Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Standard 5
Standard 5 emphasizes that mentors support beginning teachers to reflect on their practice. As part of Standard 5 training, mentors reflected on the first weeks as a new teacher, specifically things that they wish they would have known. Each mentor made a list of things that they wish they would have known and what would have helped. After comparing your list with the BT Calendar of Needs, develop and post the 5 most important things that you believe a BT should know during their first year.
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Blog: Standard 5: The most important things a Beginning Teacher should know during their first year.
ReplyDeleteHaving taught for many years I have learned many things that I feel are important for a BT, especially during their first year. The first thing for all beginning teachers to recognize is that they should always conduct themselves as a role model at school as well as away from school. They should always think about how it looks or sounds around the students and how it would play on the 6 o’clock news, before they do anything that might be construed as inappropriate. Secondly, they should be prepared each day by dressing as a professional and having a consistent discipline plan that the students understand along with lesson plans backed by the SCS that will excite and motivate their students. The teacher should try to meet the students each day at the door with a smile as they come into the classroom. This small gesture can help set the stage for the beginning of a great day and week. Next, the BT should have their room organized so that all desks, shelves, and cabinets in the room are arranged so that each student can be seen from the teacher’s desk regardless of the location of the student. Also, in the event of the teacher’s absence, the BT should have clear Emergency Lesson Plans that can be carried out by the substitute and easy for the students to understand. The BT should try to attend some after school functions to watch their students in action away from academics. This time and interest will help the new teacher connect with some of their students. Next, it is imperative that the BT know what their principal’s goals are and strive to meet those expectations. Along with being organized, each BT should have a big calendar to write down important dates so they will know what is taking place each day within the school. Lastly, the BT must make plans on how they will manage their daily stress and take the necessary steps each day to care for themselves so teaching can continue to be exciting through out their career.
Danny Brown WAMS
Standard 5: The most important things that beginning teachers should know during their first year.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many important items for beginning teachers to juggle and master quickly for the success of students! I believe that discipline and classroom management techniques must be among the most important to become proficient at quickly so quality lessons can actually happen on a daily basis versus simply managing the class. I also believe that preparation and detailed lesson planning are essential to any first year teacher's success. The idea is to overplan until one really gets a feel for the amount of information and activities that can be accomplished in 1 1/2 hour block. We are currently in our "disillusinment" phase of first year teaching at ACHS. Coming to school each day with a positive attitude and remembering that each day is a fresh start is so important this time of year. This is especially true when we have dealt with behavior issues with the same students for about 13 weeks now. It is equally important for beginning teachers to always conduct themselves in a professional manner. This would include dress, being on time and returning phone calls, email, etc. in a timely fashion, dealing with parents and the many other ways that we perform our duties in a professional manner. Finally, I think it is most important to the longevity of a beginning teacher in this profession to find balance in their lives. Education can be an all consuming profession if you allow it to be. It is critical to find outlets such as church, time away from school with hobbies, friends and family to help teachers manage the daily stressors of education.
Wishes to Reality:
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost, I wish that I had been more familiar with the age level of students I had my first year teaching, as well as, knowledge of their backgrounds and living conditions. I had these visions of a perfect classroom where the children always listened and did as I told them and had parents who always respected me and backed me up on whatever I said or did. This was NOT realistic. I thought that I could handle having an older group of kids rather than the five year olds I was trained to work with. I would suggest that new teachers be pickier about the type of school and grade level to which they accept a position. Schools are fighting to get good teachers and they should wait until they find one that is the perfect fit.
Discipline was the teaching standard I had the most trouble with. My mentor helped me as much as possible and observed me quite often. In fact, I was observed a total of 10 times that year by my mentor, the principal, Observer-Evaluators, and a college professor! The college professor stated at the end-of-the-year observation that she couldn’t believe it was the same class she saw at the beginning of the school year.
I helped me a great deal to work with teachers who were in my same grade level. They assisted me with planning and the curriculum. Coming from a kindergarten student-teaching experience, I was unsure of what skills my students should have been able to master. I was very tough on grading and expected grammar, punctuation, and spelling to be perfect. Again, I had no knowledge of this grade level of child! It is very important for a new teacher to feel comfortable with their grade level in order to lead a productive class. There are a lot of things I would do differently given the chance to start my teaching career over. To summarize, I would say that the five most important areas a beginning teacher should mainly focus on are 1) Discipline and classroom management-you cannot be an effective teacher without it! 2) Know the curriculum and timeline for teaching skills in your grade level-use report cards, benchmarks, EOG examples, etc. to plan the year. 3) Know the principal’s expectations-talk to your mentor about the characteristics of your administrator, including what he/she is especially picky about, be it tardiness, behavior management, test scores, etc. 4) Be familiar with the school and district policies-these are printed online and in handbooks…READ THEM! 5) Know what duties, paperwork, etc. that you are responsible for. If your mentor is not in the same grade level or teaching area, have her help you find a “buddy” who is. They are the ones with experience in what you are teaching. And lastly, DON’T GIVE UP! It WILL get better!
Reflecting on my beginning years, I remember so many issues that BTs face. One I remember all to well is when I had planned and set up a lab that took hours. I was so excited about how much my students were going to love the activity and how much they were going to learn. However, when I did the lab with the students it totally flopped. Nothing worked right and the student complained that “this is stupid” and “why in the world did we do this?”. I really internalized their criticisms and felt like the worse teacher ever. I now know that sometimes even the best plans do not work out in a classroom. As matter of fact, lessons have to be adapted from class to class. Learn from your failures and draw wisdom and strength from them. Don’t take them to heart. Don’t be too hard on yourself. You are only human and we mess up but the test of real growth involves reflecting and making changes.
ReplyDeleteAnother issue is behavior and time management. I would observe my mentor and she had practically no behavior problems. Even though she was wonderful and would give me insight to help with mine, I felt like I was failing when it came to classroom management. It took me many years to realize that it is not an event but a development. No one goes into the classroom and does everything right. As a matter of fact, I would say that no teacher ever does everything right. We learn from year to year, class to class. I tell my mentee if he could teach biology one time and do it as well or better than me (who has taught it about 90 times) what does that say about me?
Finally, the last thing that BTs should know is that most beginning teachers feel overwhelmed, exhausted, terrible, etc. at some point. This is unfortunate but true. This too shall pass! It is part of growing into a teacher who has confidence, good classroom management, knows their curriculum, can relate to students, and maximizes learning for all students. Be patient you are a work in progress!
When I reflect back to my first year (years), I wish I would have known- (or I would like to share):
ReplyDelete1. There will be days when you wonder "Why am I here?" You will question why you ever entered the profession, you may even find yourself on the floor of your classroom crying after school once or twice. THIS IS OK...and NORMAL. :)
2. Be careful to spend your time around other educators who are POSITIVE...negative people will impact you in a negative way- and in turn, they will impact your classroom in a negative manner.
3. SHARE MATERIALS....A few great veteran teachers shared and collaborated with me during my first years- go out and seek information from thoese veteran teachers. Ask them for help, advice, and materials.... and one day, when you become the veteran, doi likewise.
4. Be prepared for parents. Make positive contact early- and call home for issues as well. Don't rely on the office staff or administration to handle your classroom... YOU handle it first- it will grow you as a teacher and a leader in your classroom and it will also grow the support system between parent and teacher...a lifeline at times to reach and impact students.
5. LEAVE THE BUILDING...(after schools hours, of course) :) While teachers do devote much time to their students, it is also so very important to spend time with family and in doing things outside of school. This will refresh and revitalize you and your job! Don't become covered up in the work or worry...you have to find perspective.
I think that there is not much more to say. This is so true and should be sent to every new teacher. Well said!
DeleteJennifer M.
As has been stated there are so many things to know but here are my five. The first thing is to know is that you will be there for them no matter what happens. Given that you are their chief support, they should know to be prepared. I try to give comfort that they will be successful, and they will be. We should prepare them for the year and they should know that to be successful, they have to be prepared for each day including county policy handbook, emergency plans, and school policies/expectations. One can be pretty sure of the trials that new teachers go through and I think to tell them beforehand is important as when they begin to feel overwhelmed, they will believe you when you tell them it will get better, much better in time. They can’t be prepared for every possibility, but having a plan will decrease some stress. The mentee should know to have a discipline plan/classroom management plan and it is a priority as well. Once established, occasional monitoring by the mentor and adjustments made as needed and to know the mentor is always available to talk. I feel like having positive relationships with the staff is really one of the most important aspects. I want my mentees to know the players so to speak, especially those staff members the mentee will/may need during the year. I spend time talking about how to build relationships with teachers as a process because we all need others on occasions. I also think they should know what they teach. It is simply basic to teaching. In addition, they should know they will have to search for additional information for helping students with understanding, and perhaps research ways/ask people to reach students having difficulty. These “tools” will be added to their repertoire of strategies. Lastly as a bonus, knowing your administrators is important. Taking the opportunity to visit with them, elicit their expertise and expectations, and inviting them to class I think is something they should do. It will relieve the stress of observations, which should be a learning opportunity rather than a stressful event.
ReplyDeleteNIKKI ICARD
ReplyDeleteThe five most important things to know during your first year of teaching:
1. Do not let work consume your life. You must have a personal life and make time for yourself!
2. Don't be scared to ask for help. You aren't responsible for knowing everything and you shouldn't.
3. Be willing to try new things. Some things will work and some will not. The things that don't work doesn't mean you are a bad teacher. It just means that it needs to be revamped and tried a second time.
4. Make the students feel comfortable enough they can talk to you, but not that you are their best friend. There is a very distinct difference that can be hard to create boundaries for.
5. Be as strict as possible in the beginning. It is a lot easier to let up if you need to as the year progresses than it is to do the reverse.
Standard 5 reflection:
ReplyDelete1. Remember why you’re here. I recall the first few weeks of teaching to be the MOST DIFFICULT thing I’d ever done—physically, mentally & emotionally. If I had not remembered why I was here, I never would have made it to year 2.
2. Go home. I still struggle with this aspect of my job, but you have to leave your work at work so that you can enjoy your life. If you aren’t at your best personally, it’s hard to be your best professionally.
3. Stand your ground. If you threaten to send a student to the office if they do “X” one more time….then send them to the office. Make sure they know you follow through on your words.
4. Parents: Be firm, kind & realistic. Don’t sugar coat things to keep things smooth, but always say something positive about the student.
5. Remember no matter how annoying or irritating they can be—the students need you and want you to love them. At least once a week, I get a request from a high school student for a BANDAID (not just ec students either!). At first I laughed about this, but then I realized they wanted me to notice they needed me—needed someone to comfort and pay them attention.
~Erin Lewis, ACHS
The five most important things to know during your first year of teaching:
ReplyDelete1. Yes, it is okay to love your job. It is okay to be excited about getting up and coming to school. Do not get caught up in someone else's negativity. It is okay to look at Mrs. Sourpuss and say, "I am sorry you don't like your job. I LOVE MINE!!!"
2. You are employed by Alexander County Schools, but you work for your students. You are here for the students. Always put them first.
3. Stand up for yourself. Just because you are a BT does not mean other teachers can take advantage of you and push their work or students off on you. It is YOUR classroom!
4. Leave school at school. Don't save up stuff to take home if you can at all avoid it. You need that release from school. You need to have some YOU time.
5. It is okay to cry. It is okay to be passionate and scared. If you have both of these, you are in the right profession.
Reflecting back to my first year is difficult as this is year 30, but I do remember some of the trying and some of the rewarding things.
ReplyDelete1. Discipline in the classroom is THE most important thing not only for teaching, but for peace of mind and sanity.
2. Time Management is a crucial. I often asked veteran teachers how they were able to leave on time and without papers to grade and work to take home. The best advice I got was: don’t grade everything, let students grade some things, and don’t take it home with you.
3. Don’t re-invent the wheel. Veteran teachers willing share materials and advice. Later, tweak the material to suit your needs and style.
4. Be professional in every way: be organized, be prompt, be prepared, be professionally dressed, and be respectful to colleagues, administrators, parents, and students.
5. Be involved in your school. Take time to attend outside events, sponsor a club, or just be part of what goes on outside the classroom. The atmosphere around a school can be invigorating.
Ask for help and don’t assume that you know the answer to all of the questions.
ReplyDeleteLet the students know from day 1what you expect of them. Don’t start off too laid back wanting students to “like” you. You are in the profession to educate, not to make friends. On the flipside, you don’t want to come across as unapproachable. Soon you will be able to find the happy medium.
Every assignment that is given does NOT have to be taken for a grade.
Be flexible. Too many times I have assumed that students understood a lesson and would be able to successfully complete their homework. However, when the students arrived the following day, I quickly found out that they did not fully understand the material and I had to back-up and punt again! I believe that with every year I teach I become more flexible (not to schedule changes) but to the students readiness to move onto the next topic.
Do not let school consume you! Someone else posted (and I liked)…. leave school at school! Easier said than done, I know!
- Allyson Barnes
1. Classroom management is of utmost importance. Look to others for guidance in this area...observe veteran teachers!
ReplyDelete2. Ask for help when needed!! Collaborate with your teammates, do not isolate yourself.
3. Research the hidden rules of the school:)
4. Plan in advance, but be flexible when something changes!
5. Differentiate-know that every child is unique and needs individualized instruction!
1. Classroom Management- The BT should get handle on this first and foremost. Observe other teachers!!!!
ReplyDelete2. Don't ever be afraid to ask for help. We should all be team players. We may not know the all the answers but we can sure find out! OH and it also makes planning so much easier!
3. Be well planned! But do remember to be flexible. Plans can change all the time in an elementary school! :)
4. Always put kids first! They are all unique and don't forget to differentiate.
5.Find out Hidden Rules in your school. THese can be overwhelming!!
1. In order to teach, you must have control over your classroom. Establish a set of classroom rules to guide the behavior of your students. Discuss the rationale of the rules with your students to ensure they understand and see the need for each rule. Try to keep the list of rules short.
ReplyDelete2. Be firm and consistent. You can be firm yet still be supportive and friendly with your students. A firm teacher
can still provide an environment where the students feel safe and secure.
3. Approach every day as a fresh start, both for yourself and your students.
4. Find something to love about every single student in your class, no matter how tough that may be!
5. Have an outlet to relieve stress that is completely unrelated to teaching. It's easy to become consumed by your job, but try to make time to do something fun. Burnout is real, so a balance of work and fun can help you keep your sanity!
5 Most Important Things a Beginning Teacher Should Know During the First Year:
ReplyDelete1. Set up a good classroom management system and be consistent in implementing it.
2. Be well prepared and organized. Have your plans made at least a week in advance and make sure you have all of the materials ready for the lessons.
3. Be flexible. There are many things that come up throughout the school day and you have to be able to adjust.
4. Keep a calendar and carry it with you. There are lots of professional development meetings, new teacher meetings, IEP meetings, staff meetings, etc. Keeping a calendar and knowing what has been planned is essential.
5. Take an interest in your students and incorporate what you learn about them in your lessons. The students shine when you've included something about them when you are doing math, spelling, etc.
5 Most Important Things a Beginning Teacher Should Know During the First Year:
ReplyDelete1. Never smile before Christmas - It's easier to be nicer as you go than it is to be meaner.
2. Get familiar with who your students really are and where they come from. Don't go by your own assumptions and your preceived reality of who they should be.
3. Get familiar with the 'hidden rules' within your school and your county.
4. Be firm in your consequences. If you say you are going to call a parent or send home letter, DO IT!!!
5. Share your thoughts and materials and be willing to receive them as well. While you have great ideas from your college days, the more seasoned teachers has tried and true practices that have worked for many years.
1. You will make mistakes and its OKAY! Take time to reflect on what happened and how you can make it better in the future, feel bad or sad for a few minutes, and then MOVE ON! Don't get bogged down with your mistakes.
ReplyDelete2. Ask for help. Ask your mentor - he or she is not a mind reader. Ask your principal. Ask co-teachers. Listen to what they say and determine if it is applicable to your problem or situation.
3. Become a team player. Try to plan with others when possible. Share your knowledge and resources with others and accept their ideas and resources in turn.
4. Do not expect parents to be on your side. Make as many positive contacts as you can early in the year and do your best to maintain constructive relationships. DO NOT STRESS IF YOU MAKE A PARENT ANGRY. This is something I really struggled with - I wanted everyone to like me (and still do but have accepted that not all will). Do your best to be patient and listen to their concerns. If you are doing your job appropriately it will all come out in the wash.
5. Remember that this is a job and a calling. While it impossible to get it all done in the hours they pay us for, you cannot let it consume your life. Take time for yourself or you will burn out before your flame really gets started!
Standard 5
ReplyDeleteDevelop and post the 5 most important things that you believe a BT should know during their first year.
Do not fall into the assumption that everyone should behave like you did, its not going to happen! You are going to have a huge range of student’s and a lot are not coming from a background like you had.
Be consistent in your discipline and make your expectations aware to your class.
Don’t try to conquer the world in your first year of teaching. You will always be learning as an educator. Take things in steps just make sure your steps are done correctly.
Make parent contacts and incorporate the community in what you do as a teacher.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help or use other’s ideas!
Lindsay Cox
ReplyDelete1.Classroom procedures affect classroom management- be strict and don’t allow gray areas until they understand the rules very well
2.Parent contact is extremely important at all times in order to avoid negative parent contact throughout the semester and especially at the end of the semester
3.Don’t listen to negative teachers that tell you to stop looking through your rose-colored glasses, it is ok to be optimistic and expect great things
4.When things don’t work out, don’t stop being optimistic, just make changes to improve
5.You won’t reach every student and it can be depressing. Do your best, but focus on the success you are having and the difference you are making rather than the ones that you can’t get.
Lindsay Cox
1. Create lesson plans based on the North Carolina Standard Course of Study/Common Core Standards.
ReplyDelete2. Classroom management/expectations must be consistent and all students should be treated fairly.
3. Don't give up if you have a bad day. Each day is a new day and tomorrow is almost always better. Even veteran teachers have bad days.
4. Always have something positive to say about the student when you talk to parents. They are much more receptive to problems if presented in a positive way.
5. Take advantage of the support system at your school. This includes fellow staff members and administration. Ask for help when you need it. Sometimes it just helps to have someone to vent to when you do not understand certain situations.
1. Have a plan to be consistent with discipline; do not set a consequence you cannot follow through with.
ReplyDelete2. Always have something positive to say about every students especially to parents. Parents are more likely to listen to your conerns if you say something positive about their child first.
3. Be sure you are following the North Carolina Standard Course of Study (Common Core Standards)to create lesson plans.
4. Don't listen to negative teachers; they can get you down. Surround yourself with positive peers.
5. Keep going and don't give up. Sometimes the rewards are not evident until months or even years later.
1. The first unknown….Exactly what happens at the Open House? What do I need to have ready for the parents and students. In the frantic rush of the first workdays, it was very unclear what was expected. Different folks would come by and mention one thing and then another that I had not considered.
ReplyDelete2. Exactly how do I create a classroom management plan that will work for my students and me? What are too many rules? How structured should I make our day and what about appropriate consequences?
3. How do I keep up with all the paper work? It is so important to keep up with the paper grading and grading records. If you get behind, it is so hard to catch up. An organized method of processing the work is essential.
4. Learning to do long range as well as short range lesson plans is a really valuable skill. Make sure you are making lesson plans. Plan more than you will need. You never want to be caught without a well-planned activity. A well-planned day will eliminate wasteful down time as well as discipline issues. Don’t forget to plan for early finishers.
5. It is going to take more time than you can imagine to do this job right. You will need to come in early, work late, and then take it home with you as well.
5 most important things to know in the first year:
ReplyDelete1. Teaching is emotional! It's okay to cry after the last bell. You can expect to excited, stressed, irritated, and everything in between.
2. Front load the work! Plan well, make worksheets/activities ahead of time, and never procrastinate . . . if you do, it's going "jump up and bite you in the butt!"
3. Don't be afraid of parents. They will be your best ally if you can contact them early and frequently.
4. Stand up for yourself and be aware that this is a profession but one that has politics. Know what lines are the ones you absolutely NEVER cross.
5. Make your classroom rules and stick to them! Don't let a kid go to the bathroom 100 times in a semester. Don't play favorites: if one students gets a zero for not having his/her homework on time, then you have to objectively hold every student to that standard.
The five most important things a beginning teacher should know during their first year:
ReplyDelete1. Form relationships, find peers to trust and collaborate with.
2. Honor and respect diversity in the classroom.
3. Establish an open positive relationship with students and their parents.
4. Be confident in their knowledge of their content.
5. Daily honest reflection is essential.
1. The work will be there tomorrow.
ReplyDelete2. Borrow and share ideas - do not reinvent the wheel
3. Forgive yourself mistakes...tomorrow is a new day.
4. It's easier to lighten-up than to toughen-up.
5. Always know at least one strength of each student.
1. Have a classroom management plan that works for you and be consistentwith it. Get to know your students. If you give them your attention, they will be more likely to give you their attention.
ReplyDelete2. Be prepared...not only with daily lesson plans, but also create year-long plans and pacing guides to keep you on track. But be flexible. There will be interruptions!
3. Make positive contact with parents early and provide frequent communication throughout the year.
4. Don't be afraid to try new things. Always reflect and learn from your experience.
5. You are a teacher. Therefore you will try to do it all. But you must go home!
1. Be consistent and prepared. Students will know if you are either!
ReplyDelete2. Ask for help! Know who in the building can help with any needs you may have from supplies to curriculum ideas.
3. Make a positive contact with all of your parents before a negative contact is necessary.
4. If you must discipline a child, never do it in a way that embarasses them. They will show you much more respect if you correct their behavior and/or work quietly or in private. This was the best advice I received during my first year of teaching!
5. Savor the successes! Don't get bogged down in the negativity or frustrations. Allow teaching to be the highlight of your day!
Blog the 5 most important things a Beginning Teacher should know during their first year:
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion the mentor-mentee relationship should focus first on behavior management issues, both in the classroom and school wide. This would include both methods to use in the classroom as well as the knowledge of school wide expectations and consequences. This would be followed closely in importance by a thorough knowledge of the BT’s content area (NCSCOS). During the semester the focus would shift toward effective lesson planning and formative assessment, as well as the use of formative assessment data to reflect and improve lesson planning and implementation. Good documentation of efforts both in NCWise and in a Management/Curriculum File or Notebook would logically follow, to maintain a record of lesson planning, assessment, reflection, and change. This documentation would include the maintenance of student files/records as well as year long, end of nine weeks, and end of semester requirements of NCWise. And, finally, but certainly not least among the important areas of focus would be the constant emotional support by the mentor for the mentee as the mentee goes through the typical phases of the beginning teacher.
Reflection on my strengths and weaknesses as a mentor and how I will make improvements to my mentoring for next year based on the Mentor Training:
My strength would definitely be Standard 2: Mentors support beginning teachers to establish a respectful environment for a diverse population of students. Having worked with special needs students for my entire professional life, 20 years as a residential group home parent then 10 years in the classroom, I feel that I have the natural and learned abilities in this area that I can role model and coach my mentee in. I would like to see myself improve in Standard 4: Mentors support beginning teachers to facilitate learning for their students. I find myself constantly improving in this area, but I do not think it is something I have mastered. I do hope to make progress in this area through collaborative planning, use of formative assessment data, diversifying teaching styles to meet the needs of the broadest spectrum of students, and remembering that continuous improvement in this area is not only possible, but expected. I cannot say that I found the information in any one mentor standard to be more useful or new than any other. I was pleased to find new, exciting and useful information in each standard, and I hope to employ as much of this information as possible not only in future mentoring, but in teaching in general. I will definitely use the Beginning Teacher Calendar of Needs and the Mentor Timeline to help focus my efforts with my mentee next year, hopefully as part of collaborative coaching and planning.
Respectfully,
Dennis
First, the teacher should realize that they are now a role model and they may nbot ever realize the profound effect they may have on "one" child. In saying this, they should try to always conduct theirselves in a way that is compassionate and professional. They should dress the part-The students need to be able to see a difference in the teachers and students. I really do think this adds to a greater student-teacher respect. they need to be able to laugh at their mistakes, at the kids when appropriate and be able to laugh the little thngs off. in other words, they must decide what to take to stride and let some run off their backs. They must be able to manage time. Time at school should be spent on task and time outside of school should be to take care of themselves and those that are dear to them. And finally, they must love children and enjoy being with children. they need to be honest and fair to the children that if this is not the case, they need to pursue another career.
ReplyDeleteTeachers must be assured that they are a role model in and out of the classroom. This all helps to aid in the aspect of respect and allowing that respect to foster throughout the entire classroom. the new teacher must have a wonderful deeply seated love and work ethic toward students. They have got to be able to manage that work in and out of school. The families that are behind them need love and suppot. I would say time management is an essential component to the entire equation.
ReplyDeleteThe five most important things that a BT should know during their first year:
ReplyDelete1. Have high expectations for yourself, but do not expect to be perfect (no one is). Teaching is a very complex profession! In the big picture, there are MANY aspects that you have little or no control over, and many of those things affect your daily practice. Do the very best you can with what you have and everything will eventually fall into place. See what is working with other teachers…”beg, steal, and borrow!”
2. “Be consistently fair, not fairly consistent.” I heard this advice when I was a first-year teacher, and it has stayed with me for twelve years. Children need consistency, and they need to feel like they are going to be treated fairly. Create a discipline plan that you can abide by, and try your best to make an individual contact with each student can everyday. Let them know that they are important to you.
3. Contact parents early and often. Try to make positive initial contacts. Even high school parents appreciate getting praise reports on their children! Then, later in the semester, if you need to make a “not so positive” contact, the parent may respond much more warmly than he/she might have otherwise. Get them on YOUR side first!
4. Reflect. In my lesson plans and Activboard flipcharts, I try to make frequent notations as to how I might improve various lessons…what worked…what flopped…what could make an activity better. These reflections do not have to be formal, but sometimes formal reflection is a bit therapeutic as well. Additionally, keep a list of amusing things students say and do. (You’ll appreciate it later!) AND, keep those heartwarming cards, notes, and emails. (Sometimes they can remind you why you chose education.)
5. Talk! It is alright to become frustrated, and it is alright to be super-excited! Find a co-worker with whom you can vent and with whom you can celebrate. It should be someone who will be happy with you and someone who will encourage you when the time is right. Knowing that others have shared your same experiences and have survived is a tremendous help!
Elisabeth Turner
1. How to create lesson plans based on the standard course of study.
ReplyDelete2. Know how to manage your classroom and be consistent.
3. Collaborate with other teachers so you don't waste time "reinventing the wheel."
4. Stay positive.
5. Try also to surround yourself with positive people.
1. Discipline: Set up a good classroom management system, set high expectations for behavior and enforce the rules. Start out firm. It is easier to ease up some later rather than try to gain control of a class where you haven't had control.
ReplyDelete2. Collaborate: There are many teachers you can turn to for help and guidance. Plan with your team and share ideas. You can take their ideas and make them your own.
3. Make time for yourself: Don't let school consume you because it can. Take time to do things you enjoy.
4. Be prepared and be flexible: It is good to plan a week in advance. That allows you time to make/create anything you may need. Always have your materials ready the day before. And remember in an elementary classroom, things rarely go exactly as planned. So be flexible.
5. Reflect: Take time to reflect on your lessons. What went well, what could be improved. Make changes for future lessons.
1. Discipline - Be consistent. Start off with a firm hand because you can always back off, but you can rarely get control after you've lost it.
ReplyDelete2. Be Prepared - Go into your classroom with your plan and supplies ready. Idle time can be the devil's time. Make sure that you are following your SCS.
3. Share ideas - As a new teacher, you are coming in with fresh and new ideas that you can give to the veteran teacher, but do not be afraid to ask that veteran teacher for their advice. You do not have to re-invent the wheel.
4. Don't give up - Mistakes are going to happen. Not everything that you plan will go just as you thought. Learn from it, and it will get better with experience.
5. Don't take negative responses (especially from students) personally - Sometimes you are the person that they have in front of them at that time to take out their frustrations. Don't worry-five minutes will pass and their anger will too. They usually don't dwell on it and neither should you. Remember, they are kids.
1. Have a good discipline plan in place. Remember- kids are human too,they will make mistakes give them their consequence and tomarrow a clean slate. Don't dwell on the mistake and punishment always leave a student able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
ReplyDelete2. Love what you do-enjoy yourself and allow students to see You. When students see you love what you teach you will be surprised at their enthusisam.
3. Followup and stay as close as you can to your lesson plan.Make sure your lesson plans allow diversity for all students.
4.Use some of what works for others but don't be afraid to step out on a limb and try what You want to try.Don't listen to the "you can'ts and don'ts. Those teachers didn't and won't! You will make mistakes-get over it,we all do.
5. Love your job ,work hard,and then let go. Enjoy your life and do not live at school.
All of this is very true. Mistakes help you learn. Let students learn and grow.
DeleteJennifer M.
1. Have good classroom management. If you do this discipline usually falls in line
ReplyDelete2. Part of being a teacher is being an entertainer. Lots of times when you lose students they just become bored. If you can make them laugh a few times they will be much more responsive.
3. Be Flexible. Especially at the end of the year this is a must. It seems there is always something unexpected that comes up. If it does, deal with it. It is not the end of the world if you have to push something back a day or two.
4. Leave school at school. This is easier said than done, but for your sanity you must try. We care about our students but we have to care just as much about our mental sanity as well.
5. Focus on your successes, not always your failures. Human nature dictates this is hard to do. Sometimes we forget about the number of students we effect on a daily basis and just focus on the ones we don't.
1. Plan, plan, plan- Be prepared for class everyday and most of your problems will be taken care of.
ReplyDelete2. Have rules and stick to them. Be tough at the beginning, you can always back off later but you can never get them back. For most new teachers classroom management is the toughest thing.
3. Get to know your students. I like to have things to do in case I have extra time at the end of class. I love to use this time to do something fun that helps me learn about my students and them learn a little about me. You can get involved in an outside activity, anything that helps you see students in a different light and they see you another side of you.
4. Don't be afraid to ask for help. A lot of BT's are afraid that it is a sign of weakness, but it isn't. We all get into situations that we don't know what to do. Our department is very close and we are always willing to help each other out.
5. Get a life!! For BT's it is easy for school to become your only thing. It can't be. You have to find distractions and do things that you enjoy doing.
The best advice I got from a retiring teacher/friend, she said, "don't worry if you feel you never get caught up, I'm retiring and I never completed everything I planned. Its OK"
ReplyDelete5-best things to know :
1. Positive attitude is a good thing, when you hear "negative things about students and the school"... just smile and develop your own opinion of each student and the school.
2. Start each day with the attitude you will do your best for your students, and set the standards of your expectations to a high level.
3. Class room management, treat the students as you want to be treated. Ask, do not tell, Say, thank you, and please. Enjoy what you are doing, and the students will enjoy your class.
4. Breath...count to 10.... Breath... know where your safe zone is to scream, cry, lose it... this is away from students, but with a co worker/friend near.
5. Love your job! Teaching is HARD ! The lives you touch are priceless.
positive attitude, manners, self-control That does cover most things you need to have in life. Well said!
DeleteJennifer M.
Advice for BT's....
ReplyDelete1. Be prepared...you've worked all this time on your degree. You've studied, you've planned, now execute! I remember in my student teaching, that I learned the most when my cooperating teacher was no where around. You know your content area so now GO FOR IT!
2. Be confident. I often tell my students as we prepare for a concert that if something goes wrong or not like we planned just smile and act like we meant for that to happen. Same in the classroom. Sometimes things will not go like you imagained. Or like you may have rehearsed. Just be confident. You can make a mistake and learn from it.
3. Be a team player. You are new and that is super. You bring a lot to the table that some folks have never heard of and that's awesome. Remember that some folks do not like change and even though your new ideas are probably great ideas, some folks won't buy into it. It's okay...your students are your number one priority and teaching the curriculum is where you should focus.
4. Be STRONG!!! You are not expected to know everything the first day you go to your school. It's okay to ask questions. It's okay to do a little research. It's okay to reflect and make changes (sometimes while teaching the lesson!)
5. BE IN LOVE!! Love your job. It is not always the bright part of your day, but in the end it is what you want to be doing. You're a light in the eyes of those students and you may not know for sure the impact you have on their lives but you do impact it for sure!!
6. BE IN CONTROL...Breathe, focus, cry if you need to (in private!! or to your mentor!) but do whatever it takes to help get you through it!!
Amy, you rock! I'm going to share your points with my BT.
DeleteFrom my experience, teaching can be fun and interesting. Each day could give you new experiences with a satisfaction of completion and a feeling of making a positive impact on the world. Try to hang out with people that have a positive attitude so that you don't start to feel and act like them. Borrow everything you can from other teachers that have already spent time developing lessons. Don't make quick decisions in the classroom, let students know what to expect. Students should know the consequences for each action. You may become upset with a student, but stay calm and try to confront them in a way that does not call them out in front of the class. The last thing you would want to do is make a scene in class where it is you against a student, that tends to turn the student against you and can cause problems with the rest of the class. Realize that you don't know your students individual situations, at home or school. I have had a student before that had problems at home and was living out of his car. How many students are having troubles in their lives and we tend to think they can just drop their problems at the door and come in and participate like our room is everything.
ReplyDelete1.Be consistent. Make sure your students know your expectations.
ReplyDelete2. Be positive to parents. The saying "kill them with kindness." really works.
3. Let there be time for them to be kids. They want to share with you what's happening in their lives. Also, let them get to know you. Celebrate your accomplishments together. If there is not time in the class, have them to hang around after class. Make them feel important. Sometimes you are the only one that will.
4. Always we prepared. If you don't know about something don't be afraid to ask.
5. No matter how long you have wanted to be in this profession, for me since I was 5, it is still a job. Make time for you and for your family. Your family will not always be there. Do the best job you can while you are at school and give the rest of yourself to you and yours.
The five most important things that a BT should know during their first year:
ReplyDelete1. Love your job but don't let it interfer with your personal life.
2. Hidden Rules- know who can help you with different questions from supplies to content.
3. Classroom Management: Be consistent- students realize when we are being slackers.
4. Shoot for the stars....Don't be afraid to try something new...It may or maynot work but this doesn't mean you are a failure.
5.Surround yourself with positive co-workers and work as a TEAM.
The 5 Most Important Things I Wish I Had Known:
ReplyDelete1. The hidden rules for your school. Spend time with and talk to your mentor. Gossip a little. It will help you get along without to many speed bumps.
2. Get a life! I know you got into this to make a difference and you love the children. But if you don't ever leave the school and enjoy something else, you will burn out.
3. Be consistent. Make some rules that fit your personality and stick with them. Be CAREFUL and don't make threats that you will not back up to your principal or parents.
4. Be adventurous! Try new things along with gleaning all you can from those around you. If something doesn't work, its okay. Try again tomorrow.
5. Be a team player. Take all the help, advice, guidance you can, but make it your own. You don't have to do exactly what everyone else does, but don't reinvent contuously or you will exhaust yourself.
Remember, that you WANT to do this and you CAN, but take care of yourself also.
5 Important Things for Beginning Teachers to Know:
ReplyDelete1. Stay organized! If you begin to let things slide and not keep up with the busy world of teaching, paperwork, documenting, progress monitoring, and so on, it will eat you alive!!!! Have tons of labeled folders, either electronic or hard copy, that you can get your hands on easily.
2. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. It's better to ask someone and get the right answers, rather than not asking because you think it may be a dumb question. Don't cause more work for yourself. Chances are other teachers have had the same questions, too.
3. Be prepared! Plan lessons well and take time to teach your kids, as well as allow extra time for questions, because there will be some!! Every lesson may not go as planned, but be prepared with a backup, just in case. The very day you wing it, will be the day your principal will be there to observe! Also, a classroom with nothing to do, becomes a behavior issue.
4. Which leads me to good classroom management skills. If you don't have control, then you can't teach. Be prepared for anything with your students. Build a relationship with them, but don't be their buddy. Sit down and talk 1-1 with students with behavior issues and get to the root of the problem. Maintain a positive relationship with the parents and keep them informed.
5. Which leads me to including parents in their child's education. Keep parents informed about events at school, meetings, behavior, grades, etc. Don't always have negative points to make to parents, include some positive as well. Remember, parents are their child's first teacher.
5 Most Important Things....
ReplyDelete1. Guess what? You are going to mess up :). It is going to happen and its fine. You might have 3 months behind you, 3 days behind you or 3 hours behind you but its going to happen. Don't freak out! You can do this. One day at a time :)
2. You are here for a purpose. Its not grades, its not test scores and its not EOGs. You are here to inspire children and teach them. Laugh about it, cry about it, loose sleep over it, but most importantly... love it!
3. Prepare - everyday. Be ready because if you are not on your game....your kids know it - no matter the age.
4. Pray - EVERYDAY!
5. Never stop learning yourself. Take time to read and expand your own knowledge in areas besides your curriculum. :) You took an oath to be a life long learner...do it!
I think that most everything that is important has already been said. It was so refreshing to read these posts.
ReplyDeleteI think that the most important things to remember when teaching:
You are here to help children learn.
You are not alone. Ask for help.
You must be flexible.
Have a backup plan.
Focus on positives in every child.
Laugh!
Jennifer M.
The five things I wish I’d known as a first year teacher are the following:
ReplyDelete1. It’s okay if you need to reteach something. When kids do poorly on assignments, don’t get discouraged. That means they probably didn’t understand. Take some time. Go back. Reiterate the information in the form of a new project/assignment. See if they get it this time. If not, try again.
2. Don’t be afraid to call parents. Don’t be afraid to ask for their help. Most parents genuinely appreciate that you care enough to call.
3. You can’t swallow an elephant whole. You have to eat him bite by bite. Gross analogy, but by that I mean that it’s easy to let things pile up. Tackle a little bit each day of the week consistently. Make one day your grading day. Make another day your parent contact day. Make another day your NC Wise input day. Etcetera, Etcetera. If you tackle a little bit, you won’t feel completely overwhelmed and stressed out later.
4. I was hired for a reason. It’s so easy to feel like you have no idea what you’re doing when you’re starting out. It meant the world to me when my mentor told me that they hired me because I was the best candidate and a good fit for my school.
5. Be flexible. I have to remind myself this still. School is an institution in a constant state of flux. It’s especially easy at the high school level to get protective of our instruction/classroom time. We have to remember that school serves many needs and Pep Rallies, Assemblies, and other variables are important too.
As a teacher of nineteen years, I think there are many things that are important for a beginning teacher to know the first year. First of all, beginning teachers must accept the fact that it is very important to conduct themselves at school and away from school in positive ways. As teachers, the community and our students are constantly watching us and expect us to be that positive role model everywhere in our lives.
ReplyDeleteAt school, it is very important for a beginning teacher to develop effective classroom discipline. In the beginning, students will try anything to break a teacher’s plan of how things should work. Learning to handle different situations with students definitely comes with time. However, during those first years, teachers should grasp a few disciplinary rules and stick to them. Effective classroom discipline can make or break your first year of teaching.
Most importantly, beginning teachers should strive to find a good balance between school and life outside of school. When beginning teachers are so consumed with the pressures of school that they neglect other interests, they tend to lose their excitement for teaching. The pressures of teaching never end no matter how long you teach and we never “catch up.” Therefore, beginning teachers should find ways to take care of themselves and separate school from home so that they remain in the school for many years.
1. Always remember to put your students first. Stand up for what you feel is right for them. You are the voice for your students. If you do not fight for them who will?
ReplyDelete2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions no matter how silly you think they are. We have all been in your shoes and probably asked the same thing!
3. Leave school at school. You have to have a life outside of work. Go home and RELAX!!
4. You must be flexible. If something isn’t working don’t be afraid to change it. Things are going to come up and you must be able to adapt.
5. Patience and love! You must always have patience with your students, coworkers, and parents. This is hard at times but in the long run you will be rewarded. Love what you do. If you do not have love and passion for your job and your students you need to rethink what you are doing.
Mandy Barriger
The five most important things to me are this:
ReplyDelete1. This is a calling not a job; we didn't go into this for the money. If you are called to teach, you will know because there is something that drives you to keep coming back everydayou even though it is hard and it is a thankless job. Even though you will lose sleep over your children, remember You are called by Jesus Christ.
2. You have to get to work early or stay late because it take time to have an amazing classroom, but in that you also have to have a life outside of school.
3. You are not perfect and despite all the demands,put on you you have to remember just to do your best.
4. Pray for your children and your coworkers everyday. Pray for yourself.
5. Preparation is key. there are no shortcuts in this profession.
Wow! I have enjoyed reading all of the positive entries! Even though they are meant for BTs I appreciated the messages too!
ReplyDeleteMy list:
1.Be confident- you were trained to teach remember you are a professional and hired for a reason. Do the job you KNOW you can do.
2. Laugh- at yourself and/or anything you find funny throughout your day. If you are too serious you will end up stressed and tired. Well, you will be stressed and tired anyway but the laughing will help.
3. Plan your day/ week- this will help with the stress part mentioned in #2. Your plans might change but at least you thought ahead and have a game plan to attack the task at hand.
4. Self reflect- no one is perfect we make mistakes or wish we had done something differently. This is that chance to change it or trash the idea for next time. You can only get better when you look back on how well or not so well you do something.
5. Don't take everything personally- you are human you can't be expected to be perfect so if criticism comes your way learn from it and move on.
Amanda Miller
5 Most Important things a BT should know!
ReplyDeleteA little "Mentor" humor!!!
5- Always get dressed with the lights on! Check your socks, both same color? If not, students will let you know! Check to make sure there are no holes in your pants, and if you're a female, make sure you don't have velcro rollers still in your hair. (actually saw a teacher with a few left in one morning).
4-Don't be late- Make sure you have plenty of time to get to school in the mornings! Makes for a terrible start to the day when you start out behind! AND don't pass stopped school buses!!! One of our teachers actually did that and got a ticket! Not a good thing to see on the evening news.
3- Get medicated as quickly as possible. I suggest Citalopram or Prozac! It really helps to take the edge off and the little things don't bother you as badly!
2- Learn to laugh and smile when you're mad or upset! When parents are blessing you out for stupid things, if you smile and laugh it's harder to cry!!! Get thick skin! Most of the time parents are just letting their frustrations out on you for some other problem/s they are having.
1- Go around saying "I love my job"! Eventually you'll start believing it! Try to maintain a positive attitude and remember your sense of humor. It will get you through a lot of tough times. Remember, "What doesn't kill you will only make it stronger!" a bad quote after what just happened in Connecticut but soooo true! Also, you are not alone. There are people to help and most everyone is feeling the same way you are, even the most veteraned teachers!
ON a serious note:
1- Strong discipline- Just as Nikki Icard stated in her blog, it is much easier to become nicer. Most schools have PBIS in place. Know what is expected of students in all areas of the building.
2-Make a list of small attainable goals for each week/month. Reflect when you do and do not reach those goals.
3-Be a good role model. Treat all students with respect. Remember you are their teacher, not their friend. Make sure you maintain high expectations for them and you expect them to behave to the level of your expectations.
4-Review curriculum often and check off concepts that students have learned. Make note of concepts they need extra practice with and let parents know where students need extra help.
5-Communicate often and positively with parents. They are not the enemy but sometimes you will feel that way. Make contact with parents for positive things. Keep them informed. Not a bad idea to send progress reports home every other week.
Most importantly- Hang in there! Summer is coming!
The five most important things you need to know your first year teaching.
ReplyDelete1. Remember how important good planning is. Invest in a good planner and calender. You have over half the battle won if you come to school knowing what you are going to do. Don't ever come to school and expect to have time to plan the day of. It's not happening!
2. Always feel comfortable asking for help. We are all in this together and most teachers love to share.
3. Realize that this is a demanding job and you are but one person. It will never all be done! You must go home and let things go or you will die young.
4. Remember to always be flexible. Don"t sweat the little stuff. Out of 180 school days you might have one that is perfect. The rest of the days you will make it through and no one else will know but you.
5. Don't expect to ever get to the place where you feel like you know everything about teaching,and you have all the answers. I have been teaching for over 32 years and I have not reached that point yet. Don't worry, no one else has either.
1. Attituse!!! Stay positive and surround yourself with colleagues that are positive!! Don't get caught in the griping world, it will only bring you down and won't change anything!
ReplyDelete2. Relationships! Develop good relationships. Let's face it, we all spend a lot of time at school and with the people and students at your school! Having good relationships with the people around you can really make the difference in a work place.
3. Collaborate- Their is no I in team!! Work together as a grade level, across grade levels, across the county,with all because you are all working toward the same goal!! Every school has so much talent across the building, utilize each resource and work together share ideas!
4.Prioritize- I think it is all about balance. Make sure you balance your work and your personal life! It is very easy to make school a 24 hour profession(yes you think about it in your sleep!!!) You have to know when to say enough I need to make time for my family and me!!! A healthy balance includes knowing how to time manage and organize so you can have time for your personal life!!!
5.Know your students- get to know your students, they are your clients!! Go to their games, invite families into school, ride the bus, make connections to show the kids you care about them!! If they know you care, they will work for you and most importantly, if you get to really know them as individuals, you will know what works for them so they can learn their best!
Share and Collaborate - Don't do everything yourself. Working with your team makes everything easier.
ReplyDeleteMake time for yourself and your family.
Use your assistants or volunteers if you have them. As a new teacher I always felt like I needed to do it myself. Life is easier if you can give up something.
Be prepared. Plan ahead and be ready for the next week when you leave on a Friday. The weekend is more enjoyable when you don't have to worry about Monday.
Communicate with parents early on. It is easier to begin with a positive. Be kind and honest. Parents need to know what is really going on.
1. Believe in yourself and be confident!
ReplyDelete2. Plan and then be flexible when surprises happen - Always be prepared. If you're not, the kids know it and you lose all credibility. Always be flexible because sometimes your plan doesn't go as you thought in your head or outside factors prevent it from being nice and neat.
3. Be a team player. One person can't do everything and its way more fun to do things together. Never stop learning from others and don't be afraid to speak up when you have a new idea too. You bring lots of ideas to the table that maybe the older folks never thought of!
4. Let it go - This was the hardest one for me to learn. You will make mistakes, you will have students/parents/colleagues, etc. get mad at you, you may have to compromise, and you will definitely have days where you wonder why you even bothered to get out of bed that morning, but remember you are not perfect. It is OKAY. No one else is either so let it go and do your best. Tomorrow is another chance.
5. Have a life outside of school - I believe that teaching is a calling, but I also believe all work and no play makes you a dull, burnt out teacher. Find a balance of work and time with family, friends, hobbies, travel, whatever your passion. We want students to be well-rounded and you need to be too!
Ooops - from Danielle Stocks
Deletesubmitted by Danielle Stocks
DeleteThere is a lot for a beginning to teacher to know. I would make sure that my mentee understands the importance of having a good classroom management in place. Students need to understand their boundaries. 2. Work collaboratively with other teachers. It always good to work with someone and share ideas rather than work alone. 3. Always be prepared! It is best to plan too much rather than not enough. Try to plan in advance if possible, you never know what will come up. 4. Use your available resources! Use volunteers, assistants, and other school personal in any way that you can. Don't be afraid to ask for help! 5. Remember it's all about the students!!!!
ReplyDelete5 Things a BT should know during first year
ReplyDelete1. Each new day brings new perspective, new ideas and a new chance to share your wisdom with students.
2. What you plan for class doesn't always work for all groups-- It's OK-- learn from it and move on.
3. Try to remember when you were the age of your students--
don't expect them to be adults in teenager's clothes.
4. Laugh at yourself---this lets students know you are human.
5. Ask questions--students aren't the only ones who are learning.
5 Things a BT should know in the first year.
ReplyDelete1. You will make mistakes!! Instead of beating yourself up, you should learn from them and move on.
2. Treat each child like a treasure (even when it is hard)- If you had a child how would you want them to be treated? Treat each child like this. No matter how difficult challenging students can be, someone loves him/her more than anything else in this world.
3.Work together- There is no need to re-invent the wheel when your fellow teacher or mentor has already done it. It is more efficient to split the work than to take on everything yourself. Other teachers have been there and done that. They have a lot of resources to offer with some good advice on the side.
4. Get the parents on board- If you keep the parents in the loop and answer all of their questions promptly, they will work with you. They talk to each other at ballgames (the good and the bad). If you are working hard to help their child, they will spread the word and you will establish a great reputation that you can build upon.
5. Enjoy it!- After 10 years I still love teaching. Kids are free-spirited, curious, enthusiastic. Laugh with them and have fun!
Five things I think a beginning teacher should know:
ReplyDelete1. Laugh often at yourself and with your students. A sense of humor will go a long way in making the day fly by.
2. Be prepared to make mistakes -- lessons won't be great --and be prepared for things to go awry -- technology will crash and unannounced interruptions will occur.
3. Build relationships by getting to know your students and their parents.
4. Take time to step back and reflect on how it's going.
5. Remember that you have a life outside school!
1. Don't try to do it all alone! Work with your grade level/team to make the load much easier to bear.
ReplyDelete2. Be consistent and firm in your expectations
3. Your plan doesn't always work and sometimes will fail miserably, but tomorrow is a new day! It's ok to start over.
4. Make positive contacts with all parents.
5. Take a break! Remember that you are a wife/husband/child/friend/mom, etc....not just a teacher. Enjoy your time away from school so that you feel refreshed.
I could not narrow it down to 5, so here are the top 7 things I wish I had known my first year and the things I want to be sure my mentee knows as she starts her first year of teaching:
ReplyDelete1. You are not alone. Teaching can feel so isolating, and as a beginning teacher, you often feel you have to prove yourself by handling things by yourself. You are not in this alone, and you can talk with me (and others teachers) at any time. Trust me, it will help.
2. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. This one ties in to #1 in that often you feel like you have to figure it out by yourself, that others will think less of you if you have to ask. Nonsense! There is strength in numbers. Other teachers may have gone through the same thing. They may be able to give you guidance, direction, and suggestions, and you might just be able to do the same for them. All you have to do is ask others, talk to them about what's going on (the problems/issues you are having), and listen (to what they have to say, what they are going through, etc.).
3. Contact parents. It can be intimidating, especially as a first year teacher, to call parents. The more you contact them, the easier it gets. Try to find something positive to say and be sure the parents know you are on their (parent's and student's) side. You want the student to learn...so do they. Often when you work together, the student's performance will improve. Even if the student doesn't step up, the parent knows you are doing all you can to help the student learn. Positive contacts are beneficial, too. Parents love "Your student is doing an awesome job" calls!
4. You MUST take care of yourself! Teaching can be consuming. I want to be sure you know that you have to have a life outside of school, you need to take care of yourself, nourish your hobbies and interests. You cannot lose yourself in teaching or you will surely lose your love of teaching.
5. Tomorrow is a new day. Wipe the slate clean and start fresh. Sometimes lessons bomb. Sometimes tempers flare. Sometimes nothing goes right. Understand that tomorrow is a new day. It's a fresh start. You must leave the failures behind and try again. By the same token, you can't get so complacent in your successes that you fail to plan for the next step. No matter what happens today, there's always a chance to try again tomorrow.
6. "All people have a need to feel self-worth." Keep this in mind when dealing with teenagers, parents, fellow teachers, administrators, etc. Make it your job to try to build people up, not tear them down. Help them see what they can do well (are doing well, etc) instead of focusing on the negative. This can be so hard to do, but it is so important.
7. Don't forget why you are here. You chose this job for a reason. There will be days (and sometimes weeks and months) when you wonder what that reason was, why you did this to yourself. NEVER forget why you chose teaching. Write it down so you can meditate on it when you have one of those days. Teaching truly is one of the toughest jobs you'll ever love.
~Beth Duncan
1. Attitude is Everything – Your attitude each day affects your team, administrators, parents, and your students. Regardless of the challenges at home or at work, make each moment count by having a positive attitude. You can’t change every circumstance, but you can control how you approach each day.
ReplyDelete2. Be Flexible – Flexibility is key to staying afloat as a teacher. Circumstances will arise where you must reteach, revisit, and change your schedule. Remember to adapt and focus on the “big picture”.
3. Love All/Serve All - Our goal at BES this year is to Love All, Serve All. Every child is a blessing and they all need a teacher who believes they can succeed. Not only should we love the students, but also care for your team, assistant, and administrator.
4. Communicate with Parents – If your parents trust you, you have a huge advantage in being successful. Call parents on the second week of school and say something positive about their child. Send home weekly newsletters, daily behavior sheets, etc. Most importantly, smile and acknowledge them and their child when they enter your classroom. Listen and respect parents. They will usually do the same for you!
5. Be Prepared – The first of year teaching will be exhausting. You need to prepared for your lessons. Plan with your team and have a weekly lesson plan ready for the next week. The lesson may not always go as planned, but having a plan is a lot less stressful.
So, the 5 most important things that a beginning teacher should know. Well, I am going to share these, and you can take them for whatever you think they are worth…..
ReplyDelete1. The best advice I ever had as a teacher I got in a barber shop from a man that retired as a teacher sometime about 1985. He said “Always be very clear about what you expect.” Students do much better when they are aware of what they need to do- they are more cooperative and more likely to be successful, and it reduces discipline issues.
2. Another bit of advice I obtained- if it isn’t appropriate to the situation, don’t use it. Cooperative learning works- but not every time, or in some cases, any time.
3. “Never, never, never give in”- William Pitt. Teaching can be the most overwhelming thing in the world, which people who are not teachers do not comprehend or understand. A lot of young teachers walk away after a few years, disillusioned by some very harsh realities that are often ignored or glossed over by others. Perseverance is an important quality that you must develop in order to survive as a teacher.
4. Take advice wherever you find it. Experienced teachers, old retired teachers, even long-dead teachers who bothered to write things down- history is a body of knowledge from which we draw experience. Remember to weigh that advice carefully, but as Winston Churchill stated, “all wisdom is not new wisdom.”
5. Balance is important. If your career takes precedence over your life, and this happens sometimes, you find yourself burning out. Likewise, if your teaching career is a briefly considered adjunct to the other parts of your life, you might not be as effective a teacher as you would like. Strike a balance where both are something you can live with.
The 5 most important things a beginning teacher should know during their first year...
ReplyDelete1. Be organized! You need to have a system for collecting, grading, and recording assignments. Know where your materials are and have them ready for each lesson.
2. Have a classroom management plan established.
3. Plan in advance. I always have at least a weeks worth of lesson plans done and the materials ready. You never know when you may be sick or unable to be at school. At least your lessons and materials are ready for a substitute.
4. Be flexible. Rarely ever does a day go exactly how you have it planned.
5. Make time for yourself and your family.
1. Attitude!
ReplyDelete2. Flexibility - you have to be able to change what you are doing at the drop of a hat.
3. Make sure your life is balanced. Remember you have a life outside of being a teacher and you need to enjoy every minute of it.
4. Plan as much as you can in advance.
5. Every child is different and needs to be treated that way.
1- Have a positive attitude and be ready for anything!
ReplyDelete2- Have way more planned than you think you'll have time for
3- Keep it fun! If you're having fun, students are having fun.
4- Work with teachers in your department. Idea sharing is a must.
5- Think about it! Reflect on what works and what doesn't. Every student and every class is different. Know what works for a particular group and don't be afraid to try something new.
1. You are not perfect. You will make mistakes. Good news? You get to start all over tomorrow.
ReplyDelete2. Create an open and positive relationship with parents and families, early!
3. Make time for yourself. (Speaking as one who is at school too much.)
4. Have fun with your class and invest in them. ( They may not remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel.)
5. Foster relationships at school.
1. Have good classroom management. Students need to know you care but that there are boundaries.
ReplyDelete2. Know who to go to for help and don't be afraid to ask for it. Don't suffer in silence when someone can help guide you through it.
3. Be well planned but also be flexible when necessary.
4. Allow yourself some downtime. It's real easy to get caught up in all the "school stuff" but you have to also have to allow for time to do other things you enjoy. Balance out things!
5. It's okay if a lesson doesn't go according to plan. No one is perfect so just chalk it up to a learning experience and try again the next day. We all go through this.
When I reflect back to my first year, I wish I would have known:
ReplyDelete1. There will be many days when you question “What was I thinking?" You will question why you ever wanted to teach. You may even shed a few tears and scream. THIS IS NORMAL. Hang in there it will get better. You are here because it is a calling.
2. Be prepared for parents. Just like students, some will love you and some will hate you. Don’t take it personally. Make a positive contact as soon as possible and stay in contact. Even if they don’t like you, they will respect you for at least making an effort.
3. Do not be afraid to be stand your ground. If students sense fear, they will eat you alive. Be strict in beginning and then let up as the year progresses.
4. Collaborate. Ask for help, advice, and classroom materials. Do not try to reinvent the wheel. Great teachers beg, steal, and borrow ideas.
5. Most importantly..GO HOME AND RELAX. You don’t have to teach everything nor do you have to grade everything. You have to enjoy your life outside of school or you will BURN out very quickly.
Looking way back I wish I had known:
ReplyDelete1- to ASK questions whenever anything did not make sense! I now realize that fellow teachers are more than willing to help and give free advice!
2- get to know your office and custodial staff. They are the 'behind the scenes' workers and can assist you in countless ways!
3-take the time to get to know your students. Find a way to 'connect' with them. This single act can make a huge difference in the success of their year AND yours!!
4-reflect on your teaching. Its okay to try things another way. Its okay to admit there might be a better way. Caring about what you do makes a teacher stronger and more effective. Never get stuck in 'the box'. Always be open to new possibilities!
5- find something else outside your job to help keep you balanced. Be a caring teacher who constantly reflects and collaborates - but try not to let it consume you. It happens- unfortunately the end results in NOT becoming a better teacher....but becoming a very TIRED caring teacher! :)
1 - Curriculum - study the curriculum you will be teaching and what resources you have available to you at your school - be willing to listen to veteran teachers about what they've tried and express your ideas, but be willing to change if you try something and it doesn't work.
ReplyDelete2 - Classroom Management - What is required at your school - PBIS - Rewards/Consequences
3 - Time Management - How to plan your week and get prepared for the next week - choose one night you will work late to prepare for the next week, you don't have to stay late every night, but know you will need to at least one night or the weekend
4 - Lesson Plans - know what is required by your administration and what needs to be included in them - try to be planned at least one week in advanced so your mornings aren't spent trying to gather resources and you can be less stressed
5 - Paperwork - It's going to come - I try to get it off my desk as quick as possible so that I don't lose it or miss deadlines - don't let things pile up, work to get things done in breaks, but we don't work a 9-5 job and know that you may have to be willing to put in the time to improve and to be organized and your stress will decrease.
1. In college you attend seminars on how to deal with student behaviors, but I wish that I had been given a course on how to deal with parents. I think I made the same mistake that I see so many young teachers make and that is getting defensive when a parent confronts them with a problem or criticism. Let's face it--sometimes we are actually wrong in how we handle situations. I have had to learn over the course of my career how to openly acknowledge my mistakes and apologize (whether it be to a parent or student), be a listener, and speak softly to diffuse a frustrated/upset parent. This doesn't mean to be a doormat, but if you can convey to the parent that you only have their child's best interest in mind, then you can work together to help the student to be successful.
ReplyDelete2. I wish someone had also told me that there are days that you will feel very disillusioned and want to quit. You went into teaching eager "to make a difference", but you are feeling as frustrated as some of your students. If a BT knows that sometimes a veteran teacher also feels this way, then they know it is normal and will soon pass. Start each day fresh.
3. Collaborative work has now become the norm, but it wasn't always that way. New teachers had to feel their way around and pretend that they knew what they were doing. They were afraid to ask questions for fear of appearing to be inept. Now, through weekly meetings and planning, BT can get help not just from their mentor, but from their whole grade level and other resources.
4. Use your time wisely. Preparing lessons take time and if you don't utilize your daily planning period to the utmost, you will be taking it home and allowing it to interfere with your family life.
5. Don't get bogged down with all the paper work. Grading papers is needed for feedback, but try to also find alternate ways of assessing student work (dry erase boards, checking their own papers, etc.).
That first year is a tough one and a positive attitude will go a long way. Try counteracting every negative with a positive. This helps me through a lot of days when I am feeling the stress. This year is doable and we will survive and learn together along the way. I truly believe not only does the mentor guide and coach the BT, but the BT can also show the mentor a few new things.
ReplyDeleteAlong with that positive attitude BTs need to remember the old saying, "There is no such thing as a dumb question." Even if you feel that your questions are not worth asking, ask. Remember your mentor is only human and it may have been a long time since they were in your shoes. We new mentors are in a learning stage just like the BT is at this time.
Take time out for fun and your personal life. I believe failure to do so is part of why so many BTs suffer from burn out. It is a demanding profession and can seem to be never ending at times. Time for fun and yourself will rewind your batteries.
Remember, you will have bad days here and there. It is normal and it is okay! We all do and that is just part of life. When you have a bad day let your mentor know, "Hey, I am struggling here I need to vent and be lifted up."
We are here to help BTs in all areas and I hope I can make a difference in their first years.
1. Show your students that you care about them. Students will do so much more if they know that you care about them.
ReplyDelete2. Use your curriculum as a guide.
3. Be flexible. All students are different and have different needs. What works for one group may not work for another.
4. Be well planned. Things run much smoother when you are well planned.
5. Ask for help. This is a difficult job with no manual.
1. Be a role model for your students not only in the classroom but also in the community. This includes being positive even with the "toxic" people you may come across.
ReplyDelete2. Parents, Parents, and more parents! Be prepared to involve parents. Communicate with the parents. And last but not least let the parents know that you are an advocate for their child, you care for them and want for them to be successful.
3. Organization is a skill that we all need to continue to work on.
4. You will have to reflect and reverse. Not every lesson goes as planned and when it doesn't go you need to reflect, reverse and reteach.
5. You are not just a teacher! You have a life too! Make sure to take time for yourself, your family and your friends.
BDula
ReplyDelete1. Be Yourself--you can only be effective being you.
2. Be Determined--Don't let the political or the social discouraged you. Also, the negative people can cause you to question your decision to teach. Teaching is about the students and the difference you can make in their life. Stay with it!!!!
3. Be Excited--What an opportunity you have to make a difference in the world. Show your students you care and you are glad they are in your class.
4. Be an Example--Many students do not have someone to look up too. You set an example of high moral and social values that your students can imitate.
5. Be Available--Parents and students will have questions but also your co-workers and administrators. Don't run from the questions but embrace them to make yourself a better teacher and communicator.
1. Organization, Organization, Organization! As a first year teacher, this is a must for survival. I was a teacher's assistant for 8 years before getting my teaching license, so I saw first hand organization in a classroom keeps everything running smoothly for teachers, as well as students and parents.
ReplyDelete2. Compassion--Understand that you may be only the only shining light in some of your students' day. You have to know your students and their lives outside of the classroom. Some need those extra words of encouragement to help motivate them to do their best.
3. Curriculum--You must know the curriculum and how to integrate the science and social studies standards into reading and math. Without integration, you will be spinning your wheels trying to get all of your curriculum taught.
4. Enjoy your students--Students know if you are happy to be their teacher and if you care about them. Get to know them personally and enjoy each one's uniqueness and what it brings to your classroom.
5. Time Management--Limit your long hours at school and don't forget about your own family. It is easy to get so busy with your professional life that you neglect your personal life. Find a balance to make your life less stressful!
Communicate effectively – Make sure the students know the assignments and your expectations. Communicate with parents about grades and behavior early and often.
ReplyDeleteDocument, Document, Document – Keep emails and letters to parents, colleagues, and administrators.
Develop Great Lessons – Effective lessons will capture and hold the students and will decrease behavioral issues.
Have High Expectations – All students can and will learn. Do not give up on students. Be authentically enthusiastic about the lesson.
Care about Students – When God revealed to me that my classroom was my mission field and that I had the power to make a positive impact on multiple generations, I became a better teacher. I was once told that “students may not remember what they taught you, but they will remember how you treated them.”
Students appreciate and will follow a teacher who truly cares for them.
Eric Walker
You will learn more your first year teaching than your students will and that is okay. You must let your students know that you truly care about them. Get to know them. Attend outside of school functions in which your students are involved in. Once they know you care they are more willing to what you ask them to do.
ReplyDeleteExpect a lot and you will get a lot. Set your expectations high but reachable.
Fair is not always treating all children the same.
Be prepared to teach. If a lesson flops it is okay. Start new the next day.
Be willing to say you are sorry. If you make a mistake, take ownership of that mistake and apologize.
Try to use all learning styles in your lessons.
Keep learning and searching for new ways to teach.
1.) Each day is a new day- Some days are better than others but it is important to start each day with a smile.
ReplyDelete2.) It is okay to make mistakes- It is nearly impossible to know everything your first few years of teaching. I felt that I was constantly learning new things every day during my first few years of teaching and I still am! If something doesn’t work the way you think it should, it is okay to try again!
3.) Ask for help-There are so many people who are willing to help. Do not be afraid to ask. No question is too silly to ask.
4.) Keep a positive attitude! Surround yourself with positive people.
5.) Be flexible-Things may come up during the day that interrupt your schedule and it’s okay. It is okay if sometimes your lesson takes a different direction than what you originally planned. Some of my most successful learning experiences in the classroom happened when it was least expected.
Emily Schwandt
Set reasonable yet high expectations of your students; you will find that most of them will step up to the challenge.
ReplyDeleteYou need to remember that you can try to help students whenever possible, but that you can not save the entire world. There are some students that will, despite your very best efforts, fail to rise to your expectations. If you can honestly say that you have tried your hardest to help all of your students, you have done your job and done it well.
It is okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from those mistakes.
It is not a bad thing to ask colleagues and administration for help.
You can develop relationships with your students, you can care about your students, you can work hard to try to help them in a variety of ways. You can not be their best friend and you can not solve their problems. Be willing to listen, but be careful not to take their problems personally. Also, have a "tough skin" and learn that you can not take student criticism and failure personally.
There are so many things new teachers need to know it is hard to narrow it down to 5.
ReplyDelete1. Have a plan to teach and to carry out classroom management. Each day may not go as planned and that's okay. Lessons may be unsuccessful, but we reflect and learn from those. If we come in unprepared, students and chaos will take over. In your classroom management, say what you mean, and mean what you say. Be consistent. Set your expectations high. You will get what you expect.
2. Get to know your students and their needs. Listen and have conversations. Learning about a student's home life can tell you a lot about what goes on or the lack there of in the classroom. Be a champion for your students. Get to know your students' families. Open communication is important. Be sure to have a plan in how you will carry out weekly communication between school and home, and document.
3. There is a lot more to the teaching profession than just planning lessons and carrying them out. Find a supportive professional community and go to them. There are going to be tough times and you need a strong support system.
4. Everyday isn't going to be a good day. Even in year 14 I sometimes wonder if I should just give up, but then something happens that quickly reminds me why I teach. You will feel this way in year 1 and probably year 20 as well.
5. Professional Development is important. We must be life long learners as well. We must never stop learning and developing as educators. None of us know it all and we can learn from one another. Ask questions, ask questions, ask questions. There is often a wealth of knowledge on the same hallway in which you serve.
1) Things aren't always going to go as planned. That's OKAY! Use it as a learning experience and move on!
ReplyDelete2) Students' home lives are not always great. Understand where your student is coming from. Know that family background and living conditions can and will impact student performance. When I began teaching I was shocked at the number of students that didn't even have food to eat at home.
3) Someone told me in preparation for my first year, "Don't go in the teacher's lounge." They didn't literally mean to not go in there, but in other words, avoid the negative! The more positive you surround yourself in, the more positive you will be!
4) It's okay to ask for help! I still need it everyday!
5) Borrow/share materials! Especially in the beginning. Odds are someone has already created it and would be more than happy to let you use it! This helps you to spend time wisely! (And then in turn, be willing to let others borrow and share).
The five things I wish someone had told me my first year teaching:
ReplyDelete1. Surround yourself with positive colleagues. If you hang around the ones that complain all the time, you will find yourself doing the same.
2. Get involved with the school. Whether it be coaching, club sponsor, or even simply attending a game or play, it is amazing how kids notice when you are there. It will show that you care and you will feel more invested in the school.
3. Flexibility is important. There will inevitably come a time when a fire drill, tornado drill, field trip, etc puts your classes off sync. There is nothing you can do about it other than adjust.
4. That most teachers have gone through the exact same feelings and problems. They have all had discipline issues, trouble with managing time, and have all wondered if they are in the right career.
5. Leave school at school. In order to maintain your sanity you must set aside “me time”. Enjoy time with your family and friends and come back tomorrow refreshed.
Josh Williamson
The five most important things to know during your first year of teaching:
ReplyDelete1. Ask for help! You will have lots of questions, and the first year of teaching is not a good time to be too prideful to ask them. Your mentor and other teachers are there to assist you, utilize them.
2. Be open minded. You will be faced with so many new things. New learning styles, different cultures, other teacher's styles. Be open to adapt and try new things to meet your students needs. You can learn from your students as well!
3. It is so important to reach out to your students and make them feel at ease with you. Find common ground, be open, and approachable.
4. Make time for yourself outside of work. It's important to your success as a teacher to have a personal life and outside activities to clear your mind and de-stress.
5. Have clear expectations for your students. Set the tone early so that your students always know what you want from them in the classroom.
1. Don't be afraid to ask for help. You are new and you are not expected to know everything.
ReplyDelete2. Establish a discipline policy and stick to it. Don't make idle threats! If you say you are calling parents, call!
3. Contact parents frequently and with confidence. Even if you have to fake it.You ARE the professional. This will help a lot when you have to have the not so good conferences. It will earn much more respect.
4. Set high goals with clear expectations for your students and positively encourage them everyday to reach for that goal.It's amazing how hard even the lowest ones and the meanest ones will work when they know that the teacher loves them and believes in them.
5. It's OK to leave your bag at school and walk out on time. (I still struggle with this one sometimes.) You have to have your down time. To be the best you can be for yourself, your family and your students, you must have personal time that does not include ANY school related activities.
1. Don't be afraid to ask for help. You are new and you are not expected to know everything.
ReplyDelete2. Establish a discipline policy and stick to it. Don't make idle threats! If you say you are calling parents, call!
3. Contact parents frequently and with confidence. Even if you have to fake it.You ARE the professional. This will help a lot when you have to have the not so good conferences. It will earn much more respect.
4. Set high goals with clear expectations for your students and positively encourage them everyday to reach for that goal.It's amazing how hard even the lowest ones and the meanest ones will work when they know that the teacher loves them and believes in them.
5. It's OK to leave your bag at school and walk out on time. (I still struggle with this one sometimes.) You have to have your down time. To be the best you can be for yourself, your family and your students, you must have personal time that does not include ANY school related activities.
The 5 most important things a BT should know...
ReplyDelete1.) Play no favorites...sure, we all have students we enjoy more than others. However, be sure that your classroom expectations, consequences, and grading is fair! Make sure that you aren't more lenient on some than others.
2.) Communication with parents is key...be sure to keep parents informed. Teens aren't known for keeping parents up-to-date so don't rely on them to get things home. Have a well-known way for parents to contact you and know what is going on at school. Whether using e-mails, phone trees, Parent Portal, webpages, blogs, texts, voicemails, be sure it is kept current and up-to-date.
3.) Document....when dealing with others, be sure to keep a paper AND electronic trail showing your communications. This may prove invaluable if a conflict or concern arrives with a particular individual, student, or peer.
4.) Know who to go to for help...who REALLY knows the right answers. Don't be afraid to talk to a trusted colleague for guidance in anything. Know who can help if an emergency arises in your classroom, at home, or on the way to school. You never know when chaos will erupt!
5.) This piece of advice was said to me by my mentor and I've never forgotten it..."Know when to put your pencil down and go home. The papers will still be there waiting tomorrow!" Set realistic expectations of what you can get done in a day. Yes, sometimes you'll stay late, but some days, you need to leave the building, get a fresh perspective, and take a break!
- Anita Whitehurst
1? Start day one building relationships with your students. When you have opportunities for one on one conversations, take them. Conduct interest surveys and/or send home parent surveys to find out their perspectives about their kids.
ReplyDelete2) Please don't hesitate to ask! Sometimes new teachers are afraid to look foolish so they don't ask questions! Find trusted colleagues that you can ask and depend on. Hopefully one of those is your mentor.
3) You absolutely must establish your authority on day one. The best way to do that is by being well planned for lessons and procedures. Take control with a strong presence in the classroom and look the part of a true professional.
4) Do not allow yourself to be overwhelmed. Work as hard as you can every day but don't always drag work home with you.
5) Do not think this job ends at 3:15. Be willing to put in extra time to tutor kids, build relationships, attend sporting events, and build relationships with parents and students. Be willing to take on extra responsibilities, but only those you feel passionate about. Find your calling within the school!