Calling all Teachers!!

[Emiems20]

Hi everyone,
I am about to start my first year as a full time teacher!! Yay! So excited! I have been a substitute teacher for the past two years and the cheerleading coach. I have also done several observations (getting my M. Ed.) at the school. I was just wondering if you could give me any advice for my first year. Thank you all so much!

Emily

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Hi Emily!

Congratulations!!! Teaching is probably the most stressful, trying, and hectic endeavor you will ever take on; yet, it will also be one of the most, if not the most, rewarding. What grade will you be teaching? What subject?

First and foremost, make sure you have a rock solid classroom management plan. You need something simple and easy for you and the kids to adhere to. I'd recommend looking into Whole Brain Teaching for ideas. It is a combination of a classroom management and delivery approach that is just fantastic. You might also want to look into reading the books by Ron Clark, former Disney Channel Teacher of the Year.

Similarly, be sure to get to know your team leader or another veteran you can go to for logistical questions. This person will be your lifeline during the entire year until you've gone through every happening in the district. You'll gain more confidence from thereon because you'll know what to expect.

I have tons of other tips, but they are more subject-specific. Let us know more about your new position so we can help! There are hundreds of teachers here on the DIS!

 

[ariel_]

Congratulations!

I have just finished my first year of teaching after 4 years training, it's great when you finally start earning full-time wages for it! I totally agree with all of the advice above, but would stress that trying to maintain some sort of social life is important! I found it so difficult to even catch up with friends over a coffee because I was so tired all the time! So I've spent most of the summer holidays doing lots of catching up with long-lost friends.

Also, I'm sure you've already experienced this but watch out for all the bugs and illnesses you are exposed to - keep your immune system tip-top!

Good luck

 

[Emiems20]

I will be teaching Social Studies and Journalism at a very small (my largest class is ten students) private catholic high school. Thanks for the advice so far, can't wait to hear more!

 

[wendydarling826]

Congratulations! I am a veteran Catholic school teacher, and after 20 years of teaching, I still love, love, love my job (although you can hear me whining from miles away when summer's over!) I absolutely agree with what's already been said. It's so important to have a simple, consistent management plan and to have a routine for everything. With such small classes, you'll have the opportunity to get to know your students and their families well. Remember that you are their teacher, not their friend, and that you are a role model for the students you teach. Some days it won't seem like it, but you will make a difference in the lives of many. Don't be afraid to ask questions of your colleagues. But also know that it's your classroom and you have the opportunity to be creative in the way you structure your lessons. Good luck, and keep us posted!

 

[katcarter]

First and foremost GOOD LUCK!! I am going to begin my 14th year teaching at the same (small) school district on Monday and I still love it! I teach HS Physical Education and Health (grades 9-12). The biggest suggestion that I can give it to be the teacher and not their friend. You have love for them and care for them ---but you are not their friend!! Be strong beginning day 1.
Have a game plan and good classroom management skills and you will love your job!

Have a great 1st year!!

Kathy

 

[debilovesmickey]

Hi,
I am a Kindergarten teacher.. been teaching since 1984 except for the 7 years I was home with my young sons-- they are now in college.
I agree with finding a mentor teacher you can trust.
Also.. do what you can to listen more than talk. Once you know the culture of your school and get to know the staff.. it will be easier to understand the group dynamics. You learn a ton by just listening!
Be confident with parents. They see you as the expert you are!
I hope you love teaching.. I am guessing there are many of us here at the DIS.
If you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to help!

Debi

 

[RutgersAlum]

Hi, Emiems20, congratulations on your new position.

About to start my 18th year, whoa. I agree with the classroom management advice given, and like Nikkibell, like the techniques in Whole Brain Teaching (just type in whole brain teaching and add a dot com at the end to read more about it).

But my 2 pieces of advice to you are as follows:
1. As you have probably discovered, especially by substituting for the past two years, teaching can be a lonely existence, so make sure you don't shut yourself off from your colleagues--eat lunch with the others, at least a few days a week. And...
2. Stick with the positive people! Negativity begets more negativity, so feed your soul with ***positive*** input from positive colleagues, not negative!

Good luck. I started reading my Harry Wong's First Days of School again this past week, as I do every August, to get my head set straight for a positive start to the year. Get this book if you don't have it already!
Michele/Rutgers

 

[wishspirit]

I am just about to start my teacher training, so this is an interesting thread for me. In the UK you can do a 1 year course after a normal honours degree, so I am starting the primary (age 4-11) course in September. I am so excited, but I know I will be working long, hard hours!

 

[Bornteach]

I would HIGHLY suggest Harry Wong's work! He writes a fantastic book about the first days of school.

I think you have got some great suggestions here. Your mentor will be invaluable.


But probably the best piece of advice I could give you is "consistency is everything" Never say anything you are not willing to do and never give a different consequence for the same action.

Consistency.....

 

[DisneyKevin]

I havent taught in many years, but I'll add that you should never make a promise you cant keep or for something beyond your control.

 

[ninecrayons]

I'm just about to start my sixth year of teaching (Wow. How did that happen?) after doing the NYC Teaching Fellows - an alternative certification program.

A lot of great points have already been made. Classroom management and consistency are huge. I really liked the book The Reluctant Disciplinarian by Gary Reubenstein because it mentions many pitfalls for first year teachers.

A few words of advice.

1. Take care of yourself. Teaching, especially your first year, can be draining. Make sure you get all the sleep you need. My first year teaching I found I went to bed as early as 8pm sometimes. Make sure you build in some you time as well!

2. Try to be reflective. For me this has been a key point in becoming a better teacher. Whether it's thinking about how lessons have gone and how you might want to change them/improve them or collecting data points about individual students, this can definitely help focus your teaching.

3. Remember - it gets better! The first year of teaching is really the hardest and you'll find yourself in unexpected situations. There will be bumps along the way on the journey and you may end up feeling down about it, but every day you're becoming a better teacher. Every experience, no matter how bad, is something you can learn from. By the end of year one, you'll be amazed at how much you've grown!

 

[LSURyan]

Everyone gave great advice. I'll add consistency to the list. Be consistent, but admit when you are wrong or what you are doing is not working...then change.

I teach middle school band In a public school for the past few years, but taught in catholic schools previous.

The Wong book is good...as are others. Anything by Annette Breaux is a good professional development reading as well.


GOOD LUCK!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I also read Harry Wong before starting my first year of teaching. Now, I much more prefer Whole Brain Teaching methods which I think would be very helpful in a high school setting (they're used K-college). It's becoming a really big education reform movement. I've used this philosophy for a year and a half and was very impressed with the results.

I am a certified reading specialist and rely a lot on the latest reading research. I noticed that you will be teaching a journalism course. You might want to consider looking into resources by Graves and Thompkins. Because I teach fifth grade, I heavily rely on Ruth Culham's Six Traits. It can be applied to high school material, but I think Graves is right up your alley.

 

[Emiems20]

Thank you all for the wonderful advice! I have my first day with my students on Thursday. I have the first year teacher's survival guide by julia thompson that has been extremely helpful. I'm going to look into graves like Nikki suggested and into whole brain teaching. Thank you again.

 

[Jotash]

I have recently started my 5th year teaching middle school. The only thing I can add to what has already been said, especially because you're teaching high school, is that respect is a two-way street. I rarely have the discipline problems other teachers tend to have and I think that is because my students know I respect them and am on their "team." Even if I reprimand them for an action, I don't hold grudges. Every day is a new beginning. I am their biggest supporter and fan, no matter what level they are at, and every achievement is celebrated. Two things students are not allowed to say in my room: "It's not fair" and "It's too hard." Fairness is a matter of perspective and nothing is too hard - it's a challenge! My students know I wouldn't ask anything of them I didn't think they were capable of. I have helped "problem" students go from an F to a B or A simply by believing in them and taking that little bit of extra time to work with them.

In today's world, some students have no consistency in their lives except for their teachers. I recently heard from one of my former students who I taught my first year. She is now entering her senior year of high school (I am so old) and she thanked me for being the first person who believed in her and told her how smart she was. She came from a not-so-great home life and was told she shouldn't even think about college because no one else in her family had every gone. She became a straight A student, is looking at colleges, and is on her way to what I assume will be great things!! I know it wasn't all my doing, but I'm proud to think I played a small part when she was in my eighth grade class.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I have recently started my 5th year teaching middle school. The only thing I can add to what has already been said, especially because you're teaching high school, is that respect is a two-way street. I rarely have the discipline problems other teachers tend to have and I think that is because my students know I respect them and am on their "team." Even if I reprimand them for an action, I don't hold grudges. Every day is a new beginning. I am their biggest supporter and fan, no matter what level they are at, and every achievement is celebrated. Two things students are not allowed to say in my room: "It's not fair" and "It's too hard." Fairness is a matter of perspective and nothing is too hard - it's a challenge! My students know I wouldn't ask anything of them I didn't think they were capable of. I have helped "problem" students go from an F to a B or A simply by believing in them and taking that little bit of extra time to work with them.

In today's world, some students have no consistency in their lives except for their teachers. I recently heard from one of my former students who I taught my first year. She is now entering her senior year of high school (I am so old) and she thanked me for being the first person who believed in her and told her how smart she was. She came from a not-so-great home life and was told she shouldn't even think about college because no one else in her family had every gone. She became a straight A student, is looking at colleges, and is on her way to what I assume will be great things!! I know it wasn't all my doing, but I'm proud to think I played a small part when she was in my eighth grade class.

I think this is amazing advice for everyone to carry around, no matter what their profession.

 

[2girlsR2good]

Lots of great advice here--I'm now a 2nd year administrator after 16 years of teaching. Here are my two pieces of advice.

1--Ask for help early when you need it. Don't do the fake "everything's great" smile. It is not your job to be perfect from day one. Let us help you--we can do it without making you lose credibility in the eyes of the students.

2--Avoid ultimatums and standoffs. Never, ever paint yourself in a corner. When you declare "I'm giving 2 demerits to the next late student who walks in this door without a note" I guarantee you that the next kid in late w/out a note will be a colleague's kid who is never, ever late or disrespectful and he'll be late because he was in the bathroom crying over a girl and it will be a lose lose all around.

I love the first day of the school year just as much as the last day! Cheers!

 

[Emiems20]

I can not begin to thank you, everyone, for all of your advice. I will keep you updated. First day with students is Thursday!