It is your first school year and you can't imagine what you were thinking. There is no way you can handle teaching all on your own. Before you panic completely and throw in the teaching towel, try a few of these tips for starting off the first school year the right way.
Use classroom organization supplies.
Teachers who have been in the field for twenty or thirty years have created materials that are designed to organize classrooms and help things run more smoothly. Head to your nearest teacher supply store to take a look at all the options, but don't get carried away by all the extras available. You need a few basic supplies to stay organized all year long.
- A lesson planner is designed to help you plan out an entire year's worth of classes. Planning ahead, at least from month to month, can give you confidence. After all, you know exactly what you want to get accomplished each day and if your mind goes blank, you can glance at the lesson plan for that class and refresh your memory in a matter of seconds.
- A grade book is also essential. Grade books help you keep track of attendance, missed assignments and averages. Even if you computerize your record keeping, having a paper backup doesn't hurt.
- Seating charts and nameplates for desks are sanity savers at the beginning of the school year. Just make sure you don't allow your students to pick seats. It may be unpopular, but assigned seating can help you avoid a lot of background chatter and may even stop bullying.
Behind every successful teacher is a list of unbreakable rules.
- Class rules are easier to remember if they are written down. Even high school students can benefit from a concrete reminder of what you expect from them. Set rules on the first day of school, talk about consequences and stick to what you say.
- Reward charts are a great way to reinforce good behavior.
Mentors are a great idea.
Talk to teachers who've been teaching for several years and ask one or two of them to mentor you throughout the year. You can get advice on who to go to with problems, how to deal with jitters, or what worked with a student who had learning difficulties last year. Just be careful about forming opinions about any of your students before you meet them based on your mentors' experiences. Sometimes, a student is labeled as bad or disruptive by one teacher who just didn't hit it off with that student and the label sticks.
Finally, don't forget to relax and have fun. The most important thing about planning for a school year is to be mentally prepared for a fun and challenging year.
