Teacher–mentor competences to accompany novice teachers

Abstract

The actual conception of teachers professional development includes as a whole an initial training, support while joining the school and permanent formation. This article examines the second link of such chain, the support needed during the adaptation process of beginners teachers, more specifically in the modality of “mentoring”, in which the support is provided by a more experienced teacher and not by an internal or external adviser with a different professional profile. 

After defining the concept and the general mentoring process and its possibilities for the adequate insertion in the educational profession and, in consequence, to enhance the quality of teaching, we would focus in analyzing the basic skills and competences that the experienced teacher must have to be a mentor, from the logic that discourages to think that any teacher can be a good mentor and considering the common parameters that currently affect any educational, formative or guiding activity.