Teacher Mentor Support Program
The Teacher Mentor Support Program (TMSP) is a joint initiative run in partnership between the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT).
Programs are offered at 27 locations across the state with Day 1 conducted over February and March and Day 2 over April and May. Teachers who register for the program must be in a position to attend both days.
Who is it for?
The Teacher Mentor Support Program is designed for experienced teachers who are mentoring provisionally registered teachers in 2012. It is offered to teachers who have not yet attended the program and who are eager to share their experience in classroom practice and passion for teaching with teachers new to the profession.
What will I learn?
The aim of the TMSP is to build the capacity of mentors to support beginning teachers through ongoing professional learning embedded in day-to-day practice. This builds the capacity and self-efficacy of the beginning teachers which has a positive impact on improving student learning outcomes.
Activities allow participants, in their role as mentors, to explore the practice of mentoring and how they can support beginning teachers to improve their teaching practice. A natural outcome of effective mentoring is the achievement of full VIT registration.
Day 1:
- Develop an understanding of the four mentoring functions.
- Explore the Relating and Assessing functions.
- Introduce the Coaching and Guiding functions.
- Prepare for collegial interactions that include the process for full registration.
Day 2:
- Explore the coaching and guiding mentoring functions.
- Explore how to engage in learning conversations that allow beginning teachers to reflect, analyse and respond effectively to events in the classroom.
- Finalising the full registration process.
Time is allowed for reflective conversations with other mentors as a means of confirming and extending ideas and understandings.
How do I apply?
Registration for the program is conducted through the VIT.
Teachers must register for both days of the program.
Registration forms are available from the VIT website: VIT - Support to train as a teacher mentor
Program dates and locations
The program is run in 27 dates and locations across the state.
What assistance is provided?
The program is offered at no cost to schools or participants.
The Department provides funding for CRT release for attending participants.
Program resources
- A Learning Guide for Teacher Mentors (PDF - 2.8Mb) - The Learning Guide used in the Teacher Mentor Support Program is also designed as a valuable resource for schools to enhance mentoring for all staff members.
- Mentoring in the New Millennium (PDF - 240Kb) – An article by Andy Hargreaves and Michael Fullan which is valuable pre-reading for teachers about to begin a mentoring relationship.
More information
- Mentoring Beginning Teachers (PDF - 620Kb) – this flyer provides schools with information to support the effective mentoring of beginning teachers including Tips for Effective Mentoring.