recommendations for new teachers By: Claire Moyer claire.moyer@smail.astate.edu

Develop Relationships with Children, Parents and Staff Use registration time to build a foundation Create detailed student information sheets Send out Parent surveys Make Open House a special event Contact them with good news regularly Utilize technology whenever possible Establish an Open Door Policy

Have Fun and Love What Your Doing Be Enthusiastic about Teaching Be Caring and Supportive for your Students “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer “The love of learning, the sequestered nooks, And all the sweet serenity of books” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn” – Benjamin Franklin “I am not a teacher, but an awakener” – Robert Frost

Be Prepared, Organized and Have Systems Developed Characteristics of Successful Classroom Management Learners know what behaviors are expected. Students feel welcome to participate in learning activities. Classroom procedures and routines are clearly defined. Established rules are phrased positively and reinforced regularly. Classroom culture is based on mutual respect. Lessons and activities are well planned and learner centered.

Consistency in Expectations Materials developed for the course must be consistent. Students should be evaluated at the same level with the expectations of learning. Higher level evaluations may include: multiple choice questions or pictorial representations, essay questions, or critiques of literature. Give students assignments or projects that encourage higher level learning.

Engaging Students, Developing Confidence, and Promoting Independence Developing Confidence and be able to work independently: Acknowledge all contributions positively Encourage learning from mistakes Welcome wrong answers as the springboard to new understanding Use positive language and value different approaches to problem solving Encourage independent and small group research Developing Positive Attitudes: Use a wide range of tasks and resources Enthusiastic teachers with a “can do” attitude Plenty of opportunities for students to be successful Hands-on approaches to learning Use real life examples and explore links with other subjects. Offer positive role models Provide enjoyable activities and additional optional ways for study.

Listen to advice, ask questions & for help Feedback is a crucial part of learning for both students and teachers. Ask yourself some of the following questions to improve your classroom techniques and materials: What topics or aspects of the course did the students have difficulty with? Were there question formats that the students had difficulty with? Where did the students succeed? What content would you like to focus on differently? Does the overall organization of the course lead to mastery? Did you adequately assess if the students achieved the learning objectives of the course? Did the students overcome their misconceptions or stereotypes? Gather advice from colleagues as well.

Planning Courses To Help Students become intentional, responsible and enabled learners Help students become integrative thinkers and see connections among disciplines, reflect on their acquired knowledge and their learning to learn skills. Since responsibility to act as informed citizens is based on values, principles and commitments, we need to help students acquire these values and principles through actions and decisions. Enabled learners can use their knowledge and skills to communicate their ideas, solve complex problems and manage practical situations.

Be Flexible! Don’t try to do it all. Don’t reinvent the wheel!

Reflect and Change Where Necessary Revising Course by next year Consult with school administration and review curriculum content options. Also contact other faculty who teach courses that require your course as a prerequisite. Get ideas from previous students in a post-course survey or some other type of survey. Keep administration informed of changes so they know what to expect. Revisions may not be perfect but consulting many resources for ideas and ways to improve will help.

Importance of Documentation Things to Document Parental contacts, student behavior, failing students, incomplete assignments, verbal warnings, discipline referrals and more including date, time, student’s name and a brief statement describing what happened. Why so important? To avoid teachers being manipulated by parents or other teachers. Be Proactive: Documentation shows parents what their child is or isn’t doing and get confirmation from their teacher.

Gaining Knowledge and Growing

REFERENCES http://www.teachthought.com/wp- content/uploads/2013/07/tips-for-new- teachers.jpg http://www.usciences.edu/teaching/tips/ http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/9- techniques-building-solid-parent-teacher- relationships http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/13122- success-is-not-the-key-to-happiness-happiness-is-the