Tips for a Middle Level Education undergrad student

If you could go back in time, what would you want someone to tell you about going into the field of teaching in general? Are there any tips you can give to make the road to graduation a better success? (preferably for a middle school teacher)

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Permalink Reply by Tracy Brady on November 22, 2015 at 2:50pm

What state are you in? I've been a middle school WL teacher for 20 years. In the interview for my current position, I was asked to describe the "typical" middle school student. My response was that I wasn't aware there was such a thing. My advice to you is that the day you think you have an adequate answer to that question is the day you file your papers to retire. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. :)

Best of luck to you!

Tracy

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Permalink Reply by Leona Hinton on December 15, 2015 at 5:33am

Wow, such an interesting question. Probably, if I could back in time and give an advice to myself 5 years ago, I'd suggest to:
- Read professional literature. Reading is an important source of knowledge and ideas for young educators. As much you read as experienced you become.
- Don't be naive. Learn from mistakes and try do be more pragmatic.
- Stay inspired. You should be able to find inspiration in everything that surrounds you, remember that a good teacher inspires students when a mediocre one just teaches them.
- Talk to your students. Listen them and learn from them.
- Break your routine. You should be always hungry for some positive changes in your classroom and everyday life.
- Don't drown in student papers. Respect your time and manage it.
- Use high quality tools in the classroom. Student motivation and results will definitely increase.
Here is my personal top:
1. http://www.edmodo.com/ - is a must-have tool to use in the classroom
2. http://www.capzles.com/ - great tool to gather media, photos, documentsand videos for different projects.
3. https://unplag.com/ - a plagiarism detection tool I use daily. It helps to teach originality in writing.
- Be kind. Remember, that your main responsibility is to help kids grow up into gentle and respectable people. If you're stressed, you should never demonstrate it in the classroom. Take a break and come back when you're fine.

Not sure that "old me" would listen "experienced me" because she thought she knew best of all :-) Nevertheless, I hope my words will touch someone else.