The Fourth and final cycle of the mentoring and induction program focuses on your being able to assess your development in content knowledge and pedagogical skills. You will first analyze your current development and then select an area for growth for the remainder of the year. As this is a professional development requirement, sites may have designed the experiences for you to develop skills and knowledge aligned to the site needs. These may include book studies, lesson study, action research, and other topics. Some sites may not have a formal structure or focus and you will be asked to submit your plan to the lead mentor for review. You cannot be required to select things, such as course work, that would require you to pay for the experience. You are required to submit 30 hours of documented work in the area selected.
Step One: Review Cycle of Growth and Words of Wisdom before you start your analysis
Step Two: Follow the instructions on the Analysis of Content Knowledge Form to complete your analysis of content knowledge
Step Three: Follow the instruction on the Analysis of Pedagogy Form to analyze your pedagogical development
Step Four: Formulate your plan for the required 30 hours and complete the Checklist for Plan Form. Submit a copy of the plan to your designated lead mentor for review.
Step Five: Implement your plan for the 30 hours required.
Step Six: Complete your tentative plan for professional development over the next five years on the PD 90 Clock Hours Form and submit a copy to your designated lead mentor.
Documentation of Cycle Four Completion
You will be issued a certificate of completion for Cycle Four which must be kept for a period of three years.
Please place the following items in your portfolio:
- Analysis of Content Form
- Analysis for Pedagogy Plan
- Plan Checklist for the Year
- Tentative PD Plan
- Certificate for Cycle Four
Click on link for access to the following: Initial Phase / Cycle One / Cycle Two / Cycle Three / Cycle Four
Important Information
*** If you move to another district/charter school during the period of time when you hold an initial license, you are required to present the specified documents related to each of the four cycles. Failure to provide the documentation for each cycle may result in your not securing a teaching position or being required to repeat some or all of the cycle.
Please verify with your mentor that you are moving through the correct path of evaluation. You are to receive a summative evaluation at the end of each year during your three years on the initial license. A lesson analysis is not a summative evaluation. In the event that your administrator does not provide you with a summative evaluation at the end of each year you should notify your site coordinator immediately.
After the first year of teaching the new teacher’s portfolio should contain copies of his/her summative DPAS II evaluations. Teachers moving from the initial license to a continuing license must have proof of two successful summative evaluations. Failure to have this part of the program completed may result in a required extension of the initial license or the inability to secure a continuing license.
Applying to be an administrator- To be eligible to become an administrator in Delaware one must have a minimum of three years of teaching experience. This means that you would have to have been successful in the mentoring program which is a requirement during your three initial years.