Issues of Professional Adaptation in Young Teachers

The article discusses some issues of professional adaptation in young teachers. Basing on the outcomes of the questionnaire completed both by young and experienced teachers (490 subjects) in 6 districts of the Russian Federation and on the interviews conducted with school administrators the authors explore the challenges that young teachers face in their work, the kinds of support they receive, and the extent of their satisfaction with the existing system of professional adaptation. Among the most frequently reported were difficulties with paperwork, problems with capturing students’ attention, difficulties in applying individual approach in education. Currently, the practices of support of young teachers in schools cannot be considered sufficient enough in terms of ensuring high levels of adaptation. However, young teachers generally appreciate the support they receive, especially the assistance and guidance they get from their more experienced colleagues.