Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:35:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2150.pdf: 761758 bytes, checksum: 67b1ffe04a970f99f217537d6c4a2ade (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-06-06 / Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos / The early years of professional activity are the period in which new graduates face the challenge of completing their transition from students to teachers. Research has shown that this phase is characterized by intense learning and significant stress, often in unfamiliar contexts where the beginners are required to attain professional skills while maintaining a certain level of personal balance (Marcelo, 1998). Many interfering factors will affect the daily routine of beginning teachers, frequently leading to a number of obstacles to overcome. This work applies a qualitative approach in the detection and resolution of such difficulties from a collaborative perspective, using workgroup cooperation as a central strategy. It also investigates the contribution of workgroup strategy to the development of beginning teachers, and to the beginners ability to face and overcome arising problems. Theoretical references were taken from previous studies on the recent trends in teacher development, the knowledge basis of teaching and the processes of pedagogic reasoning. Collaborative research was performed with a group of four beginning elementary school teachers who attended weekly meetings over a one-year period. The full-length transcripts of all meetings served as the main source of pertinent data, supplemented by several written accounts produced by the participants themselves. Results show that, among the several challenges encountered by teachers in their day-to-day activities, classroom management issues can be considered as the primary source of difficulties. The group was effective in proposing solutions to reported problems and in contributing to the professional development of beginners. Works of this nature, however, can be limited by a number of factors, such as the time span between the establishment of a group and the moment it becomes truly collaborative (Grossman et al, 2001). Despite that fact, the group used in this study rendered meaningful results and showed that the theorization of day-to-day classroom experiences can constitute a powerful instrument for the professional development of teachers. / O início da atividade profissional é o período que abrange os primeiros anos de docência, nos quais os professores deverão realizar a transição de estudantes para professores. As pesquisas têm demonstrado que é uma fase marcada por tensões e aprendizagens intensas, em contextos geralmente desconhecidos, e na qual os professores iniciantes devem adquirir conhecimento profissional, além de conseguir manter certo equilíbrio pessoal (Marcelo, 1998). Muitos fatores permeiam o dia-a-dia dos professores iniciantes, acarretando, na maioria das vezes, em inúmeras dificuldades. Procurando identificar essas dificuldades e contribuir para o enfrentamento e superação das mesmas é que se configura essa pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, constituída a partir da perspectiva colaborativa, assumindo como estratégia a constituição de um grupo colaborativo de trabalho. Adotando como referencial teórico, estudos que analisam as novas tendências na formação de professores, a base de conhecimento para o ensino e processos de raciocínio pedagógico, os professores iniciantes e a pesquisa colaborativa, procuramos investigar quais as contribuições de um grupo colaborativo de trabalho para o desenvolvimento profissional de professoras iniciantes e para o enfrentamento e superação de dificuldades apresentadas por elas no desenvolvimento de suas práticas. Para isso, constituímos um grupo formado por quatro professoras das séries iniciais do Ensino Fundamental em início de carreira. Ao longo de um ano, foram desenvolvidos encontros semanais, gravados e transcritos. Vários registros escritos também foram realizados pelas professoras participantes. Tanto as gravações como os registros foram utilizados como instrumentos de coleta de dados. Os resultados mostram que as professoras em início de carreira enfrentam vários tipos de dificuldade em seu dia-a-dia. O manejo de sala de aula pode ser considerado como o primeiro deles. Observa-se que o grupo trouxe contribuições para a superação de dificuldades enfrentadas, bem como para o desenvolvimento profissional das professoras iniciantes. Trabalhos dessa natureza, entretanto, encontram limitações. A questão do tempo para que o grupo se constitua efetivamente colaborativo representa uma delas (Grossman et al, 2001). No presente estudo, o tempo não nos pareceu suficiente e consideramos que apenas iniciamos o processo. Apesar disso, o grupo realizou um trabalho significativo e configurou-se como uma excelente proposta de programa de desenvolvimento profissional baseado na teorização da prática vivenciada pelas professoras iniciantes em seu dia-a-dia de sala de aula.

abstract: Arizona State University's (ASU) teacher education program has been restructured several times in the last two decades to train teachers to teach children more effectively by responding to their individual needs and learning demands. One of the reasons for restructuring was to respond to new licensing requirements by the State. To serve young children's needs, the state of Arizona required individuals working with young children to obtain either early childhood licensing or endorsement by January, 2009. Responding to these new requirements, ASU now requires student teaching in a preschool setting in addition to the existing Kindergarten to third grade student teaching and internship requirements. This study addressed the question of teacher preparation and self-efficacy based on this newly restructured teaching model used in the ASU Tempe teacher education program. The following questions guided this study: 1) What effects do beginning teachers perceive that their split-student teaching experiences have on their experience as a new teacher; 2) How do beginning teachers' prior schooling, educational, and personal background influence their current teaching; and 3) What role does home, family, and collegial support play as beginning teachers start their teaching career? A qualitative case study research method was utilized in this study. Two face-to-face, in-depth individual interviews and one focus group interview with three second-year and two third-year beginning teachers were utilized to understand their experiences in the program and in their beginning years of teaching. An analysis of interview data revealed beginning teachers' student teaching experiences partially fulfilled their need of having adequate in-classroom experience before starting their teaching careers; yet they highlighted some suggestions for student teaching assignments to better prepare prospective teacher candidates in the program. Moreover, they expressed both satisfaction and dissatisfaction toward courses taken in the program. Their statements also emphasized the importance of having effective mentorship in their student teaching and first year of teaching. Support from administration, experienced colleagues, friends, and family members were also acknowledged as highly valuable as they struggled with issues in their beginning career. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Curriculum and Instruction 2010

La recherche présentée s’intéresse à l’implication des Technologies de l’Information et de la Communication (TIC) dans le développement de l’autoformation des professeurs des écoles stagiaires. Elle s’inscrit dans un double contexte. D’une part, celui de la mise en place de la réforme de la formation initiale des enseignants – la masterisation –, ayant eu cours, en France, de 2010 à 2013. D’autre part, celui des problématiques contemporaines liées à la question des usages du numérique à des fins d’autoformation. Dans cette perspective, ce travail s’appuie sur les données d’entretiens individuels, réalisés auprès de professeurs des écoles stagiaires issus de la masterisation, afin d’explorer leur rapport au métier, au(x) savoir(s) et aux technologies de l’information et de la communication. Il vise à mieux comprendre ce que représente, pour eux, l’autoformation aux et par les TIC et à saisir ce que cela soulève d’enjeux, en termes de construction et de développement professionnel. Il en ressort qu’à la complexité de cette période tout à fait particulière d’entrée dans le métier, s’ajoute aujourd’hui pour les enseignants débutants, celle d’enseigner mais également de se former et de s’autoformer dans un « monde numérique ». Il semble que les potentialités qu’offrent les technologies ne font que renforcer l’importance fondamentale d’une formation initiale solide, passant avant tout par un renforcement des interactions humaines, par un accompagnement éclairé et éclairant des enseignants débutants, leur permettant de développer au plus tôt leurs compétences professionnelles et d’être à même de les faire évoluer tout au long de leur carrière. / The present research treats of the involvement of Information and Communication Technologies in the development of the self-training of to-be primary school teachers. The context in which this research settles is double. Firstly, that of the setting up of the teachers’ training reform – masterisation – which took place in France from 2010 to 2013. Secondly, that of the contemporary problems related to the use of digital technology for self-training. The following work is based on data which was gathered during individual interviews with primary school teacher trainees who originated from masterisation, in order to explore their views on the profession, on the knowledge as well as on Information and Communication Technologies. Its goal is the better understanding of what self-training via ITCs represents for them, and also to bring into light the stakes engendered, in terms of career building and development. What stands out from this, is that the complexity of this rather peculiar pre-teaching phase is doubled by that of teaching and of self-training in a “digital world”. It appears that the infinite possibilities which are offered by these technologies only strengthen the need for a very solid initial training. This implies the reinforcement of human interaction through an enlightened and enlightening guidance for beginning teachers, enabling them to develop all the sooner their professional competence and to continue to make them evolve all along their career.

Submitted by Valquíria Barbieri (kikibarbi@hotmail.com) on 2017-07-31T21:18:56Z No. of bitstreams: 1 _DISS_2014_Mendes Solange Lemes da Silva.pdf: 1455112 bytes, checksum: f0771f1ae1804501aff2b17e9ac154bd (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Jordan (jordanbiblio@gmail.com) on 2017-08-07T16:37:45Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 _DISS_2014_Mendes Solange Lemes da Silva.pdf: 1455112 bytes, checksum: f0771f1ae1804501aff2b17e9ac154bd (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-07T16:37:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 _DISS_2014_Mendes Solange Lemes da Silva.pdf: 1455112 bytes, checksum: f0771f1ae1804501aff2b17e9ac154bd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-09-29 / CAPES / A presente pesquisa está vinculada ao Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação da UFMT (PPGEdu), Campus de Rondonópolis-MT. Volta-se para a investigação das práticas formativas educacionais desenvolvidas por meio da Formação Continuada, com foco na formação do professor iniciante e consiste em uma investigação a partir de projeto aprovado no Observatório da Educação (OBEDUC) pela UFMT/CUR. A investigação desenvolveu-se em uma abordagem qualitativa, adotando como instrumentos a análise documental, questionário e entrevistas. A pesquisa contou com colaboradores, sendo gestores, coordenadores e articuladores da formação das escolas públicas e particulares e, especificamente com seis egressos como professores iniciantes. O estudo objetivou investigar, e compreender as práticas formativas educacionais desenvolvidas por meio da Formação Continuada da SEDUC-MT, SEMED/Roo e de escolas particulares do município de Rondonópolis-MT, em seu trabalho de acolhimento e de assessoramento ao professor egresso da pedagogia e de como estas lhe têm auxiliado para os embates e desafios enfrentados nas experiências iniciais da docência. Para atingir ao objetivo proposto foram adotadas as seguintes questões: que formação tem sido proporcionada aos professores iniciantes em exercício no município de Rondonópolis? Que práticas formativas são contempladas nas propostas de formação aos iniciantes? O que dizem os relatos dos iniciantes a respeito destas práticas formativas? De que forma estas práticas formativas atendem aos iniciantes em suas dificuldades? Os dados coletados durante a pesquisa junto aos colaboradores e sujeitos evidenciaram que as práticas formativas de Formação Continuada das redes estadual e municipal de ensino são oferecidas a todos os profissionais da escola, e não há ainda uma formação com foco no professor iniciante, e, quanto à Formação Continuada das escolas particulares investigadas, de acordo com os depoimentos dos sujeitos, a formação encontra-se adormecida consistindo em apenas encontros para orientação e tira dúvidas. A pesquisa revela, ainda, que, em duas escolas da rede municipal, ocorre um acompanhamento diferenciado, voltado, em específico, para o professor iniciante e isso acontece devido a um projeto de pesquisa do OBEDUC que se desenvolve na escola e que será relatado na pesquisa. / This research is linked to the UFMT Graduate Program in Education (PPGEDU), Campus Rondonópolis. This research turns its view to the analyzes of the educational Formative Practices that have been developed by the Continuing Education, focusing on the training of beginning teachers by the approved project in Education Observatory (OBEDUC). The research was developed in a qualitative approach, adopting as instruments the document analysis, the questionnaire and interviews. The research included partners as managers, coordinators and formation organizers of public and private schools, and specifically six graduates as beginning teachers. This paper intended to investigate and to understand the Formative Practices of SEDUC-MT, of SEMED/Rondonópolis and of two private Rondonópolis schools, in its advisory support to the teacher egress of pedagogy and how it has helped them to the struggles and challenges faced in the initial experiences of teaching. To achieve the proposed goal, the following questions were adopted: Which training has been provided to beginning teachers in exercise in Rondonópolis? Which Formative Practices have been addressed in the proposed training for beginners? What do the reports of novice tell about these Formative Practices? How do these Formative Practices cater to beginners and nourish them to solve their troubles? The data collected during the research with collaborators and subjects of the research showed that the policies of Continuing Education of the state and local school systems are offered to all school professionals, and there is not yet a focus on teacher training with beginner, and as Continuing formation of the private schools investigated, according to the testimony of the subjects, the first one formation lies dormant and at the second one the meetings were evidenced only for guidance and take questions. The survey also reveals that in one of the municipal schools there is a differentiated monitoring, aimed specifically for the novice teacher and it happens.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:38:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissACM.pdf: 1964241 bytes, checksum: d4a4c1a57e76d06bdf0d8fb3e3963e36 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-09-30 / Secretaria da Educação do Estado de São Paulo / This research is about an inquiry of the teachers learning process in the CPV (Curso Pré- Vestibular da Universidade Federal de São Carlos). It aims at analysis of the learning built by the teachers during their practices in CPV, under their own perspective. Thus some elements are being considered, for instance: the scholar history of the seven teachers, their initial formation and context factors making relation with different experiences with the CPV team work. This study relies on educational literature from teachers formation area and indicates the teachers learning occur inside a continuum and through reflection, in and about the teaching, the teachers acquire new knowledge and rebuild their practice. In this perspective, the learning coming from the teacher s experience has an important figure in this context. Based on the data of interview with participants it is possible to observe teachers passing through stabilization process, when they improve and/or modify their teaching strategy to overcome some found difficulties. When they feel more safety about some components of the how to teach , the teachers pass through a process of worry decentralization related with their own performances and actions to focus on students and observing their life s context, difficulties, anguish and comprehensions about what is taught. Teachers begin to re-judge the teaching in accord with the students necessity and the analysis of the life s experience. The group activities that have been done in CPV can develop the reflexive process related with features of the students who frequent the course. Besides, the teachers involve themselves into outclasses areas bringing into relation with the management and organization which characterizes the CPV project. They can be part of a project s coordination group or be a coordinator of their own work area. In this professional formation places, they share with partners their anguish and suggest solutions, there are deals about process, contents and dynamics. / Essa pesquisa trata da investigação do processo de aprendizagem da docência de professores do Curso Pré Vestibular da Universidade Federal de São Carlos (CPV). O estudo tem como objetivo geral a análise das aprendizagens construídas pelos professores no exercício da docência no CPV, sob sua perspectiva. Para tanto, alguns elementos são considerados, como: a história escolar dos sete participantes, sua formação inicial, bem como os fatores de contexto relacionados a diferentes vivências junto à equipe do CPV os quais influenciam nessa aprendizagem. Este estudo apóia-se na literatura educacional da área de formação de professores indicando que a aprendizagem da docência ocorre num continuum e que por meio da reflexão, na e sobre a docência, os professores adquirem novos conhecimentos e reconstroem sua prática. Nesta perspectiva, a aprendizagem advinda da experiência docente ocupa papel de destaque. A partir dos dados obtidos por meio de entrevistas com os participantes, é possível notar que os professores passam por um processo de estabilização, no qual aperfeiçoam e/ou modificam suas estratégias de ensino para a superação de algumas dificuldades encontradas. Ao se sentirem mais seguros quanto a alguns elementos que compõem o como ensinar, os professores passam por um processo de descentralização de suas preocupações em relação a suas próprias performances e ações para focalizarem seus alunos observando seu contexto de vida, suas dificuldades, anseios e compreensões sobre o que é ensinado. Passam a reconceituar o ensino de acordo com essas demandas dos alunos e a análise da experiência vivida.As atividades em grupo desenvolvidas no CPV possibilitam o desenvolvimento de processos reflexivos ligados às características dos alunos que freqüentam o curso. Além disso, os professores envolvem-se em espaços que extrapolam o âmbito da sala de aula, tendo em vista a forma de gestão e organização que caracterizam o projeto, seja fazendo parte do grupo coordenador ou como coordenadores de suas áreas de atuação. Nesses espaços de formação profissional no local de trabalho, compartilham com os pares seus anseios e propõem soluções, havendo negociações de processos, conteúdos e dinâmicas.

Para inúmeros professores, o início da docência se revela como um momento de descobertas sobre o universo escolar a partir das vivências de novas realidades e inúmeros desafios. Para os professores iniciantes, a inserção na sala de aula e as primeiras relações estabelecidas com as crianças, professores e outros atores presentes na escola, trazem impressões que descortinam a complexidade do início da docência. Partindo dessas considerações, a pesquisa, de natureza qualitativa, teve como objetivo identificar as impressões sobre o início da docência e contextos vivenciados por 10 alunas bolsistas do Programa Institucional de Bolsa de Iniciação à Docência (PIBID), que se inseriram no cotidiano escolar de turmas dos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental em duas escolas da rede municipal de ensino em Poços de Caldas (MG). Na revisão de literatura, foram estudados os assuntos: professores iniciantes e PIBID. Os estudos sobre os professores iniciantes, ainda escassos no Brasil, pautaram-se, principalmente, nos textos de Simon Veenman, Michael Huberman, Carlos Marcelo García e Maria Regina Guarnieri. No que se refere ao PIBID, são apresentadas informações sobre os dispositivos legais e a amplitude do programa, sendo detalhado o processo de implantação e desenvolvimento do subprojeto PIBID pelos sujeitos da pesquisa. A identificação das impressões sobre o início da docência e seus contextos, ocorreu a partir da realização de duas entrevistas com as alunas, e a análise das anotações de campo por elas registradas ao longo de seis meses, além de depoimentos escritos. A partir da análise desse material, entende-se que o PIBID deve ser considerado um importante programa de apoio e acompanhamento para estudantes que se propõem à docência, bem como propicia uma aproximação efetiva entre as escolas e a universidade. Em relação às impressões sobre o início da docência e os contextos apresentados pelas alunas, entende-se que elas vivenciaram momentos de encantos e desencantos, posicionando-se como professoras a partir das relações de afeto estabelecidas com as crianças. E, nesse momento inicial, suas principais referências foram as professoras que as acompanharam nas salas de aula, tanto professoras iniciantes quanto experientes, culminando na constituição de ações docentes pautadas, principalmente, como respostas às urgências das salas de aula. / For a number of teachers, beginning to teach reveals itself as a moment of discoveries about the school world, arising from the experience of new realities and countless challenges. For a beginner, entering the classroom and the first relationships with children, other teachers and actors present in the school bring impressions that reveal the complexity of early teaching. Based on these assumptions, my qualitative research had the purpose of identifying the impressions of early teaching and the context experienced by 10 of PIBID (Institutional Program of Scholarships for Early Teaching) female scholarship holders, who participated in the school´s everyday life of classes in the early grades of elementary teaching in two municipal schools in the city of Poços de Caldas (MG). By reviewing the literature, the following topics were covered: beginner teachers and PIBID. The studies on beginner teachers, still scarce in Brazil, were based mainly on the texts by Simon Veenman, Carlos Marcelo Garcia, and Maria Regina Guarnieri. As far as PIBID is concerned, information such as the legal devices, the program´s scope, and details about the process of implementing and developing the PIBID subproject by the individuals being researched are provided. The identification of the impressions of early teaching and its contexts took place by means of two interviews with the students, and the subsequent analysis of field notes that they took over a period of six months, in addition to written testimonials. Based on such materials, I understand that PIBID must be considered an important program to support and also that the follow-up of students who intend to be teachers must be done, as it provides an effective approach between schools and the university. In relation to the impressions of the early teaching and contexts presented by the female students, I understand that they have experienced moments of enchantment and disenchantment in early teaching, taking a standpoint as teachers based on the relationships of affection they were able to build with the children. At this early stage, their main references were the female teachers that did the follow-up their activities in the classrooms, both beginner and experienced teachers, culminating in the development of teaching actions taken mainly as responses to the urgent needs of a classroom.

Ce travail s’inscrit dans la lignée des recherches portant sur la professionnalité des enseignants. Nous nous intéressons plus particulièrement à l’activité langagière des débutants. L’hypothèse centrale est qu’il est possible d’identifier, au sein du discours des enseignants en interaction avec leurs élèves, des indices de leur développement professionnel. Le cadre théorique croise les apports de la didactique professionnelle avec ceux de la pragmatique du langage et de la théorie interactionniste linguistique. Replacé dans un contexte didactique, nous envisageons le langage comme premier instrument stratégique pour enseigner et nous nous situons dans une approche instrumentée de l’activité enseignante. Nous avons mené une enquête ergonomique auprès de trois néo-titulaires, à partir de vidéos réalisées au cours de séances de mathématiques et d’entretiens d’auto-confrontation. Les interactions langagières entre les enseignantes et leurs élèves ont été analysées quantitativement et qualitativement, en relation avec l’identification de fonctions pédago-didactiques. Les résultats caractérisent des savoir-agir-langagiers-professionnels, révélateurs de la professionnalité et du développement professionnel de chacune des enseignantes enquêtées. / This work takes place within a line of research regarding teachers’ professionalism. We are looking particularly at the language activity of beginners. The central hypothesis is that it is possible to identify, within teachers’ conversations as they interact with pupils, clues regarding their professional development. The theoretical framework links the contributions made by professional didactics with those of language pragmatic and interactional linguistic theory. Set within a didactical context, we consider language as the first strategical tool to teach and we are placed within an approach orchestrated by teacher activity. We lead an ergonomic investigation alongside three newly qualified teachers, from videos shot during mathematics lessons and from self- confrontation interviews. Language interactions between teachers and their students have been analysed qualitatively and quantitatively, in relation with the identification of pedago-didactic functions. Results highlight professional language know-hows, revealing of the professionalism and the professional development of each of the teachers investigated.

In this workshop we present an innovative teaching, learning and research setting that engages beginning teachers in mathematical inquiry as they investigate, represent and connect mathematical ideas through mathematical conversation, reasoning and argument. This workshop connects to the themes of teacher preparation and teaching through problem solving. Drawing on new paradigms to think about teaching and learning, we orient our work within complexity theory (Davis & Sumara, 2006; Holland, 1998; Johnson, 2001; Maturana & Varela, 1987; Varela, Thompson & Rosch, 1991) to understand teaching|learning as a complex iterative process through which opportunities for learning arise out of dynamic interactions. Varela, Thompson and Rosch, (1991) use the term co-emergence to understand how the individual and the environment inform each other and are “bound together in reciprocal specification and selection” (p.174). In particular we are interested in the conditions that enable the co-emergence of teaching|learning collectives that support the generation of new mathematical and pedagogical ideas and understandings. The setting is a one-week summer math program designed for prospective elementary teachers to deepen particular mathematical concepts taught in elementary school. The program is facilitated by recently graduated secondary mathematics teachers to provide them an opportunity to experience mathematics teaching|learning through rich problems. The data collected include questionnaires, interviews, and video recordings. Our analyses show that many a-ha moments of mathematical and pedagogical insight are experienced by both groups as they work together throughout the week. In this workshop we will actively engage the audience in an exploration of the mathematics problems that we pose in this unique teaching|learning environment. We will present our data on the participants’ mathematical and pedagogical responses and open a discussion of the implications of our work.

Students with disabilities need properly trained educators. The capacity of teachers to affect student learning is contingent upon the preparation they receive. Attitudes and feelings of preparedness to work with students with disabilities expressed by teachers indicate that their training is inadequate. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore preservice and beginning teachers’ attitudes and feelings of preparedness to work with students with disabilities. Participants included preservice teachers who were just beginning their teacher education program (Phase 1), student teachers (Phase 2), and practicing teachers (Phase 3) who had been enrolled in either undergraduate or graduate initial licensure teacher preparation programs at East Tennessee State University. A three-part survey containing both closed and open-ended items, including the Opinions Relative to the Integration of Students with Disabilities (ORI) scale, was used for data collection. Quantitative findings in this study were mixed or inconclusive. Some significant differences were found in overall ORI scores and subscale scores based on 1) the phase of training for undergraduates, 2) program levels (undergraduates and graduates), 3) type of teacher certification, and 4) the existence of relationships with persons with disabilities. No differences in attitude were found for any program-related teaching experiences with persons with disabilities. When combined with qualitative analysis, the study revealed a collection of disconnects that provided insight into the preparation of teachers. Disconnects were noted between expressed attitudes and feelings of preparedness; feelings of preparedness and program benefit; teacher preparation and teacher practice; and expressed value and need for more field experiences and the impact of program-related teaching experiences on attitudes and feelings of preparedness. Themes involving personal relationships, the expectancy to collaborate and learn through ongoing experience, and the limited focus on students with disabilities throughout the teacher education programs provided clues to factors that might potentially impact feelings of preparedness to work with students with disabilities.

Mentoring is a common element of new teacher induction aimed at easing beginning teachers' entry into the profession and assisting beginning teacher growth and development. Previous research has shown that mentors are comfortable supporting beginning teachers but are reluctant to provide challenge-activities that will help beginning teachers improve their practice. For optimal growth to occur, mentors should balance support and challenge in their work with beginning teachers. This descriptive study employed multiple cases to examine the relationship of two junior high school mentors with their mentees. The mentors in this study work in a school district with an established and highly supportive mentoring program. Each mentor has received extensive preparation and ongoing support for their mentoring efforts. The purpose of this study was to examine how mentors balanced support and challenge in order to assist their mentees' growth. The relationships of two mentors, working with two beginning teachers each, were examined for elements of support and challenge as well as the ways in which the mentors and mentees positioned each other and were positioned. The mentors in this study strongly favored challenge over support in their interactions with their mentees. Although there were many similarities among the mentoring activities and conversations with the beginning teachers, each mentor had her own mentoring style and adapted their mentoring to meet the needs of the individual beginning teachers with whom she worked. One might expect challenge to be critical or negative, but the challenge found in this study was more nuanced and complex. The nurturing challenge found in this study was paired with support in such a way that the beginning teachers were not overwhelmed by the feedback they received. While the institutional expectations of mentors influenced how they positioned themselves in relation to the mentees, mentors also attempted to position mentees in a position of power within their own classrooms and with respect to their own development as beginning teachers. While at times both mentors and mentees resisted being in the position of dominance, for a majority of the interactions both parties accepted the institutional positions prescribed by the district program.