Efficacy Development in New Teacher Study Groups

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the experiences and learning of five new teachers with less than three years in the classroom as they engaged in a study group. This research highlights the ways that participation in a study group enhanced teacher efficacy and supported their retention.The research reveals that power and authority over classroom decisions, lack of support from administration and frustration with autonomy of curriculum issues hindered the development of a positive teacher efficacy. When framed in a more positive light within a study group setting the changes to teacher efficacy enabled the study groupparticipants to be more proactive for their own personal and professional needs.Implications for supporting new teachers through opportunities to participate in a studygroup format are discussed. The result of this work is a contribution to the effects ofteacher efficacy and the power of collaboration in a study group setting for new teachers.