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First Grade Teachers Chatboard

First Time Teaching; Starting Mid Year; Any Advice????

by Monica

Dec 11, 2011

Ok So, this is going to be my first time teaching in my own classroom. I will begin teaching 1st graders in January. For the past 3 years I was a Program Supervisor for a preschool center, so I have experience dealing with preschoolers, but not 1st graders Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

MD First off, congrats on securing a job in this economy! Not an easy thing to do! I, too, started a first grade job later in the year back a few years ago. I moved across state from teaching middle school down to first grade, boy was I nervous! Biggest thing to prepare for is have a routine or set of procedures in your mind for everything that will t...See MoreFirst off, congrats on securing a job in this economy! Not an easy thing to do! I, too, started a first grade job later in the year back a few years ago. I moved across state from teaching middle school down to first grade, boy was I nervous! Biggest thing to prepare for is have a routine or set of procedures in your mind for everything that will take place in the classroom. Even down to the most mundane things like, how do you want them to ask to sharpen a pencil, go to the bathroom, or get your attention for help. Go in with these on first day as set routines. Practice them over and over.

Since they already had another teacher up til now, you will encounter, "But Mrs. so-and-so didn't do it like that" Explain early on that you are not her, and that you are two different people and you will do things differently than her. You may also want to have the kids write down or list things orally that they liked the way their former teacher did them. This may give you some insight into how she ran her classroom, also to maybe keep some of her same routines if they mesh with your way of doing things. If not, just keep the list or notes to yourself.

After Christmas in first grade is a very crucial time, because students are exploding with their reading abilities! It is so exciting to watch them become confident readers at this time of year. Those that are not quite getting it or lagging way behind the grade level benchmarks will have to be seriously looked at and intervened with.

Going into a new grade level, I always try to pick one subject that I would like to kind of tweak the way I want to teach it (this is usually language arts for me, my strong suit). Then, the other 3 main subjects, I will follow along with the teacher's editions and do just what they say. That way, you are not trying to "reinvent the wheel" so to speak, in every subject. You will drive yourself crazy! Get to know the "set" curriculum and go about it your own way next year (leave yourself notes in the lessons about what worked well and not so well for next year). Also, tap into your fellow first grade teachers in the building. Usually a wealth of knowledge of what works! Sometimes, planning together can work out wonderfully. They may plan the subjects you need the most help with and you can plan the ones you are most comfortable with.

Some housekeeping tips- I always start the year with a line order. Kids get a number and that is where they stand in line always no matter where we are walking to. I have them practice it over and over. This helps to avoid the rush to line up "first". I also assign carpet spots any carpet work that we do.

- I like to do a Top Dog for the week. Start off with yourself as the first one. Then one child a week from there on. Monday is fill in the poster and bring in pictures of yourself and family, tues is read a book that you have practiced at home to class, wed is bring in a joke to share, thurs is show and tell, friday is congratulate new top dog! This top dog student is also the one who is first for writing on board, delivering a message, picking for a game, etc. Also helps to avoid the "he's always picked first!"

Well, hope this helped. Good luck, and ask tons of questions on here- GREAT place for advice!

Dec 11, 2011

Vet Teacher On 12/11/11, Monica wrote: > Ok So, this is going to be my first time teaching in my own > classroom. I will begin teaching 1st graders in January. > For the past 3 years I was a Program Supervisor for a > preschool center, so I have experience dealing with > preschoolers, but not 1st graders Any advice would be > greatly apprecia...See More

Dec 11, 2011

Monica Thanks for the advice, it will be very useful to me!

On 12/11/11, Vet Teacher wrote: > On 12/11/11, Monica wrote: >> Ok So, this is going to be my first time teaching in my own >> classroom. I will begin teaching 1st graders in January. >> For the past 3 years I was a Program Supervisor for a >> preschool center...See More

Dec 13, 2011

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