Going to teacher’s college? 100 ways to succeed!
If you are thinking about becoming a teacher, or are a new teacher, a must-read website is “smartteaching.org.” In particular, mark as a favourite this most recent posting entitled “Baptism by Fire: 100 essential tips and resources for student teachers.”
I wish a resource vehicle like that had been available when I started teaching because my first week’s planning for both a grade six language arts class and visual art on rotary was enough to last nearly a full month’s work!!! Ah well, much better to be overplanned than under.
In any event, all practising teachers will no doubt nod their heads when I speak of the stark terror you will feel when you are facing a class of 30-40 students for the first time. What if they won’t listen to me? What if I can’t maintain class control? What ifs galore. But, what student teachers don’t realize is that the kids are just as nervous as you are. The bottom line is to somehow not show that nervousness while being comfortable with yourself.
Back to the “Baptism by fire” article. It starts off with general tips and relevant blogs. They then go on to list guides and tools, sample lesson plans, classroom management techniques, forums, advice from others, professional organizations, resume and interview ideas and last, but not least, a list of resource books.
With that many tips and resources at your finger tips, you can’t help succeed. But, one thing: Don’t forget about parents. The list of 100 only includes one specific item regarding parents — # 4 under “general tips.” Remember, if you have thirty students, you have up to sixty parents. All of them care about their kids and they want them to succeed even more than you.
So, learn how to communicate with the parents. And please, don’t put a bureaucratic and professional wall between you and them. If you can avoid doing that, plus all the technical stuff you will or have learned — guaranteed — you will have a long and productive teaching career.
educ8m:
Sandy As far as back-to-school clothes go, I now know why I chose schools that had uniforms!
About teachers’ college, I invite readers to read, “The Weakest Link” (www.societyforqualityeducation.org/newsletter/archives/weakestlink.pdf) for an interesting perspective on one teacher’s experience at an Ontario faculty of education.
August 14, 2008, 9:42 amAnn:
“the list of 100 only includes one specific item regarding parents”
that’s because the line of involvement is being driving and defined from those who least want to “partner”, “involve”, or “engage” parents. When parent finally clue in and learn how to use their statutory responsibilities effectively and wisely, those 100 tips could well be developed with parents at the table.
I find the whole “back-to-school” mantra offensive to be honest. It reinforces again, as if we needed reminding that the myth of more money = better learning and a better student experience. Common sense seems to fly out of the window in this silly season…….and parents are suckered right in.
Oh, and don’t you just love how parents are portrayed in the ads on TV???
Sitting at a social event last weekend where there were new young teachers and one seasoned veteran, I couldn’t believe how brutally honest the newbies were about what they did and didn’t get at teachers college. The veteran teacher in talking about lesson plans pretty much told the youngsters(all currently unable to find teaching jobs) that after a few years everything about lesson planning pretty much goes out the window and you develop your own methods that work better and are more realistic.
August 14, 2008, 9:52 amSandy:
Educ8m and Ann — I never actually taught methods in the pre-service year. What I did was teach a full credit course on curriculum theory and design. It was a third year course so could be taken by any student as an elective or was a required course for those in the four year concurrent program. I did do practice teaching supervision though and that was always interesting.
But, what the experienced teacher told them is right on. But, they need something to start with.
I also taught master’s level courses — with practising teachers — and a whole different thing. Pre-service students do not yet have their experience to draw on. It is the difference between night and day.
To new teachers:
As I have said before, learning to teaching is like driving a car (albeit more complex). You learn the rules and what to do but it isn’t until that first time you are completely on your own that you really learn how to drive. Then, it takes a few months where you no longer have to think about what you are doing. How many of us drive somewhere and don’t remember much along the way? We are attending but the process is so automatic, it is usually only when something goes wrong that we pay attention in the now.
Teaching and teacher’s college is like that. It’s mostly theory until you have to do it. Then, with practising teaching blocks, it’s the associate teacher you are pleasing. But, once you get a job, and you are on that first day all on your own, that’s where the rubber hits the road.
So, for anyone out there facing that “all on your own after Labour Day” — it will be fine because your natural teaching instincts will kick in.
But remember, in the first week of school, its routines, routines and routines. Otherwise, if you don’t establish the classroom routines, discipline will be a problem from the getgo.
Kids need to know how you want things done. They need to know routines for going to the washroom, where to hang their clothes, how to clean up after activities, how to get ready for a recess break, lunch and so on. They will also need to know how you get their immediate attention. I used to silently put up my arm. Then, they would do the same and within a few short seconds, silence. It works. You don’t have to raise your voice unless it’s an emergency.
Anyway, to all new teachers — good luck!
August 14, 2008, 11:07 am