HELP! Starting a new teaching position next month!!

[Unregistered]

Hello everyone! I am currently student teaching in a 5th grade classroom. Turns out, the cooperating teacher I'm with is leaving next month to go to the high school for administrative purposes. So, they have asked me to take over the position. I am SO nervous!! Even though I know the room and the students well, I just feel like there's so much more I don't even know about. In my room, I teach social studies to 3 sections of 5th grade, and I also teach ELA to my own homeroom. If anyone out there has ANY advice, I would appreciate anything!!
Thanks!!

[Unregistered]

I am student teaching right now. My suggestions are: look at the other posts in the forum for New Teachers/ Student Teachers
that will help definitely. The internet is also a great source for looking up lesson ideas, classroom strategies, classroom management, ways to be stress-free from the hectic life.

[BigDaddyTeacher]

Hi - I hope you're not being left high and dry by the administration. Unless you've already recieved your credentials, I'm pretty sure that you have to have a credentialed teacher in the room with you while you teach. It could even be a substitute, as long as he/she has a credential. Be sure to check with the principal - not only for the answer to this question, but for back up and assistance.

Other than that - be confident You know more than you think you do.

[Unregistered]

Hello everyone! I am currently student teaching in a 5th grade classroom. Turns out, the cooperating teacher I'm with is leaving next month to go to the high school for administrative purposes. So, they have asked me to take over the position. I am SO nervous!! Even though I know the room and the students well, I just feel like there's so much more I don't even know about. In my room, I teach social studies to 3 sections of 5th grade, and I also teach ELA to my own homeroom. If anyone out there has ANY advice, I would appreciate anything!!
Thanks!!
I have been teaching for about 20 years now....I'm 42 and I can tell you that you have a boost on any teacher taking over that position...you know the routine, the kids and how the school runs. Remember that class is yours now...you are the CEO of your room. Don't let them see you questioning yourself or it is all over with....have fun, find out what classroom management things work for you! Make it your own! Also it really helps if you get a "buddy". That way you can go to this co-teacher and ask them anything you have a question about! Have fun, don't stress and be sure of yourself...they wouldn't have asked you to take the class if they didn't have faith that you could do the job! Every day you will feel more confident!
Hope this helps!

[Unregistered]

Congratulations! You are about to embark on the journey of a lifetime. After having taught since the mid 70's, I will tell you that there is no career that offers as much. Sure, the pay may not be the best, but in what other profession do you have such a profound impact on the future.
As a first year teacher, you will learn a LOT. I usually tell first year teachers that they will learn more in the first year f teaching than you did in all the years of college. Yes, you will probably make mistakes, but after 29 years I find myself making mistakes also. Don't sweat it. find out if there is a mentor teacher in your building. there should be one, but if not, get to be friends with the other teachers, both older and younger. Yes, you can learn from both, and one or more of them should be willing to help you.
As stated in a previous reply, you are in an ideal situation. You know the students, the routines, some of the other teachers, and the schedule. You also have ideas that you want to try out. I'm not sure that I would make sudden changes at first, but that is up to you. You know the situation you are in. Be kind to yourself. DON'T fret mistakes. There will be a time of the students testing you. Know what you are going to do ahead of time. In January you need to establish routines, rules, procedures. GET THAT DONE. that will determine the rest of your year. then you can work on curriculum. You will love it. Do that, but be sure to make tiime for yourself too.
Well, I have been lengthy, but I hope that it helps you. I have taught fifth grade probably for longer than you have been alive. Also teacher of the Year and four time nominee to Who's Who Among America's Teachers. You may email me if I can be of any assisstance to you. cskinner@mail.colleton.k12.sc.us

[Unregistered]

Take it from a veteran teacher most new teacher's seem to have problems with classroom management this is something that you should focus on and then once you feel comfortable with your students understanding what you expect from them then move to working on your lesson plans.
One thing that is really important and something that I have learned being a teacher for over 32 years is to be a good listner. When you are in the staff room listen to what you veteran teachers are saying not so much about the adminstrators on your site but what is going on in their classes with their students that you can use. This could be available information for all new teacher's.
I hope that this information is helpful and have a great year.

[Unregistered]

Take it from a veteran teacher most new teacher's seem to have problems with classroom management...

Actually, I find that the veteran teachers have the biggest problems with classroom management.

[abrhles01]

I'm embarking a similar situation. I got word of an immediate opening and actually interviewed today. (Plus I just graduated Saturday) My whole reservations was if I am actually prepared. During the interview and all before it I started to imagine the things I need to do to "get ready". I guess I need that final push as in a job offer to see that I have what it takes I just need to be prepared and stay ready just in case.

[Tejas Gal]

Hello everyone! I am currently student teaching in a 5th grade classroom. Turns out, the cooperating teacher I'm with is leaving next month to go to the high school for administrative purposes. So, they have asked me to take over the position. I am SO nervous!! Even though I know the room and the students well, I just feel like there's so much more I don't even know about. In my room, I teach social studies to 3 sections of 5th grade, and I also teach ELA to my own homeroom. If anyone out there has ANY advice, I would appreciate anything!!
Thanks!!

When you've been teaching 15-20 years, you'll feel that there's so much more that you don't even know about--and you'll be right. Remember: (1)mistakes can be fixed; (2) you don't have to be perfect; (3) it's okay to tell your students that you were wrong; (4) you've already convinced your cooperating teacher and the administrators that you're competent.

The others who've posted here have already talked about classroom management, etc. Most likely, you'll have less trouble than a lot of beginners because you've spent time with the students and have already established rules, procedures/routines, and environment. If it's been working, leave it alone!

One suggestion I do have would be that, if you have the same students for social studies and for ELA, you might consider cross-curricular activities. It really opens up a lot more opportunities for creative strategies. For example, you might use the ELA class time to read stories/poems/novels/whatever about (or even from) the same era you're studying in social studies. Then, students may write about the reading, as well.

E-mail me, if you'd like; I have a collection of social studies "stuff" that I've used in presenting workshops, and I'd be glad to share.

Congratulations and best wishes.

[me too]

I as well just finished my studnet teaching and have accepte to start teaching January3, this is not the school I student taught in, I am very excited but as well have my concerns!

[Unregistered]

Hi! My name is Delia and I am a teacher in Romania. I would like to tell you some things I've learned from others, some I discovered myself.

1. SMILE! this is the first advise, good for you and for your students, too.
Eliminates stress and tension between you both. It works like a miracle.
2. BE INNOVATIVE if you can. They'd love it, and that helps communication
3. BE CLEAR with your speaking and writing
4. BE SINCERE if that helps you, it costs you nothing
5. BE SURE ON YOURSELF, even when you are doubtful yourself in your mind
6. FIND ALWAYS THE SHORTER PATH- the best way the students remember a lesson, after a month, a year, or a decade

I imagine how scared you are, I was too...more than 10 years ago. Maybe it would help remember 10-20 games that could apply to your teaching...in case that you have some extra minutes. We also announce the grade of difficulty at the beginning of the lesson, in order to have good listeners. As a Romanian teacher, I don't teach lessons, I'm saying that today we will be playing with...

GOOD LUCK!
Delia Ilica

[Unregistered]

Actually, I find that the veteran teachers have the biggest problems with classroom management.

I take it you speak for yourself. Well, don't give up, vet, there's hope for you yet. Try not to be so critical of yourself. You'll get control one of these days.

[Unregistered]

I take it you speak for yourself.

No, I am speaking about the other veteran teachers I have seen. I have almost no problems with classroom management.

But thanks for asking.

[Unregistered]

So you propose that, aside from yourself, the profession we belong to breeds ineffectiveness? It must be difficult for you being so alone in your perfection and surrounded by such incompetence.

[Unregistered]

Imagine a teacher who enters a site for new and future teachers to cast a general net of scorn around her fellow professionals.

Don't you pay attention youngsters, one cynical old person's point of view is not reality. I think you'll find that the vast majority of teachers take great pride in our work. I am proud to work with the most dedicated professionals in the world. As you grow in experience, never allow yourselves to be influenced by those who run our profession down, whether critics from without or parasites from within.

Teachers are, by and large, the greatest people in the world. I congratulate you on you choice of professions.

[Unregistered]

So you propose that, aside from yourself, the profession we belong to breeds ineffectiveness? It must be difficult for you being so alone in your perfection and surrounded by such incompetence.

Good grief!

Let me show you how this argument has progressed. One teacher stated the following:

Take it from a veteran teacher most new teacher's seem to have problems with classroom management...

I said....

Actually, I find that the veteran teachers have the biggest problems with classroom management.

Quit twisting my words. All I am saying is that, based on my own observations at the school where I work, most of the classes that have behavior problems are taught by veterans, not new teachers. And that is all I am saying.

Don't you pay attention youngsters, one cynical old person's point of view is not reality. I think you'll find that the vast majority of teachers take great pride in our work. I am proud to work with the most dedicated professionals in the world.

What does that have to do with classroom management? A person can be greatly proudful of her profession and still have a chaotic class.

And who is being cynical? I am suggesting that newer teachers, by and large, have better management of their classes than veterans (based on my own observations). Since when do veteran teachers' sensitivities take precedence over everyone else's?

[Unregistered]

So, are you saying that the longer the average teacher stays in the profession the worst they become at classroom management? Or not?

Sometimes it is easier to retract a thoughtless statement than attempting to justify it.

[Unregistered]

So, are you saying that the longer the average teacher stays in the profession the worst they become at classroom management? Or not?

Sometimes it is easier to retract a thoughtless statement than attempting to justify it.

I don't have to justify it, since it based on my own observations. I have no idea why so many of the veterans at my school have so much trouble managing their classes, and I am not offering an opinion on the matter. I am just posting what I see.

Are you suggesting that it is impossible for veteran teachers to have more trouble controlling their class than newer teachers?

[Unregistered]

Actually, I find that the veteran teachers have the biggest problems with classroom management.

"Actually" defined as "as a fact."

Someone made a statement here that "veterans" (those with experience) have more problems with teaching than (by clear implication) new teachers.

Does that someone stand by this statement? Or not? Or is it that you are so annoyed with experienced teachers standing up to your bullying that you feel motivated to come to the "New Teachers/Student Teachers" site to make statements born purely out of malice?

Grow up, Lisa. Or get a new gripe.

[Unregistered]

Should I boldface "I find" for you?

I said "I find," clearly implying that my statement was an opinion based on my own observations.

I used "actually" in the following sense:

3: as a sentence modifier to add slight emphasis; "actually, we all help clear up after a meal"; "actually, I haven't seen the film"; "I'm not all that surprised actually"; "she hasn't proved to be too satisfactory, actually"

So there!

[Unregistered]

To the new and student teachers reading this thread: the teacher who seemed to be saying that the longer you teach the worse you get is retracting that statement or rather saying she simply meant that that is her own personal experience and should not have any real bearing on this or any other discussion except for her own, personal reasons.

Rest assurred that for the vast majority of teachers, "veteran" means highly competent.

Thank you, Lisa, for clearing this up.

[Unregistered]

To the new and student teachers reading this thread: the teacher who seemed to be saying that the longer you teach the worse you get is retracting that statement or rather saying she simply meant that that is her own personal experience and should not have any real bearing on this or any other discussion except for her own, personal reasons.

Wouldn't it just be easier to let the teachers read my own comments, rather than butchering them to suit your own purposes?

Rest assurred that for the vast majority of teachers, "veteran" means highly competent.

Maybe at your own school site based on your own personal observations. Otherwise, your statement is Truth by Blatant Assertion.

In reality, some teachers get better as they get more experienced, and some get worse.

[Unregistered]

In reality, some teachers get better as they get more experienced, and some get worse.

Wow, that is profound. Boy am I glad we cleared that up.

[Unregistered]

Wow, that is profound.

Well, you're the first person besides myself that seems to acknowledge it.

The notion that we necessarily get better as we become more experienced is BS. We get better if we stay enthusiastic about the job and seek to improve our teaching. But unfortunately not all teachers do. That is why there is no direct correlation between experience and quality. It depends on the teacher.

[Unregistered]

Hate to burst the bubble here, but the remark about profundity was meant as irony. A teenager might have just said "Duh!"

Obviously some get better and some do not. That's like saying some days it rains, and some days it does not.

The problem is this: what motivates a teacher to come onto a site for new and student teachers and run down veteran teachers as a group? Whatever the answer is, it is going to be pitiful.

New teachers, get ready for this kind of abuse. Nobody picks on lawyers anymore, the new target is teachers. As the economy becomes more and more based on big box store style employment, instead of looking at the secure job and good benefits of teachers and saying "We deserve that" people are saying "They don't deserve that." While corporations and thier CEO's rake in profits that are so astronomical they defy the imagination of the general public, American workers become increasingly dissatisfied. What do American workers do when they are dissatisfied? Attach one another. The powers that be know how to divide and conquer.

So should we be surprised to run into someone who is or claims to be a teacher who wants to erode the teaching profession from within? Of course not. They will always pretend to care about the quality of teaching. If that were true, that would be fine, but their solution is always about judging teachers and taking away from teacher rights and benefits.

The teacher union is powerful. As such, these organizations are one of the few voices for worker rights left. It is imperative that they be silenced. Don't be misled by these wolves in lamb's clothing. Be proud of your profession! Help other teachers to be proud and stand tall. As soon as you get tenure, (not before) defend teacher rights for your sake and the sake of our profession and future teachers. Don't be misled by those who continuously cry that the only problem in education is the teachers themselves. These propagandists for corporate greed are all over this website with their subtle whine about "bad teachers". Their agenda is not to help teachers imporve their skills. It is to rob teachers of protection so that your school will be run like your neighborhood big box store and you will have to preach the party line to keep your job.