New teacher orientation begins tomorrow! I am finally starting to feel nervous. I will be a high school teacher.
I subbed for a year while I was looking for a job. I received a longterm substitute 9th grade English position and I loved it! Good luck! Have an awesome year!
Don't be afraid to ask questions! No one expects you to know it all, and older teachers will be happy to help.
This is going to be my 12th year and I'm always nervous on the first day of school. After the first day or two the feeling goes away when I'm back in my regular routine. Just remember that everyone else is just as nervous as you are!
Be kind to everyone you meet. Pay attention during meetings (and stay off your phone!!). Ask for what you need but don't be needy--there is a difference. Enjoy the experience, especially once you get to meet the students. You'll do fine!
Good luck and have a great year! I'm not a very experienced teacher but I can assure you that first impressions are very important. A good start is vital, it will determine how they'll behave for the rest of the year.
Good luck! Good advice so far. Particularly, ask questions, smile at everyone and put away your phone. Be kind to secretaries and custodians. One trend I am seeing in young teachers (not sure if this applies to you) is the idea of "I don't know how to do it perfectly, so I am just not going to do it." Do NOT get stuck in this rut. Try SOMEthing, you will learn how to do it better next time.
Another thing that I've seen among some new teachers is the attitude that things should be given to and done for you. Don't carry around that attitude. The fact is that you are now a professional educator, so it's up to you to write your plans, map out your curriculum, locate resources, etc., if those things aren't already done for you. It's no one else's job to do yours for you.
Have a good attitude. Don't be too nervous; everyone has been where you are and has made it out alive! Learn that you can take advice and collaborate, but that ultimately you are going to have to develop your own confidence and know-how. Smile, be friendly, and want to get to know the other people you work with (including the students). All fo these things will go a long way. Good luck!
Great advice! The secretaries and custodians run the building in many ways - keep on their good side. They can be extremely helpful! Good luck - you'll do fine.
Isn't it funny ... the entire school knows immediately if our secretary is gone. Our Principal could be be gone all day (for some teachers to notice) and for a week (before students would notice). But, if our secretary is gone, we all know and school just doesn't run as smoothly.
Good luck! Smile. The custodians are your best friend! Someone else mentioned staying off the phone during meetings. I would second this!
Dress neatly. Take along something to share like gum or life savers. It's a kind ice breaker. Do not use your phone.
Plan your work, work your plan Have a plan A, plan B, and Plan C. Students complain, always complain, especially if it seems like work. You can listen, but listen carefully to what they are actually saying. If it sounds like "I don't want to work" keep going. If they are saying I don't understand, make them say WHAT it is that they do not understand. You can figure out if it is valid or an excuse not to work. Don't be afraid to modify your plan or go to plan B or C. DO NOT TRY TO BE THE STUDENT'S FRIEND or get on their level YOU ARE THE ADULT IN THE ROOM. Always have more work prepared for the students than they can do in the time you have, there is no such thing as "freetime" or "freeday". You have NO credibility if you lose your temper. You will have NO CREDIBILITY if you use profanity. Good luck.... Teaching is cool. TechnoMage
