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So
in spite of it all you're going to be a teacher!! With contract in hand you're
given a key and told "Your room is that way." As you unlock the door and
enter your room, a feeling of panic and isolation overwhelm you... Can I do this???
Shut the door. Sit down. Take a deep breath. Know that if you care and really
want to do this you can! It's NOT going to be easy. There will be a lot of failures
and, yes, a lot of tears, but remember to count the successes, to laugh, and to
enjoy each child along the way.
Remember have FUN!!!
Enjoy the kids!
Look for small
miracles!
Discouraged? Tired? No Patience?
Just want to scream? Frustrated? Wondering if it is worth all this trouble?
Welcome to teaching!! And know most teachers feel this way about February
or March every school year. You feel as if you've made no progress with the students-
both academically and in improving their behavior. Stop. Take a break. Take a
Mental Health Day- really!! (That's an I'm sick of School Illness!!) Stay home
and do something for yourself. Forget school. The kids. Colleagues. Go to lunch,
a movie, watch old movies, soaps, read a book....something!!! Relax. Sleep late.
Recharge your batteries. You will be a better teacher for it. And you will be
able to finish the year without a total breakdown!
If at first you don't succeed...try another way!
NOVEMBER
is the time to start getting ready for open house. Yes! Pick 2-3 lessons
in a variety of areas to do each week and save the results. You then can pick
the best for Open House. This will prevent LAST MINUTE panic and you will be more
relaxed for the Open House date.
Plan Now for next year:
Because a year passes
between everything you do, teachers often forget what they did in specific instances.
* Get a calendar and write notes on it. Write on the date what you
need to plan or do.
Examples:
***Order colored pencils, ledger paper for
Sept.
***Time to set appointment with nurse for lesson about teeth
**Dr.
Seuss Birthday...Reading Day..next week
Keep this to refer to the next year.
*Begin file folders for specific times that contain all the information
of what you have done and any ideas to try the next time.
Examples:
**First
Day...put in a schedule of what you did, list lessons and a sentence or two of
content, a copy of the standards you set, any new ideas or comments
**First
Week...a copy of any worksheets you used, list of lessons, any beginning school
events,etc.
**September, October, etc.....one for each month
**A file
for every recurring special event
Example: Halloween, Thanksgiving,etc.
*Keep your lesson plan book from this year to refer to next year.
Set a budget!
Decide how
much you personally will spend on teaching supplies and STICK TO IT! There
are always lots of materials, books, stickers, name cards, games, stickers, activities,
and more stickers to tempt you. It is so easy to find that you have spent hundreds
to enhance your lessons and your room. The first few years you might spend more,
however, choose multi-level & multi-purpose items as it is not unusual to
change levels often the first few years. Always ask the school first
to buy any items. Often there is money available for the purchase of some
items. Then make your choices accordingly.
Three goals for this month:
Keep a journal
Have one handy and write in it at the end of each day relating
both failures and successes.
Start a file
Invest in a 3 drawer
file, hanging frames, and file folders.
From Day 1, file one copy of everything!
As you finish a unit , create a file -write suggestions for future use, a list
of all related materials-books,videos,resources, any new ideas that might relate
to the lessons.
Keep a copy of all correspondence
Always make
a copy of any notes you write to administration. Also, be sure you have dated
any correspondence.
You can only do one thing at a time! Know it will take you years before
you feel like you know at least a little about what you are doing! And, then,
every time you change grade levels (which early in your career may be frequently),
every time there is a new text, every time something new is added to your duties,
time is needed to learn, to change and to become comfortable again. Every year
you teach is different from the last. Never will you teach exactly the
same curriculum to exactly the same students..
You should choose ONE
area to focus on, to improve in, or to expand upon each year. The first few years
work on the basics-Reading first, then Language (including grammar, spelling,
writing), and then Math. As you gain experience, choose other areas to increase
your knowledge and skill. You CANNOT do everything all at once!!
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