Promoting Balanced Instruction for New Teachers: Issues, Needs, and Strategies.

Research indicates that new teachers need support that is ongoing, that provides them with additional strategies and ways to adjust to the curriculum that they are teaching. The things to think about as the issue of "balance" in the classroom is addressed are: How do new teachers effectively create this classroom? Who is responsible for assisting them? Why are colleges of education not doing this? This paper first considers thoughts relative to what is being done in college classrooms. According to the paper, future teachers, when talking to their advisor on a personal level, indicated the difficulty they had meeting what they knew was "good reading teaching" and meeting all the demands set down by their districts and the state-mandated testing programs. The paper discusses issues which colleges of education have in preparing teachers; issues of reading group management; and issues of strategies for the novice teacher--personalized strategies that will encompass the group. The paper concludes that it is critical that educators continue to use a solid research base, and examine and discuss what is occurring in schools around the state and across the country--these needs must be combined because preservice teachers are receiving jobs around the country. A list of new teacher concerns is appended. (NKA)