Induction Summary

So my experience with induction has been an interesting one. This past summer, in the very last class I needed to complete to receive my Masters, we had a final project. My group decided to do it on induction because we felt that induction was a great idea and were looking forward to it. Rumor had it that induction was going to be a repeat of edTPA, which almost everyone lost sleep and shed tears over. We sought to bring information to our peers as the program tried but kind of failed to provide us with an idea of what to expect.

Fast forward two months, and I attend the online make-up orientation. The ladies on the other end were every helpful and started my experience off right. I was shown step-by-step what to expect, which made navigating the site that much easier when I finally signed on. When it came to completing the cycles, I normally was able to fit everything nicely into what I was already doing. Induction also forced me to once again look at the CSTPs. They tried drilling them into us during teacher education, but like so many other things, they got swept away once we began teaching and then trying to get through that dreaded assessment.

Overall, I would say induction was useful. I got so much support at my school site that, at times, it felt more burdensome than anything. I totally appreciate how lucky I am that my school culture is just that amazing. Not everyone has that to fall back on, and for them, I imagine induction can be super important. That is not to say that it is not important to me. The biggest thing induction did for me was get me talking to my coach. I was given a coach by my school as a new employee, and the other teachers were super welcoming. I probably would have talked to the person who was my coach anyway because she is a master teacher at my site and teaches the same subject area. Induction made sure I was in contact with her, and I value that professional  relationship now so much.

Even if induction felt like a drag, I am glad to have gone through my first year. Only one more lies before me until I can clear my credential, and I am looking forward to that.