The beginning of the teaching career

challenges and learning of being a teacher

Abstract

This study aims to identify how the process of the beginning of the teaching career of the research individuals unfolds, highlighting the challenges and the learning teaching processes. For the methodology, the ethnomethodological perspective understood as the Social Theory which uses the ethnomethods and are procedures built by the social subject in their daily lives and it is used as a research tool, the Narrative Interview and the Participant Observation procedure. The data have revealed two existing phases during the early years of career – exploration and stabilisation – they're both experienced by the beginner in the period corresponding to one up to six years of professional activities. In the first phase of exploration which corresponds to one to three years of career, the beginning teachers have experienced numerous challenges and reality Shock. In the second phase of stabilization which covers between four to six years of their career, the new teachers have highlighted a growing professional autonomy and learning from teaching. Therefore, during the beginning process of career, some actions are necessary to welcome new teachers such as: amount of work that doesn’t overwhelm the teacher; management, the pedagogical coordination and experienced teachers’ support and final commitment on the part of the institution.