Survival Kit for New Teachers

  Tips for Thriving in the Classroom

By Emma McDonald

Right now, you may be feeling overwhelmed. Teaching in your own classroom for the first time is a bit like your first entrée running a marathon. The rest of the school is returning to its usual routines. You, on the other hand, are trying to learn the ropes, teach and seem as though you are on the same page as everyone else. It can be daunting, but just remember we have all gone through this same stage. You will make it through. Hopefully you’ll find one or two long-timers who are more than happy to share their views, ideas and a shoulder when you need it. These dedicated teachers make all the difference between merely surviving and thriving your first year. The last 10 years of my life have been spent trying to help new teachers thrive. Below are a few words of advice I hope will help as you begin your new career.
Keep a calendar. This will be your lifeline throughout the school year. I highly recommend using Microsoft Outlook or whichever calendar program your school uses. With Outlook you can prioritize and categorize your appointments. You can keep track of tasks and assign due dates to each one. You can invite attendees to appointments such as parent conferences and school meetings. You can also print out the week and/or month to carry with you. If you don’t have easy access to a computer, then get a small datebook and keep it with you at all times. Before you do anything else, put all district and school holidays, events, professional development days and other important events into the calendar. Next, make an appointment for lesson planning every week at the same time. Also put in a weekly appointment of time for yourself. Do not go anywhere without this calendar! You never know when you will be told about a meeting or event that affects you. As soon as you are told, write it in your calendar. As soon as you get memos from the school administrator, write down the dates and events/tasks on that memo. This type of organization will help you keep your sanity.
Be a professional. Although a teaching degree can usually be obtained in four years of college, we are trained professionals. We must be certified and keep up our certification to remain in the classroom. We need to conduct ourselves as professionals. Our professionalism is apparent through our appearance, our demeanor, our attitude and our conversation. We need to dress appropriately for the students we teach. Wearing a three-piece business suit is not appropriate, especially for a primary teacher. However, business casual is appropriate. T-shirts and shorts or capris are not appropriate. Your administrator may or may not have expectations for your attire. However, it is up to you to show you are a professional. Another sign of professionalism is our demeanor, the way we carry ourselves. It shows in our posture and eye contact. Hold yourself up straight and use eye contact when talking with others. The next attribute is our attitude, which shows itself not only through what we say, but also through our body language. In fact, 90 percent of what we tell others is done through signals given by our body such as eye-rolling, shoulder shrugging and facial expressions. In conversation, we need to be clear and concise and use appropriate language. Using slang and slurring words together shows a lack of precision and a lack of professionalism.
Utilize classroom management strategies. Two techniques that have greatly helped me through the years are red tickets and “My Time/Your Time.” Get a roll of red (or any color, really) tickets from an office supply store and a jar for each class you teach. I use small plastic jars from Wal-Mart. You’ll want to introduce this concept at the beginning of the year and then use it frequently to get students familiar with it. Every time a student participates, gives a clever or spot-on answer, shows great improvement or does something nice for another person in class, give that student a red ticket. The student then writes his/her name on the back of the ticket and places it in the class jar. At the end of the class period/day or at the end of the week, hold a drawing for various incentives. I like to draw two tickets at the end of each class period and let those two students leave class before everyone else. Then I draw at the end of the week for something else. You could give money for a drink at lunch, a bookmark, free library or computer time, a homework coupon, etc. You’ll want to give out lots of tickets at the beginning and then slack off a bit to a more random approach as the year progresses so that students never know when they’ll get a ticket. Otherwise they’ll start thinking that every little thing they do should be rewarded. All you really want to do is motivate them to participate and put forth effort.
“My Time/Your Time” is a concept that helps students understand appropriate behaviors for appropriate times. “My Time” is when the teacher is talking and/or instructing the class through a mini-lesson or directions. During this time, students are expected to sit quietly, listen, and take notes. Be specific with what you expect your students to do and let them know your expectations. “Your Time” is when students are working individually, in pairs, or in groups on a project or assignment. During this time students may turn in red tickets, use the restroom, sharpen their pencils, get supplies, talk quietly (if appropriate), or get a drink of water. In essence, you are setting up a tradeoff with your students. If you’ll pay attention and do what I ask during the part of class that is “My Time,” then I’ll allow various freedoms for you during “Your Time.” These freedoms help students feel empowered and in turn make them more willing to follow your directions. Be very precise about your expectations of both times so that students know what is and is not acceptable. I always tell my students, “Don’t ask to use the restroom, go to the nurse (unless a dire emergency) or anything else during ‘My Time.’ You can take care of that during ‘Your Time’.” Also, be sure to schedule your class period so that there are equal amounts of “My Time” and “Your Time,” otherwise it will not work and students will rebel. Think about structuring it so that you have a mini-lesson and then activity, mini-lesson and then activity. That way you break up the lesson into smaller parts with activities that apply/enhance the instruction.
Keep parents up-to-speed. Stay in touch with the parents of your students. This will mean the difference between supportive parents who will do whatever they can to help you and defensive parents who will fight you at every turn. Make first contact before there is an issue with their child. Introduce yourself and ask parents to share advice about their child that may help you in the classroom. Then, when you have to call with bad news, the parent knows you and will not feel nearly as defensive. Regularly send out progress reports and behavior/academic updates. Parents want to know what is going on with their child. For most parents no news is good news. If everything is bumping along nicely (according to them) and then they get a notice that their child is failing or has had several discipline issues, you can count on opposition. Many computer grading programs have a way for you to e-mail grade information to parents. Take advantage of this or let parents know how they can sign up for these updates. This type of program makes your job a lot easier. Don’t put off calling parents. When you see little issues arise, call right away and nip it in the bud. That doesn’t mean that every parent will respond the way you want them to, but at least you’ve done your part in the communication process. Be sure to document every contact you have with the parents.
Take time for yourself. If you don’t, you’ll burn out quickly. The first couple of years are the hardest for most teachers. Get in the habit now of taking time for yourself each week. What is your favorite activity? Schedule time on your calendar to do that activity and then keep that appointment. Spend time with your family. Go out to dinner. Go see a movie. That is my personal favorite. I’m a movie person, and every Wednesday I go to the dollar theater and see a movie after school. It is time for just me. Whether you like to swim, work out, read, scrapbook or play games, take that time for yourself so that you remember who you are. Otherwise, it is too easy to get over-burdened by the work piling up on your desk. Remember, the work will still be there tomorrow and taking one or two hours for yourself is not going to make it pile up any faster.
Lastly, don’t get too discouraged. I’m not going to say don’t get discouraged at all because you will. Every teacher goes through phases during their first year. Dr. Mark Littleton of Tarleton State University in Texas describes the following phases experienced by every new teacher: Anticipation, Survival, Disillusionment, Rejuvenation, Reflection, and back to Anticipation again. Survival happens as soon as school begins; Disillusionment sets in about November/December. Rejuvenation then comes around springtime with Reflection happening at the end of the year. During the summer you are then anticipating the upcoming year. Keep these phases in mind and hang on. It will get better. The best advice I got before I started teaching was from an old physics teacher I had in high school. She said, don’t quit until after your second year of teaching. When I asked why, she said, “After the second year everything seems so much better and you won’t want to quit anymore.” I pass that advice along to you.
Keep in mind the advice presented here and be a sponge around the good veteran teachers. You’ll easily spot them. The kids love them, the principal relies on them, other teachers will either admire or despise them, and they’ll still have that twinkle in their eye. Watch these veterans. See how they interact with everyone. Observe how they stay organized. Learn from their positive attitude. This will help you not just survive your first couple of years, but thrive!
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Emma McDonald is a veteran educator and co-author of several books, including Survival Kit for New Teachers and Survival Kit for New Secondary Teachers. She has been involved with the Teacher Preparation and Certification program at the Region 10 Education Service Center in Texas, presents staff development sessions on a variety of topics, and supports new and veteran teachers at her Web site www.inspiringteachers.com. To contact the author, please email emma@inspiringteachers.com.

Dos and Don’ts – (Sidebar –box treatment)
DO:

• Be humble when interacting with veteran teachers
• Keep all documentation on students

* Find a mentor

• Make friends with the office, custodial and cafeteria staffs
• Share with your principal what’s happening in your classroom

DON’T:

• Show up late and leave early
• Ignore advice from positive veteran teachers
• Hide in your classroom
• Try to be “buddies” with your students
• Gossip about students and other teachers