First Year Teacher

I have a bit of a theme going lately, back to school.  I was thinking about all the first year teachers my old school just hired and was then thinking about my first year teaching.  I got very lucky my first year when I found an experienced teacher who took me under her wing.  She helped me navigate all the school politics that I wasn’t expecting and also gave me helpful teaching tips.  Now it’s time to give back.  Here are a few of the things I learned.

School Politics

• During staff meetings don’t ask questions.  Experienced teachers want to get out and will resent you.  Instead, find a teacher you trust and ask him or her.  If that doesn’t apply ask the secretary, principal, or vice principal.
• About school secretaries.  They know absolutely everything.  Be very, very nice to them and chat them up if you want to know what is going on before everyone else.
• Be nice to everyone.  This is less a political thing than a pet peeve.  It irks me no end to see teachers being dismissive of the custodians.  I loved all of our custodians, they kept my room running and watched out for my classes when I had subs. 

Teaching Tips

• You are not there to be friends with the students.  You are there teacher, it doesn’t matter if they hate you as long as you can keep them under control and teach them.  This doesn’t mean be a total jerk to them, just don’t try to make them ‘like’ you.  Just do your job.
• Don’t assign homework that will take you hours to grade.  Homework is to help children learn but it isn’t the main point.  You aren’t going to be allowed to base their grade on their homework so don’t kill yourself grading it.
• Don’t take on a lot of clubs and sports.  This may not seem like a teaching tip, but it is.  If you are spending a ton of nights and weekend time working on the extra stuff you’ll have less time for teaching stuff.  You are there to teach, it needs to be your top priority.  When done right it isn’t an easy job.  Give yourself some time to learn the ropes before you jump into a lot of extras.

If you are a new teacher do you have any questions or need some advice?  If you are an experienced teacher do you have any tips to add??

 
Summer is winding down and kids are starting to think about ‘having’ to go back to school.  I can’t really fuss at the kids for this because as a teacher I felt the same way.  It is so nice to be completely free for a few months (well as a teacher not completely free because […]

Continue Reading...

 
As schools around the country get ready to start many parents are worried about the expense of back to school shopping.  I have one thing to say to you.  SALES.  As a teacher I became at expert at scouring school supply sales.  I think it is actually a requirement that you be addicted to school […]

Continue Reading...

 
Here is an excellent site for teachers, students, and parents.  It is a great way to get the news streamlined into something students can more easily understand. 
Student News is something I’ll be using not only for my students but for myself as well.  I hope you enjoy it as well :) 

Continue Reading...

 
Okay, first I should tell you that the healthy school lunch isn’t to be found in an American public school.  Chef Dominique Valadier is the man who purchases the majority of the food served at the school within a thirty mile radius of the school and then prepares it with little or no frozen ingredients.  […]

Continue Reading...

 
This is what I’m talking about!  Some decent media coverage about putting education front and center in the presidential election.  It makes me happy that someone who can do something (as in not just me and my little blog) is trying to make this a national issue.  As a matter of fact the article says […]

Continue Reading...

 
As a follow up to the adverb video thought I’d post the Grammar Rock adjective video.  An excellent and cute video.  Kids (heck adults for that matter) often learn better when something is put to music.

 
So is the song stuck in your head?  Do you love or hate these videos?

Continue Reading...

 
According to this article McCain is saying some things but nothing that I feel strongly one way or the other about.  The part of the article that really interested me is that McCain is to discuss his education platform at the end of summer.  I’m so excited that there will BE an education platform that […]

Continue Reading...

 
I bet that got your attention.  You are probably either really for it or really against it.  Either way here is an interesting little story from across the pond for you.  This story talks about children who after a lesson on Islam were asked to pray to Allah.  Ummm what?  That would soooo never happen […]

Continue Reading...

 
If you want some detailed information (or a general idea at least) of what I mean when I say FCAT reading camp you can check out a news article about one in Orange County here. 
If you aren’t from Florida you should know that the FCAT is our standardized test that is given to make […]

Continue Reading...