Contact spoke to some new teachers about their thoughts on the new Structured Mentoring Programme. After their first three weeks of full-time teaching, many are keen to have someone more experienced to show them the ropes.
Olivia Tan, Biology teacher from Raffles Junior College, said, “The most important thing in this Programme for myself, would be having a mentor. I hope to learn how to think quickly on my feet. I think I can learn this by observing how experienced teachers conduct their lessons.”
Another teacher from the same JC, Daniel Koh, expressed his interest in building resources with SMP. “The new Mentoring Programme would help those trying to build resources. Beginning teachers have no resources usually. With mentors, we are exposed to other perspectives on pedagogy. It’s more than academic,” he elaborated.
Valedictorian Megan Seah, who teaches Literature and English, felt empowered by this “psychological support system.” She quipped, “This is a sort of promised help line.”
In her own school, Megan feels fortunate to have the staff band together to help the somewhat inexperienced beginning teachers. “In the staff room, we are not seated according to seniority or rank. Teachers sit according to their subjects, so a new teacher in each subject would be surrounded by more experienced teachers. It’s easier to ask for help and share ideas”, she added.
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