Advice for First Year Teachers
An Educator's School Survival Guide for Beginning Teachers
Sep 10, 2009
There are so many things that need to be done before school starts, it can be intimidating. First year teachers are at a disadvantage simply because of a lack of actual teaching experience. There is no shortage of information. Only time can give new teachers the experience they are looking for.
Set Standards at the Start of School
Students have the right to learn in a safe, secure environment. Classroom management is vitally important to having control of the classroom. Students want to know that their new teacher is in charge and can control behavioral issues.
Students expect the teacher to be consistent and fair. Involving students in setting up the rules of the classroom gives students a sense of ownership. When they get to be part of the process, students will be more apt to participate and that eases the burden of the new teacher.
Set high standards on day one. It is easier to start out strong and relax things later. Students have an amazing ability to live up to the expectations teachers set, be they high or low.
Organization of Classroom
The more structure that is in place, the easier life will be. The teacher will set up the classroom so students know where things are, what materials there are to work with. The day's agenda can be clearly posted each day in the same place so students know what to expect. The new teacher explains how homework will be passed out and collected the same way each day. Consistency is key.
The new teacher should keep a to-do list. Many things come up and it helps to keep track of them in one place. Grades, lists of students, student files, papers all need a home. There is nothing more discouraging than a huge pile of ungraded papers. All teachers will find it much easier if they keep up with grading.
Sources of Information for New Teachers
Other teachers are going to be the best sources of information. They may not approach a new teacher, because they know how busy a new teacher is. That doesn't mean they are unfriendly or unwilling to help; they are busy, too. Experienced teachers are a fountain of knowledge. They know where to get information for lessons, how to talk to parents, and where to go for lunch. There is no question too small or too ridiculous. They were once new teachers, too.
It is better to have too much for students to do than not enough. With nothing to do, students will find ways to get into trouble. The internet is an endless source of ideas, lesson plans, and content. “Sponge” activities or short exercises will fill down time or for students who many finish ahead of others. Excellent sources of ideas are Education World and Teacher Vision.
New teachers should know the subject and the plan to teach for each time period. Lesson plans are essential. It is always an option to drop or abbreviate part of the lesson if running short on time, but it's difficult to make up an activity that was not planned for at all. If a lesson runs short, it is helpful to have a number of shorter lesson plans ready to go.
New teachers should keep a notebook of how lessons and activities went. There may be an area that needs to be covered in more depth and there may be ideas for future lessons, too. Reflection helps to identify areas that may need improvement, alteration, or should be retaught.
It's easy to feel overwhelmed and lost during that first year of teaching. New teachers should remember to be fair with students, organized in the classroom, and to seek out advice from experienced teachers. The first year of teaching is survivable and will become increasingly smooth with experience.
