First Year Teacher 2005-2006

[Unregistered]

I am going to be a first year teacher in the fall and want to know what I can do over the summer to get ready for the school year. I am very overwhelmed with all the prep that needs to get done and planning to do. What would you suggest would be beneficial for me to focus on, plan and or purchase in order to have a successful year? Thanks for all your help!

[Unregistered]

I just finished my first year of teaching. I would collected on grade level reading books, get some beginning of the year activities, figure out your organizational perferences, get fabric for bulletin boards, get baskets for students materials, plan routines, stock up on beginning of the school year supplies, and relax they know if your nervous. Let me stress stock up on beginning of the school year supplies because I was in a low economy area. A little over half my students came with the supplies! Get the notebooks and folders for 0.10. Stock up on pencils and loose-leaf paper. Also make sure your as organized as possible that first day because once the year start say goodbye to free time.

[Unregistered]

This past year was my first year teaching. I'm not sure what grade level you are talking about, but I will give you some general ideas of what would help you be successful in your first year.

1. For each class, prepare a rough semester outline. What are you going to teach and how long will you teach it?

2. Find an old yearbook or use the school website to get to know who your school faculty are. Knowing their names from the get go will relieve some stress. This is also a good way to get to know your students before they arrive for school.

3. Get your classroom all set up. Bulletin boards, desks, your desk, filing cabinets, etc.

4. I suggest putting together a binder for each class you teach. Include your syllabus and materials you will use throughout the semester. I keep this binder in the order I teach things. It's really easy to grab it throughout the year and grab something for extra copies. I think it keeps you well organized and ready for what is to come.

I know these are only a few suggestions, but they should get you off to a good start. Just remember to relax. As long as you do the best job you can, then you are succeeding in your first year. Hope all goes well.

[grandmatica2]

I am working on my portfolio to be certified by CTAP level I. I am already working as a teacher for the Juvenile Court System in the Antelope Valley and I would like to introduce myself to the forum I believe the internet sources for teachers are great and I will be visiting www.teachnology.com very frequent.

[Lisa's Hotscakes]

Examine your state content standards like a mofo. And go over the ones for the previous grade and subsequent grade. You need to know what the students have been taught, and what they will be taught the year after they leave your class.

Then start writing learning objectives derived from the state content standards. Don't worry about lesson plans yet, just write the learning objectives. If the school has done this for you already, very well.

[kellyann]

Hello. This is my first year teaching, however I did 4 months of maternity leave substituting last semester, so I am a little familiar with some routines and procedures. Here are a few things that have greatly helped me as I have prepared for the first day:

1. Get the book "The First Days Of School" by Harry Wong. It is my teacher bible. I had to get it for my student teaching semester in college, and I go to it daily for strategies in the classroom.

2. Make your desk very "home-like." Set up pictures, maybe a lamp, and make it cozy. It is your sanctuary. Make it clear to the students that your desk is off limits to them, unless they are given some kind of permission.

3. Fabric is great for bulletin boards, but something else that is easy and cheap is vinyl/plastic table cloths. They come in sizes that are usually just right, and you can get them in various colors at any dollar store or closeout store like Big Lots. These are great investments.

4. Get to know your fellow teachers. Find some that are willing to listen to you ask a million questions and give you answers and suggestions. Write their comments down so you can refer to them later. This has really helped me!

5. Have VERY clear rules and consequences posted in your room. Go over them the first day. Send a copy home for the parents to read and sign so that EVERYONE knows the discipline plan in your classroom.

I hope these suggestions will help you. I hope you have a great year!

[Unregistered]

Kellyann...these suggestions really help a great deal! I guess my biggest problem is a discipline plan. During my student teaching the two teachers I worked with did not have a discipline plan whatsoever. So I am in a hard spot trying to come up with one from scratch. Any ideas where to begin? I am off to buy that book today, I have heard about it before! Great idea about the table cloths also, never thought about that. I am also trying to think of good ideas for creative bulletin boards to begin the year with... Thanks!

[kellyann]

My discipline plan is 5 rules, followed by 5 consequences. Make your rules positive, instead of saying, NO this, No that. My rules are:

Rules:
1. Be respectful to all people and property at all times.
2. Raise your hand for permission to get out of your seat or talk.
3. Follow directions the first time they are given.
4. Keep your hands and feet to yourself at all times.
5. Be prepared for class (bring ALL supplies/books).

Consequences:
1. Warning
2. Restricted recess
3. Recess detention
4. Fill out"action plan" durin recess and return with parent/s signature
5. Morning detention/Call Home
**SEVERE disruptions will cause immediate trip to the office.

To go along with that, I have a behavior system. Every student has a cutout (I use apples) on one of my bulletin boards with their name on it. When they have gotten in trouble for the 2nd time, I pull their apple down for the day. This means they get restricted recess or recess detention that day. At the end of the week, if a student has had their apple pulled only 2 times or less, then they get a good behavior reward (free homework pass, bring a water bottle to school Monday, eat lunch with a friend, etc.) on Friday. If a student has had their apple pulled only 9 times or less in a month, then they get a monthly good behavior reward (popcorn and movie, free recess time, etc.). This is GREAT motivation for good behavior!

I hope this all helps, and if you have any questions I will try my best to help you!

[BigDaddyTeacher]

I learned my discipline plan from my mentor teacher years ago. He used the Hawai'ian spirit of Aloha in his classroom, and it worked very well.

Classroom Rules - only three:

I Have A Right To Teach: As the teacher of this classroom, I have the right to present my information to you. This means that you must sit up, pay attention, and be prepared when you come to my class.

2) You Have A Right To Learn: As the student in this classroom, you have the right to receive the information, as do your fellow students. This means that you must be polite at all times, listen to the lesson, and use good manners when dealing with myself or your fellow students.

3) We Have A Right To Be Safe: In this classroom, we must be aware of each other, and each other’s feelings. I want you to feel safe in this room. You must not touch, tease, or otherwise bother your fellow students. You must treat each other with respect and the spirit of Aloha.

Yes, there were consequenses for breaking these rules - loss of recess time, notes home to parents, etc. But I can count on one had the number of times that consequenses were handed out. The kids really followed these rules.

As for the spirit of Aloha, we taught them the traditional meaning of the word:

Akahi - Kindness, expressed with tenderness
Lokahi - Unity, expressed with harmony
Olu'olu - Agreeable, expressed with pleasentness
Ha'aha'a - Humility, expressed with modesty
Ahouni - Patience, expressed with perserverence


Once they got the concept of how to behave in the classroom, it was smooth sailing throughout the school year.