Education

Communication Problems

By Anthony Rebora — October 24, 2005 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

New teachers in one big city district felt they would have been better equipped for their jobs if they had had more opportunities to meet and work with current teachers during the hiring process, according to a recent report.

The report, prepared by the Boston Plan for Excellence in Public Schools, surveyed first-year teachers in Boston on their hiring and teaching experiences.

While directed to policymakers, the report’s findings suggest that education job seekers should factor in the level of communication within a school when deciding on a job.

When asked how the hiring process could have better prepared them for their jobs, the teachers surveyed predominantly cited the need for greater interaction with potential colleagues and the day-to-day life of the school.

“Respondents identified wanting to spend more time in a school while in session, participating in classroom observations, shadowing teachers, and sitting in on meetings,” the report says. Such experiences can help teachers “better align expectations with reality” and give them a more well-rounded view of the school.

Similarly, ninety percent of the teachers surveyed cited working with colleagues as the most valuable form of training they received during their first years.

Among the greatest difficulties faced by the teachers, according to the report, were insufficient communication and support from school leaders and lack of clarity about the norms and expectations of the school.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Assessment Webinar
Reflections on Evidence-Based Grading Practices: What We Learned for Next Year
Get real insights on evidence-based grading from K-12 leaders.
Content provided by Otus
Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum How AI Use Is Expanding in K-12 Schools
Join this free virtual event to explore how AI technology is—and is not—improving K-12 teaching and learning.
Federal Webinar Navigating the Rapid Pace of Education Policy Change: Your Questions, Answered
Join this free webinar to gain an understanding of key education policy developments affecting K-12 schools.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Quiz ICYMI: Moms for Liberty Launched Its Own University And More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at the Moms for Liberty annual convention in Washington, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Moms for Liberty co-founder Tina Descovich speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at the Moms for Liberty annual convention in Washington, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Education Briefly Stated: April 16, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read
Education Quiz ICYMI: Do You Know What 'High-Quality Curriculum' Really Means?
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Image of curricula.
iStock/Getty
Education Quiz ICYMI: Lawsuits Over Trump's Education Policies And More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Image of money symbol, books, gavel, and scale of justice.
DigitalVision Vectors