Comments on: Advice for New Teachers

By: gschultek

gschultek — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 21:50:45 +0000

In reply to Ms. G. 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!

By: gschultek

gschultek — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 21:47:01 +0000

In reply to Starting the School Year off Right | Expat Educator. Excellent resource! Thanks for sharing.

By: Ms. G

Ms. G — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 13:45:13 +0000

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.

By: Starting the School Year off Right | Expat Educator

Starting the School Year off Right | Expat Educator — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 01:29:27 +0000

[…] Some teacher bloggers have added a Linky Party of good advice. […]

By: gschultek

gschultek — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 19:03:50 +0000

In reply to Jill. 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!

By: Jill

Jill — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 18:55:14 +0000

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!