Beginning teachers in periphery schools: challenges of “survival” in the classroom

Abstract

The beginning of the teaching practice is a phase of utmost importance for the constitution of the teacher's identity and it generally presents itself as being full of challenges. This article presents the results of a research that analyzed the main difficulties of the initial years of teaching, from the point of view of novice teachers teaching for the Municipality of Duque de Caxias (Brazil), complemented with testimonies of the pedagogical team. Concepts such as "Reality Shock" and "Professional Development" gave theoretical support to the research. The methodology included analysis of documents, questionnaires and interviews. The results made it possible to identify general challenges related to student learning, such as the work with literacy classes, students from integration programmes, difficulties in dealing with the diversity present in the classroom and also with the structural conditions of the system. The research made it possible to raise important aspects to be considered for in-service training, as well as reinforcing the need for integration policies for these teachers.