ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the forms mentoring can take and discusses why having a strong mentor or mentorship network is so important to the success of new English teachers. It provides an example of what mentoring can look like in practice, and examines some key recommendations to help us work effectively with mentors. The chapter looks at three possible kinds of mentors we might encounter as a new teacher and their similarities and differences: assigned mentors, naturally developing mentors, and online mentoring communities. It also look closely at three ways mentoring can improve the experiences and effectiveness of new teachers, examining how mentors can: help teachers feel part of a community, provide instructional ideas, and offer guidance with managing time. The chapter looks at the mentoring process in action by considering experiences requesting and acting on advice from mentorship network as a first-year English teacher.
