Advice for New Teachers
Thanks to Stephanie at Teaching in Room 6 (click pic above for website) for her super helpful linky!
1. Lesson Plans- remember they are a guide. Do not feel like you have to follow them to a “T.” In fact, if you’re constantly staring at them as you teach, you are losing the kids. If you skip something or miss something on accident, the kids don’t know. Just roll with it.
2. Find your Voice- enjoy each moment and be a risk taker. You will become a great teacher over time. Work on commanding the room and showing your personality. The rest will come!
3. Small Groups- this is the latest trend in education, but start slow. Try pulling one small group while the rest of the students do something silent at their desk. When you can handle that, have the students at their desk work together and practice managing two working groups. When you’re ready, slowly add more groups until you’re at a comfortable rhythm.
4. Model, Model, Model- kids do not know, unless you show them. If you are to have high expectations, demonstrate what that looks like. Then have the students practice so they know how it should feel. Spend the first few weeks of school constantly going over procedures and expectations so that the rest of the year can be spent teaching content.
5. Have Fun 🙂 The first year is a whirlwind and you will want to remember your very first class. It’s okay to have butterflies, embrace them and work through it. Take lots of pics to remember those moments!
Go ahead, link up and share your ideas too!
About the author, Gretchen
I am a teacher trainer and coach. Working elbow to elbow with teachers and teacher leaders to ensure instructional proficiency and student achievement soar lights me up. We have a real need in our nation for strong educators to remain in the field. My blog, book, podcast, courses and instructional materials are geared towards empowering teachers (and those that lead them) to receive the support needed to grow and thrive today, tomorrow and always.
Get to know the lunch people, the janitor and playground people, they are all wonderful. Be sure to have plenty of bandaids. When a veteran teacher gives you advice listen, it doesn’t mean you have to do it their way, they are trying to help because they have been there. When a smelly dirty little one comes in the first day, love him/her don’t let physical things allow you to make a judgement, that child NEEDS you! Most of all realize realize you are making a difference!
Ooooh Jill..good one. The custodians are my right hand team- they always hook me up! You’re right about the students that need us the most are the ones that make others turn away. Great advice!
[…] Some teacher bloggers have added a Linky Party of good advice. […]
Excellent resource! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for blogging about this. I am 7 weeks into my first year of teaching art. My Principal and Assistant Principal have decided at week 5 that all of my lesson plans had to be written in detail (10 minute intro, then what exactly will happen in those 10 minutes, and so on). They also had me write the objectives for each class for the next 6 weeks. I am at a charter school so there isn’t a curriculum so figuring out all of this takes me a long time. Veteran teachers have given me their lesson plans, but with everything else I do it is so much more work to do the detailed lesson plans and my plans always have to change due to all the unexpected things that happen while teaching. The assistant principal is new and learning her way which I understand, but she frequently stops in my room and checks to see if I am following my lesson plan. I am exhausted and always paranoid because those meetings with the two of them always result in more fear and frustration. I thought they would have way more important things to do than watch the art teacher.
Congratulations! Your first year is full of highs and lows, but remember it only gets better. You will find your way and iron it all out. I am sorry to hear about the micromanaging. Generally, that type of leadership is coming down the pipe line for one reason or another and rarely has to do with you personally. I encourage you to speak with them to see if its something you are lacking versus the school/district. Lesson plans are time consuming, and unfortunately can contain irrelevant details. I am sure as they observe you teach the detailed lesson plans will no longer be a requirement. Do not be afraid to share your exhaustion in a professional manner. I wish I was able to come observe you and give you some insightful feedback. They might just want to ensure a newbie tows the line in the beginning. Just do what you do best and it will begin to get easier. Hang in!