of an experienced kindergarten teacher mentoring a novice teacher. This study sought to uncover how the mentoring process can benefit both experienced and novice teachers in kindergarten. In addition, the study looked at handling the p...
This is a study of an experienced kindergarten teacher mentoring a novice teacher. This study sought to uncover how the mentoring process can benefit both experienced and novice teachers in kindergarten. In addition, the study looked at handling the process of conflicts between a novice teacher and her peers or children’s parents. This research was carried out by an experienced teacher in a mentoring relationship.
The participant of this research is a novice teacher, Miss Lee, working at a kindergarten. The research is based on data collected from journals, e-mails and conversations between Miss Lee and the researcher. As the mentor researcher, I held mentoring sessions for the participant for seven months from March to September. The data of this researcher were collected from the participant’s journal, e-mails and conversations. The researcher recorded and summarized the data.
I, as the mentor, tried to first make the participant comfortable and then build a relationship with her as a partner, giving advice in the process of mentoring.
Although the mentoring was generally carried out in a series of steps, the researcher didn’t decide in advance the topics and content. Observing the participant, I wanted to help her immediately in the context of her conflicts. Here, I acted as an affective supporter rather than a professional one. Therefore, I provided her with help to bridge the knowledge gap from her university coursework to the actual teaching setting. All of my efforts brought the participant to reflective and critical thinking. During our conversations, I found that she tried to improve her instruction by the trial and error method during her teaching process.
There are two kinds of conflict for teachers in the kindergarten. One is conflict between the teacher and her colleagues. At the early stages, she was worried about this type of conflict. As time went by, however, she learned to collaborate with peers. The other conflict is between the teacher and the students’ parents. She expressed frustration at meeting the needs of parents when disagreements occur. In the mentoring process, she was able to understand parents and have good relationships with them.
As a result of the mentoring, both the experienced and novice teachers noted positive changes. The experienced teacher was able to observe the mentee with an open mind, rethink the role of a mentor, form self-esteem, as well as assist a colleague in the learning process. The novice teacher was able to have a good relationship with the mentor, feel a connection to the kindergarten where she works, be efficient as a teacher and be reborn as a professional in childhood education.
Through the mentoring process, I, the experienced teacher and mentor, have started creative mentoring in my work place, and the novice teacher, Miss Lee, has recognized that progress in teaching is a process. In addition, it leads her to participate actively in teaching.