Helpful Hints for Beginning Teachers Bill Walker Director, School of Science K-12 Outreach Mathematics Outreach Coordinator

Student Teaching Get involved –Faculty meetings –Student activities –School accreditation or other committees Meet as many people as possible –Department heads –Principals and Administrators It is not what you know, but who you know You are interviewing for your next job

Student Teaching Put in the extra effort Ask everyone questions –What do you like? –What do you hate? Listen, share ideas, and take experienced teachers’ advice Share with other student teachers

Interviewing Research the interview Have good questions prepared Ask about… –Benefits –Relationship between administration and teacher association –Job security

Interviewing Ask for and read the teacher contract –West Lafayette vs. Benton Central Teacher interviews on campus There is significant turnover in secondary education Consider teaching Middle School Keep alert in August

First Year Teaching Join your local teacher association –Be aware of your rights and procedures for teachers Become best friends with the secretaries, maintenance, and technology staff Attend workshops and professional development opportunities

First Year Teaching Have a plan for learning in your classroom and develop a discipline plan around it –How will students learn –Teach in a way that is comfortable for you –90% of your time on 10% of your students –Follow through on rules and consequences –If you do not intend to support a rule, throw it out –Follow all school-wide rules, even if you do not agree

First Year Teaching Relationship with students –I teach, you learn, any questions –Be consistent Making deals and giving breaks does not help students learn responsibility Understand the needs of your students, but know that every student has an excuse –I want students to like being in my class (bad idea) –Don’t smile until February

First Year Teaching Relationships with experienced teachers –Listen –Share –Try new ideas –Ask advice –Don’t be a know-it-all Some days will not go well, there is always tomorrow

Coaching Do not coach for the money You are a teacher, not a coach –Always take care of your classroom first

Politics Pay attention to state and federal politics –NCLB –PL 221 –School Accreditation –Teacher Accreditation Be involved in your local teacher association and ISTA –Go to the state government building to lobby