My heart goes out to new teachers. I remember those days of thinking to myself: "what in the world am I doing?" I was teaching Spanish I in Texas and I had mixed classes of students who had been speaking Spanish their whole lives and some who weren't really for sure what an enchilada was or how to say it. It was interesting! Here are some tips for you new teachers to help you with your first month of teaching.
1. Always write your lesson plans for the week in pencil (remember that you should always be reflecting as to how your students are learning to speed up or slow down the course). Always sign up for the computer lab in pen. *Try to sign up for the computer lab at least a week early.
2. Determine in the beginning of the year which rules you really want to never be broken and stick to your guns. I do not let students talk negatively about anyone in my class or say unprofessional words and I don't like tardies. These are very important to me. Students need stability. They don't do well when you change the rules in the middle of the game.
3. Don't try to grade every single thing students put their names on. Figure out a system in which they can peer edit or assign a completion grade to some things.
4. Always stay positive and try to find other positive teachers. You'll find the negative nellies pretty soon. Avoid those.
5. If there is another teacher that teaches the same subject as you, try to do everything the same. Don't risk being compared.
6. The first thing my mother-in-law taught me was the school secretary is your best friend. Bring her/him cookies or appreciation gifts. They really run the school and if they don't like you....well, just avoid that.
7. Don't procrastinate! Do as much as you can in advance.
8. Be real and authentic with students. They can always smell a fake. I also try to treat them with respect like I would like to be treated as. I never call them "kids."
9. Learn technology. With the changing times, you just can't afford to teach like your grandma did. You'll lose your job.
10. Find a great blog (like this one!) to read that will encourage you and teach you new things. However: only try one new thing at a time!
1. Always write your lesson plans for the week in pencil (remember that you should always be reflecting as to how your students are learning to speed up or slow down the course). Always sign up for the computer lab in pen. *Try to sign up for the computer lab at least a week early.
2. Determine in the beginning of the year which rules you really want to never be broken and stick to your guns. I do not let students talk negatively about anyone in my class or say unprofessional words and I don't like tardies. These are very important to me. Students need stability. They don't do well when you change the rules in the middle of the game.
3. Don't try to grade every single thing students put their names on. Figure out a system in which they can peer edit or assign a completion grade to some things.
4. Always stay positive and try to find other positive teachers. You'll find the negative nellies pretty soon. Avoid those.
5. If there is another teacher that teaches the same subject as you, try to do everything the same. Don't risk being compared.
6. The first thing my mother-in-law taught me was the school secretary is your best friend. Bring her/him cookies or appreciation gifts. They really run the school and if they don't like you....well, just avoid that.
7. Don't procrastinate! Do as much as you can in advance.
8. Be real and authentic with students. They can always smell a fake. I also try to treat them with respect like I would like to be treated as. I never call them "kids."
9. Learn technology. With the changing times, you just can't afford to teach like your grandma did. You'll lose your job.
10. Find a great blog (like this one!) to read that will encourage you and teach you new things. However: only try one new thing at a time!