Tips for New Teachers

#4 - Establish Routines

I cannot stress this tip enough!  Please take the time to establish and practice routines in the beginning of the year.  I have routines for EVERYTHING we do on a daily basis--from sharpening pencils to walking in the halls.  Think about the things you might want a routine established for (lining up, entering/exiting the classroom, walking in the halls, turning in work, sharpening pencils, transitioning, etc.).  Then, continue to practice those routines throughout the first few weeks of school.  The end goal should be that your students could run the classroom in your absence (making a substitute's life a whole lot easier!).

Why do this?  Not only does it foster independence for your students, but it makes your life easier, too!  I promise...if you take the time to establish (and practice) set routines, you will spend less time redirecting and more time teaching!

Tips for New Teachers

#3 ~ Recognize that you are not your students.

When I say this, I mean two different things.  First, understand that how you learn best is not always how your students will learn best.  Many teachers tend to teach to their own learning style, whether or not it benefits the students.  My advice is to take time to get to know your students and what makes them tick, what inspires them, what motivates them...and use it!  Not only will doing this keep your kids engaged, but it will also help diminish behavior problems.

Secondly...please, please, please remember that you are not your students' best friend.  This is a classic "rookie" mistake and I cannot stress enough the importance of setting boundaries for your students (and preparing for your students to test those boundaries).  Get your "teacher look" going, practice it in a mirror...good teachers are able to stop unwanted behavior with a look!  I'm kidding, of course, but not entirely.  Establishing the boundaries in the beginning of the year will make the rest of your year more peaceful.

Tips for New Teachers

#2 ~ Be a team player!

There is something so special about being a new teacher--the excitement, passion and ideas are endless!  However, if you are not careful, your excitement, passion and ideas can be misinterpreted as being a "know-it-all."  This is not your fault...trust me.  However, it is important to respect those who have been in the field longer than you--regardless of how you feel about them.  My advice to you new teachers is to become a student of the teachers around you.  This does not mean you can't share your ideas or get excited about projects.  It simply means that there is a lot to learn, and much of it can be learned from your new colleagues.  If they think you are going to come in and try to change the way they do things, a wall will be built faster than you can blink.  Don't be afraid to share your ideas, but remember to listen to theirs.  Understand that these people can help make your first year a fantastic learning experience, or an awful experience!  I want you to have the best experience possible.  Remember, my goal is to keep you teaching!

Tips for New Teachers

#1 ~ Establish positive parent communication.

As the school year begins, take time that first week to contact all of your students' parents.  Whether you've already met them at "Meet the Teacher" night or not, I cannot begin to explain how important it is to establish positive communication with the parents of your students.  In the first week of school, I make sure to personally (...and briefly...) speak to each and every one of my parents.  Yes, it seems time consuming, but really it's not.  I take my class list and make about five phone calls a night.  By the end of the first week, I have spoken with each parent.  The conversation is very simple and goes something like this:

"Hi Mrs. Smith!  This is Ms. McCabe, Jonny's teacher.  I just wanted to touch base and let you know that Jonny is off to a great start in second grade.  I am so happy to have him in class and look forward to working with you throughout the year.  Have a great night!"

Doing this sets the precedent that you plan on working as a team for the benefit of their child, and that when you call, it's not always bad news.  I have had many parents tell me how nice it is to receive a "good" phone call about their child.  Too often, parents only hear from teachers when something bad happens, or someone is in trouble.  This makes parents cringe when they see the school's number pop up on their caller ID.  Think about the times you, as a child, saw your school's phone number on the caller ID...you were shaking in your boots!  Don't do this to your students...make them smile when they see your number.

Continue to make positive phone calls throughout the year.  Call to inform parents of a student who reaches their fluency or math goal, makes a really good choice, is extra helpful to a friend, etc.  You see the point...make positive phone calls (or send emails).

Of course, you will still need to make those "bad" calls as well, but I will promise you that parents are much more receptive to the "bad" calls when they know you are also recognizing the good in their child.

Here is a link to a simple, but effective parent/teacher communication log from Jessica Winston-Saunders at The Teaching Oasis  Remember to document ALL forms of communication, including those positive phone calls!

Get ready...August is close!

I cannot believe that summer is coming to an end already!  It seems like I just packed up my classroom last week.  I guess being crazy busy will make the time fly, and between finishing my master's, completing my internship and preparing for a new teaching role, I would say the time flew!

So, as I begin thinking about going back to school, I can't help but think about all you newbies out there.  Yes, you...the passionate, enthusiastic (...and maybe a bit overwhelmed...) first year teachers who are itching for the maintenance crew to finish cleaning so you can get into your first classroom.  I remember that time well, and while I was uber-excited, I was also nervous!

In working with new teachers over the last few years, I have been asked for advice on starting the school year and the amazing adventure of shaping the children of the future (in my best Whitney Houston voice).  I've come up with a few tips...things I've learned from other outstanding teachers, things I've noticed along my journey and ideas for making your first year the best year.  Let's face it, most teachers entering the profession, leave after the first 5 years...I want you to stay!  In fact, that is my passion and why I am making the leap into administration...you became a teacher for a reason, I want to help you keep that fire burning!

Over the next few weeks, I will post teaching tips for you...tips that I wish I knew as I began my first years of teaching.  If you have specific questions, please leave a comment below and I will do my best to answer all of them.  You can expect the first post to be published tomorrow!  Good luck and get ready for choosing the most difficult, yet rewarding job in the world!

This Week

On my plate for this week...grades are due, lesson plans need to be written, district surveys need to be completed, professional development videos need to be viewed...oh, I'm also in the final stages of my master's degree and have also volunteered to tutor three days a week (what was I thinking?!?). Ughhh!

I have to admit that I felt very overwhelmed this weekend and could have very easily talked myself out of working out because "I have no time," but I didn't.  And let me tell you...thank goodness I didn't!  I got out of bed each morning and pushed PLAY (using TurboFire and Insanity programs) each day this weekend.  Not only did it wake me up, but working out gave me MORE energy!  I was able to check a few things off each day, and presto! My "To-do" list has become a "Done" list!

Working out not only fuels the muscles, but it makes for a happier, healthier you!  Check out this article regarding the 7 Mind-Blowing Benefits of Exercise published by US News.

Also, here's a little freebie that I put together this weekend to help my parents understand the running record assessment our district requires.  Click here to grab your FREE copy (on sale in my TpT store).

As I went into school today (on a day when we were supposed to be off), I realized looking at the parking lot of cars, that teaching is one of the few jobs that does not end when one leaves the building.  In fact, it continues on the way home, while spending time with the family, as one gets ready for bed, etc.  The best teachers are always working--day off or not.  They are grading papers, writing lesson plans, reflecting on lessons, creating new lessons, and the list goes on and on.

In my eight years of teaching and my current study of educational leadership, I have found that too many teachers do not take time for themselves.  Let's face it, no one goes into teaching for the "money," (some may argue that teachers get summers off, spring break, blah, blah, blah).  The good teachers will tell you that there is no vacation time...those days are used to grade papers, create lessons, or to work a second job.

It is my hope that this blog will help teachers remember to take time for themselves.  For it is when we get overly stressed or burned-out, that our students suffer.  I am a teacher myself, and have just recently realized the importance of taking care of myself--for the benefit of my students.  So, on this blog, I will post educational, as well as health/fitness related topics in an effort to help my fellow teachers "Educate and Appreciate."