Hi, I'm new to the tribe and teaching. I was just offered a job at a primary school as an interrelated resource teacher, co-teaching with kindergarten and first grade teachers. I'm so excited, but a little nervous! I'm going the non-traditional route. I've just come out of a career in journalism but I've had a little classroom experience, helping out my mom, who is a kindergarten teacher.
Anyway, hello all, and any first year teacher advice would be greatly appreciated. All I ask is that you don't totally scare me. :)
Anyway, hello all, and any first year teacher advice would be greatly appreciated. All I ask is that you don't totally scare me. :)
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Re: First year teacher here
Mon, July 2, 2007 - 7:54 PMBest of luck. Kindergarten is fun but you need lots of patience! As much structure and activity as possible.
I have moved around a lot from elementary to high school but find I like middle school. This will be my second year teaching 7th grade. Sometimes these kids are like kindegarteners and other times like adults.
Make sure you're structured and organized (I've learned the hard way). And don't work too hard - try not to take it home.
One thing nice about kindergarten is no homework.
I'm teaching economics to seniors this summer and there is a lot of prep work!
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Re: First year teacher here
Wed, July 4, 2007 - 2:06 PM1. Have your act together from day one. Be very organized.
2. Do the extra mile to welcome both your students AND their parents to the classroom.
A little welcome pack for both is useful. Even just a pencil and a writing journal is good
for the kids. For parents you can dress up your parent pack to look fun and gifty.
3. Be creative in your classroom. Keep the colors rich but not too bright with yellows and oranges.
Use pictures of the kids on name tags for desks as soon as you can. Make them feel like it's
their room and they will take ownership of it sooner.
4. Start teaching procedures from day one and consistently enforce the rules.
5. Start a Yahoo group for your parents, or even just an email list so you can easily contact them all
for important announcements.
6. Enrich the curriculum you're given with things you're passionate about. You can teach more by creating
a memory, than by directly instructing them about anything. An example is I do a Q and U wedding each
year in February. From that point on my students never forget that Q and U always go together in words.
Think of teaching more as creating learning experiences and you will have a greater impact on them.
7. Early in the year conference with each child. Get to know their likes and dislikes, interests, family history
even what shows they watch on tv. It will help you give them ideas about what to write about later and help guide
you towards book selections etc... for them as well.
8. Don't be afraid of doing collaborative work with them. Let them work in groups or as buddies.
9. From day one expect them to solve their own conflicts. Guide them through the process a first.
Then when they come to you with a problem with another child, ask them to go sit down together and try to
work it out before you intervene. if you always fix their people problems they will never try to do it on their own.
10. Let them get messy and loud at times. They still need to play and have fun. The trick is getting them to learn while they think
they're just playing. -
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Re: First year teacher here
Wed, July 4, 2007 - 3:04 PMI think Vixxen just gave you some *excellent* pointers here!!! I just wanted to reiterate a few things....
A great way to get to know the kids is to have the parents email you about them, or set up a time for you to call them sometime during that first month. Contact with parents early and often isn't something I can stress enough!
And yes, set up a group or email list so that your parents can see what's going on in your classroom. Personally, I use the free service at www.schoolnotes.com for my students & parents. The parents can click on an automated link there that will sign them up on a mailing list to be notified each time you update (I try to update every day... or at least a couple times a week). It's particularly useful for letting them know about upcoming projects & tests, etc.
If you haven't already, buy or borrow Harry Wong's "First Days of School" www.harrywong.com/product/fds.htm and start reading through it. There are a ton of helpful tips in there
Yes, establish your rules & routines for EVERYTHING from day one (even raising hands, when it's appropriate to get up & move around the classroom, how to be excused to the bathroom, etc.) But only have around 5 major "classroom rules" because too many rules will be overwhelming (consider everything else "expectations" and remind the kids about them every day for the first month or so).
Yes... don't be afraid to have fun with them! Play with them, let them play... share things you enjoy with them, and allow them opportunities to share the things they enjoy with you. Let them work individually, in pairs, in groups. Popsicle sticks with each child's name works GREAT for group making! And for discipline type things too in elementary school! And I too place names on desks so that each child knows exactly where to go. I leave them there for the first week ... I don't put their pictures on the desks, but I do print out a photo attendance roster that I start studying the week before the kids arrive. I also leave this in a folder just in case I ever have a substitute... it helps them recognize who's who... It's good to familiarize yourself with their faces early on!
One of the most important things I can tell you is don't be afraid of them...they will be even more nervous than you... I didn't believe it my first year, but I just finished my second year and found it to be very true lol. And don't be afraid to be different! Find out what your colleagues are doing & teaching (and how) but if you come up with a different way then go for it! Trial and error is one of my favorite things about teaching... and I'm constantly learning myself :) -
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Re: First year teacher here
Wed, July 25, 2007 - 10:21 PMI'm attending a new teacher institute before I start my school year and they gave me the Harry Wong book. So far, it's awesome. Thanks for the suggestions guys!
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