1st year advice

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Sharon Elin on February 5, 2010 at 10:12pm

Make connections with veteran teachers and newbies as well. Lean on their experience while you form your own style. Twitter is a good place to start. Here are some twittering educators: http://twitter4teachers.pbworks.com/ Also, focus on relationships above all else. Students will try harder if they feel valued and respected by teachers, but they don't respect adults who try to be their best friend. Another piece of advice: one of the best things about teaching is the fact that it changes every day, every grading period, every year. You always get a fresh start with new students each year, so if something doesn't work, toss it and try something new.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jacek Polubiec on February 6, 2010 at 1:57am

Well said Sharon! I think that when done right, teaching is all about learning, student learning and equally importantly teacher learning. When a new teacher embraces the ever-changing aspects of our profession, builds meaningful relationships with adults and children, values self-reflection and stays connected with others (eg. via Twitter or Educational Networks), he/she is on the highway to a very satifying, life-long career. My 2 cents

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Artie O'Connor on February 6, 2010 at 6:04am

You are going to learn as you go. The climb to becoming a good teacher is a gradual slope. Take lessons and inject yourself into them. You would not have been hired, so you have been validated, and the fact that you found this site to look to for input, demonstrates a maturity, openness and willingness to learn. I would suggest keeping a personal journal where you can reflect on your day or week and jot down suggestions for the next time around. Welcome to the club, I wish you all the best!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Steve Guynup on February 6, 2010 at 7:53am

The best advice I can give is the same advice got as a student teacher...(so actually I didn't have to wish I sort of knew)

All students want a positive relationship with their teacher. This ranges from being a pet, being a friend, being slightly special - to just being understood.

Don't be afraid to grade hard. You will have to work harder yourself (clear assignments and clear feedback) but that's our job. Then midsession, maybe cancel a minor assignment - declare a snowday. My old professor in Atlanta does, and so do I (and I now teach classes 100% online) Also you can always make things easier on students, but the opposite, making things harder can lead to problems if you do it crassly.

Argumentative students (we all have them) - the absolute best advice (I got) is to go "meta", argue the question in the broadest terms and lose them in the ether. Ok, make your point first, acknowledge theirs, and then spin it up if they keep going. Students almost always want to argue on the narrowest of points - they dislike having to argue on a grander scale.

Veteran teachers are a great source of knowledge, but some are burned out - some are set in their ways and static - others, well what works for them may not fit you. Still, taking and trying suggestions from other teachers is a great relationship builder in within your department.

• ▶ Reply