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Veteran Teachers Share Best Tips for New Teachers
By Teachers.Net Community
From the Archives: Veteran Educators Share Tips for New Teachers
Gathered by Jerry Taylor from the Teachers.Net Teach Talk Mailring
A while ago, I posted a message on several listservs asking this question:
“If you could give just ONE tip to new teachers, what would it be?”
I got lots of wonderful suggestions from many, many excellent teachers. I collected all the ideas, and saved them to a file. I thought this might be a good time to post them, so here they are. I hope you find them useful.
Jerry Taylor
Technology Integration Teacher
Greece, NY School District
From: (Debbie Fontenot)
Get organized before the school year starts. Try to anticipate what kind of filing system you’ll need and make sure you have folders, labels, or whatever else you’ll need to set it up. How do you plan for this if you’ve never taught? Ask a veteran teacher what works for them – then ask another and another. We have lots of different systems and you’ll have to decide which one seems most logical to you right now. Just make sure you have what you need in a handy location so you can file quickly and efficiently. Paperwork can become an ugly monster very quickly!
From: (THURLOW, P.)
Examine your values and beliefs; be secure in those from the start, and engage in the changes and challenges you will face with them in mind.
From: (Kelli Kish)
Wear comfortable shoes! Remember that is takes time to become great at this!
From: (Barb Deardorff)
Don’t get behind in your grading. It piles up fast. And, if you have access to student aides, use them!
From: (Willowbas)
Be flexible. If a lesson isn’t working…abandon. If a lesson needs more time…extend. If a lesson has been learned…leave it for new territories.
From: (Candy Swan)
- Be consistent.
- Children do not need adult friends they need friendly adults. If you find yourself needing to be “friends” with your students or allowing them to believe that you are their friend, you will not succeed and neither will they.
From: (David Burgess)
Always look for the good in all of your charges. It is there. Find it and use it to guide you in developing their self esteem.
Be friendly with you students. Love them but always remember you are their Teacher, not their friend or buddy.
Work hard but remember, take time for # 1, you! Only when you have a life beyond school can you be complete and whole with your students and give them your best.
From: (Kristie Dilks)
Read The First Days of School, by Harry Wong before school starts. If you can’t follow everything in the book, at least implement the seating chart when the kids walk in and have work for them to do the first day. Don’t do any activities or try to be their friend.
My first year was bad, because I didn’t act in charge from the first day on. The second year, I read the book and it was wonderful. Now I am on my third year and so far so good.
From: (Patricia O’Donnell)
Make time for yourself!
Be kind to yourself!
Show yourself in your work!
From: (Bernie Tomasso)
My one tip is not to go it alone but find one or two mentors who can answer your questions. Look for someone who has been there four or five years and remembers what it was like to be a rookie and one who is there for ten or more years and really understands the culture of the community.
From: (Amy Neeley)
Stay away from the group of teachers that complain about EVERYTHING (every school has one). They will suck the
