Now, you must transition from being a student teacher to being the teacher in the real world classroom. Let’s talk about some points to think about as you make this transition.

Know Who You Are

Take a good look in the mirror and try to get a good feel for the kind of teacher you expect yourself to be. Will your classroom be extremely structured with perfect measured rows and bulletin boards? Will your classroom management be more positive behavior-focused or punitive in nature? What are your favorite instructional strategies? Will it include purposeful talk between students, centers, flipped classroom, etc.?

You need to have an idea of your personality and what will likely work for you. It is hard for a nurturer not to smile until Thanksgiving. It is hard for someone who likes quiet in their classroom to allow a lot of group projects. Know who you are!

What Will My Classroom Look Like?

I know this sounds similar to the first point, but this gets down into the weeds of your classroom. In fact, it was during the last couple of years of my teaching career that some of this actually crossed my mind, not during my first year in the classroom. What are the details of how your class will operate?

When students enter your room, what are the exact procedures they will follow? Where will their backpacks go? Will they grab journals when they come, and after that, where will they go, what will they do, what will they do after that? When students ask for help, will they raise their hand, and when they raise their hand, are they to do that quietly or call your name at the same time?

When students get up to go to the bathroom, will they sign a sign-out sheet? Do they have to ask or will they just go when they need to? Will there be a limit on how many trips they can take in one week, six weeks, one semester, etc.?

I know some of the examples above may sound trivial, but these little details like where the pencil sharpener may be, how students transition from one segment to the other, how they enter, and how they clean-up, are potential pitfalls to how your class will operate and how you manage it.

Manage Your Time

You had to manage time as a student between completing college and (maybe) working at the same time or even during your student teaching experience. Or, in my case, playing college sports while working on a master’s degree. Either way, you had to prioritize your time to accomplish what you felt was the most important goal you were working on.

This will continue during this transition. Some of you are entering your first year of teaching and may have kids or may also be newly married or learning a new town, etc. Balance your time! Before school starts you may need a Saturday to get the room ready, or stay later an evening or two to make sure you are progressing enough that you can sleep well at night.

But, if each Saturday you are at school or if you are leaving school when it is dark the entire month of September, you will burn out, you will miss your family, and you will not be the best you can be for your students and colleagues. Set limits on your time at work and recognize the importance of self-care; do something you enjoy in your free time (you have to make sure you have free time!), exercise, and make sure you are getting some sleep. You may have to schedule free time and exercise or fun time into your day, but it is needed for success.

Become Your Best Teachers

It is a very true fact of life that who we learn from (by choice or by not) will dictate much of what we will do in the future. It is not a coincidence that good quarterbacks are with good coaches, and some good quarterbacks fail because they do not end up with good coaches.

The same is true in education; the teachers and colleagues we learn from (good and bad) will make a difference in how we treat and teach our students. Thus, really think about your best teachers and what they did that made them so great and find the parts of their repertoire that you, as a new teacher, can add yours that fits with your strengths and personality.

Maybe it was the way your high school English teacher pushed you without you recognizing or the way your elementary teacher made science fun when you had no interest whatsoever. And even greater than that, how did that one teacher make you feel about yourself when you felt like the world was caving in on you? Become your best teachers!

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Regardless of how much reality might burst your bubble that first year, this profession gives you a chance at some of the greatest rewards that no other profession can offer. As a teacher for ten years, assistant principal for five years, and now in my third year as a high school principal, I can share with you two major goals and some tips for that first year as a teacher.

Goal One: Become a Second-Year Teacher

You could almost boil down the goals for a first-year teacher down to one goal summed up in this one phrase: the goal of a first-year teacher is to become a second-year teacher. While I was an assistant principal, an instructional coach for many years shared that knowledge with me as we were both coaching along a corp of new teachers at an over 90% low socio-economic urban school.

In short, your first goal is survival. The kids from time to time will give a run for your money; however, what you will find to be one of your greatest tests is your ability to juggle the demands of time with a combination of the ESL, special education, and other paperwork that will come your way.

One of the biggest surprises to new school teachers is not instruction or classroom management (but that is not far behind), it is the paperwork and deadlines that are required by federal mandates, district initiatives, and school preparation. Once you survive the lessons, the classes, and paperwork, you are a veteran!

Goal Two: Shut Up and Do Your Job

This is really not supposed to sound harsh, but it was some of the best advice that was given to me and another college student while we played golf with our professor at college. He meant that by going into your professional learning community, your department, your staff meetings, and by listening to those that have been there before, you will accomplish many objectives. First, you will earn their trust. Second, you will pick up on what works and doesn’t work just from listening. Remember, you are building relationships and adding to their team. Take time to figure out where you can help the team and the school outside your classroom.

Other Tips to Help in that First Year of Teaching

You are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you…

Yes, this is before that first job, but one key to success during that first year will be the team around you. In larger districts you will likely have three to six teachers teaching the exact same thing that you are. In smaller districts there may be only one other person to plan with.

This team is a large predictor to how successful your first year will be. When you interview, be looking for clues or ask about how often and how long departments/teams get together to collaborate. With a good team or person to plan with, you can literally beg, steal and borrow your way to a great year, so to speak. In some cases, all you may have to do is take their game plan into your room and run with it. Tweak it later, but learn from those you have done it already.

Find a mentor…

Any district worth its salt is going to assign you a mentor teacher. This person, in my experience, is someone who can show you how to take attendance, input grades, order supplies,  help set teacher goals, or even lend you a shoulder to cry on or an ear to just listen. This mentor can help make a bad day turn into a good day. Don’t be afraid to ask your mentor or seek out someone that will act in this position. Make sure you can find someone who you can go to with any question or when you need to blow off some steam. 

Observe when you can…

Time is going to be a struggle, but when you can, don’t stop observing teachers like you did when you were in college. Try to watch who others say are really good teachers and get ideas from them. Mainly you are watching for instructional strategies and classroom management techniques that you can implement right away in your room, but keep an eye out for professional development goals for teachers you can embrace for yourself as well.

E-Learning tips and navigating the first year of teaching during COVID-19

When it comes to e-learning we are telling our first year teachers two major things to keep in mind. First, go as electronic as you can. Whether you are on Google Classroom, Blackboard, etc., become the facilitator of online learning whether the student is in the class physically more than six feet from you or online physically six miles from you.

Let online delivery house your resources, videos, documents, etc. and be the facilitator in the room and at home. This will also make a major difference in that from day to day depending on exposure and positive tests, you might not know who will be in the classroom at home. This makes the students’ learning mobile and accessible whether they are at home in quarantine or in your classroom.

Number two: know your technology. Test it over and over again. That way when breakdowns happen, you can fix it easily and move on. This also makes you a valuable member of the team when you can fix all the other technology problems on your hallway.

Concerning COVID-19, during this time since there will be more uncertainty, there are a couple of items that cannot be forgotten. First, be extra flexible. Procedures, how and when work gets turned in from students, and different things the school will ask for change from day to day. The goal is still the same: to educate. How that happens will likely shift before the goal is reached.

Second, you have to take care of yourself! Take vitamins, drink water, get plenty of sleep, get some sunshine, eat well…all of this will help your immune system so that physically and mentally you can walk into the classroom and handle what comes your way.

COVID is an obstacle, but the goal is still the same. Education has been around longer than COVID; it will also outlast COVID.

Once again, congratulations! Your first year is about survival, learning your job, and keeping your head above water. It’ll take a few years before you move from survival to expert level. Be patient and survive that first year!

*Updated August, 2020

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Key Components of a Lesson Plan

Lesson plans are a template for teachers and serve as a guide for many reasons. They direct daily activities and pace the objectives throughout the year. Lesson plans are outlines of how much time will be spent on objectives and specific skills. Pacing guides assist teachers on what to teach during specific times and how to pace throughout the school year. They should be explicit, including mandatory standards, yet specific to class needs.

Lesson plans need to state the specific learning objectives and goals and include details of what the teachers intend to teach. They provide a roadmap for the teacher. They are also valuable to keep teachers on track. It is best to include all the materials needed to teach the lesson to be organized and prepared. Then, lesson plans include a list of instructions on how the teacher will execute the lesson with specific procedures. For first year teachers, it is best to include as many details as possible to keep them organized.

Assessment and evaluation are a large part of instruction in today’s classrooms. It is imperative to include these components in the lesson plan. Teachers use formative and summative assessments and use data to drive instructional goals. Teachers must know where students are academically to know how to modify instruction. Assessment and evaluation include written work and observation. Assessments are beneficial to know how each student performs and allow teachers to group students to meet their individual needs.

Assessments should contain a variety of questions such as short answer, multiple-choice, essays, observation, or questioning as part of classroom participation. They should be included in lesson plans listed as classroom observation and participation for daily assessments, and include at least a written or online formative assessment.

Teaching in today’s classrooms requires a variety of supplemental materials to ensure skill and information retention. Listing the supplemental materials in the lesson plans allows teachers to be organized and prepared.  According to the Learning Pyramid (2020) students remember 90% of what they do. Including hands-on experiences ensures students have opportunities to actively engage in the learning process. Homework should be a review of what has already been taught in class and should take minimal time. Students should be able to complete their homework on their own and should only be assigned to allow extra practice for skill retention.

Classroom Management through Lesson Planning

Classroom management is one of the most important facets of teaching and encompasses many capacities. It is so much more than managing behavior in a classroom. Classroom settings are so complex, and each student is unique. Teachers must learn as much as they can about each student. Teachers need to know where a student is coming from and what their story is. A great principle would be to learn their story and build a relationship with the student from the first day. It is so important to make your own judgments about students, but to find out what you can from their former teachers and families. Building relationships with the students and their parents is one of the most important things you can do as a teacher.

Students learn differently, and lesson plans should exemplify a variety of teaching methods such as whole group, small group, and individual opportunities. Teachers must list the different strategies they employ to accommodate learning styles. Students love and need to be a part of the learning process. Morning meetings or having the students provide feedback is a great way to highly engage them in the classroom environment. Exit tickets are another great way for students to provide honest feedback. Lesson plans should state these types of activities as part of the management process.

Things to Consider as a First Year Teacher

First year teachers must realize that they are learning on the job, and many situations can occur that they were not trained for. It is important to find a balance in teacher efficacy and relying on others for assistance.

There are many things to learn as a first-year teacher. It is important to show yourself grace. It is easy to feel inadequate and overwhelmed, but know that much of teaching must be learned and experienced. Experience is the best teacher, and it is great to learn from other teachers. It is best to observe fellow teachers that are positive and still have passion for the profession. They serve as effective mentors and their advice is invaluable.

The climate of your classroom and how the students feel about you is one of the most important items to take care of when you are teaching. Think about your most influential experiences as a student, and include ideas in how you will create and maintain a positive climate. Students need to feel safe and valued.

It is also essential to love the children. When you love them, the rest of the responsibility becomes easier. Teaching is one of the most challenging professional careers and requires a lot of sacrifice, patience, discipline, and most importantly, heart. However, it is one of the most rewarding and noble things you can do with your life. The relationships and influence you develop far offset the sacrifice.

References

Learning Pyramid (2020.) www.educationcorner.com

*Updated October, 2020

The post How to Write a Lesson Plan as a First-Year Teacher appeared first on Graduate Programs for Educators.

Teaching is a profession that is very hard to simulate because of the responsibilities that come with the role. Your first year will be your on-the-job training and you will make many mistakes, but you will also experience the sweet reward of success. It will undoubtedly be tough, but there are some things that can help immensely!

Work Closely with a Teacher Mentor

Typically, your district or school will identify a mentor teacher for you to work closely with during your first year. This may be part of a larger induction process. Spending time with a mentor upon hire will help acclimate you to the building, your classroom, school norms and culture along with history, and start to help you build relationships with colleagues.

Your mentor can introduce you to other department or grade-level colleagues, be helpful in getting you access to the correct technology, and teach you how to use internet-based platforms and resources like email and learning management systems. It is important to learn from your mentor how discipline is handled, who you can turn to for help, and also about the cultural norms of the student body. Consider that your mentor was likely chosen for a reason and was considered worthy of having expertise to pass on to you. Lastly, allow your mentor to show you what your school is proud of and what they’re working towards.

Get Involved Outside the Classroom

The best teachers develop positive relationships with their students. Rita Pierson says, “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like,” in her TED Talk “Every Kid Deserves a Champion.” When I started in education in 2006, the most senior teachers on my staff told me things like “Don’t smile till Christmas!” and “You can’t be fun or they won’t respect you!” They acted like students wouldn’t behave in my class or respect me unless I was mean and tough on them.

There may be some teachers who try to give you the same advice. These are the same teachers who are creating negative memories and associations with learning that their students will recall for the rest of their lives. The generation we dream of reaching needs our care, support, and guidance more than ever. These things are actions of a teacher who respects their students and develops authentic, trusting relationships with them.

One of the best ways to show your support of students is to get involved outside of the classroom. Lots of teachers coach sports or become club advisors. These are great ways to get to know your students as people. The moments you will share will allow you to see your students outside of the academic setting and as a daughter, son, sister, or brother instead of only through the lens of teacher to student.

Clubs and sports are wonderful ways to get involved, but your first year will be overwhelming and demanding with just your teaching responsibilities. Consider something that requires less commitment for your first year and attend a few athletic events as a fan, a concert, art show, or even something within your students’ community like a parade or festival! Showing up to these things proves to your students and families that you serve them and that you are not only teaching for a job, but you are truly invested in them as people and a community.

Professional Development

Public school districts, private schools, and charter schools all offer or require a number of professional development opportunities throughout the school year. These are typically geared toward supporting or propelling the school’s values and goals. They may also be for compliance.

During your first year you will be inundated with information, and it will be difficult to see more than a small tunnel view of a larger picture. Sometimes, professional development is the last thing you want to do. You’ll rather be in your room planning, organizing, or grading. Even though it might not seem important at the time, it is in your best interest to try to focus and not think of all the other things on your “to-do” list. Teachers are masters at multi-tasking, but professional growth is extremely important even if it is inconvenient at the time it is assigned.

There will also be opportunities for you to seek out professional developments for your own professional growth. Depending on the state you hold a certification in, you will probably be required to earn a certain amount of continuing education credits per a number of years to maintain your certification. Taking graduate level classes is a great way to continue your professional growth. Starting these your first year of teaching may be too much to handle right away, so take some time for serious consideration before deciding to pursue a program.

Choose Wisely

A school building is like a small sample of a large community. You will work with a wide variety of people who have different personalities, likes, dislikes, and beliefs. It is important that you choose wisely when deciding who you accept advice from and spend time with. There will always be people who are negative and unhappy. This unhappiness and negativity can spread like wildfire throughout a building and quickly destroy a positive culture. It will serve you best to seek like-minded, positive people to spend time with and socialize. This will assure that you have access to the support that you will need and others who are helpful in nature!

Don’t Give Up!

Your first year will be tough! Sometimes you will have moments that make you doubt your career choice. Do not give up! It will get better! The toughest days are the days that you learn and grow the most while becoming a better teacher. These days are necessary to help you get better. At times, things may be overwhelming and stressful, but there will always be days that are as rewarding as those days are tough. Don’t forget to take care of yourself. As they say, “you can’t pour from an empty cup.” Seek motivation and positivity. Most importantly, don’t give up because the work that you do is important and you are impacting the lives of your students!

*Updated August, 2020

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