In her
Exchange article,
Mature Teachers Matter (which can be viewed in its entirety on the
Exchange web site, and is also one of the articles in the newest Exchange
Continuing Education Unit [CEU]), Patricia Scallan Berl discusses why it is important to retain mature teachers (teachers 45 or older), what motivates mature teachers, and provides advice on how to retain and use them most effectively. Here are a few of her ideas for recognizing them:
- Share positive parent and colleague feedback in center communications and performance reviews
- Encourage leadership roles in staff committees
- Seek their insight on past initiatives, what worked, and what didn’t
- Provide opportunities for networking with other mature colleagues in areas of professional interest
- Offer a two-week or one-month sabbatical to pursue a special teaching interest or develop a training program on a successful initiative
- Gather their input when redesigning staff orientation
- Assist them with forming linkages to community and technical colleges, sponsoring student interns, or presenting to ECE classes
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CEUs for reading
Exchange articles! Now you can meet your continuing education requirements from your home computer in your spare time! The process is simple, takes place entirely online, and best of all, is extremely affordable.
Exchange is proud to offer you this unique opportunity in partnership with University of Wisconsin, Stout.
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Exchange articles, including our newest one, "Staff Challenges," which includes Patricia Berl Scallan's articles on working with new, mid-term, and mature teachers.
Comments (2)
Displaying All 2 CommentsUnited States
A better title than 'mature' would be a good start. My mature teachers immediately translate 'mature' to mean OLD. In fact 'experienced' doesn't fly so well either. All I can say is respect your truly mature thinking teachers...they are treasures. Their insight transcends upstart theories and flash in the pan equipment. Your advice on ways to support them is totally accurate. They love to keep learning...if they don't then maybe they do need to retire.
United States
Great article! I agree. After 32 years in this field as both a teacher & a Director, this is my conclusion as it relates to maturity- when I was younger than the parents, they didn't listen to me; when I was the same age as the parents, they didn't listen to me; now I am older than the parents (their parents age!), and they don't want to listen to me!
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