Hey all! I am just posting to ask if it is normal to get the jitters before a new school year? I just finished student teaching...something I enjoyed and excelled at. However, I have not recieved the textbooks or anything for the new year (My new teacher orientation is Aug. 18th). I feel like I will be "flying by the seat of my pants" this year? I've heard your first year is extremely tough? Any advice? How far out do you usually plan lesson plans?
It would be unusual if you didn't have the jitters!! Particularly for a first year teacher I do long range planning ahead of time, then a week at a time. But I'm also an old hat at this; it gets so much easier as you go on. For now, give some thought to any projects/papers you want to assign. You can type up the assignment sheet and have it ready, just awaiting a due date. Also, think about any extras you want to add: videos or things of that nature, and start tracking them down. My first year wasn't all that rough, just a series of suprises as I figured out how that school did things. Hang in there, and enjoy these last weeks!
It is perfectly reasonable, mnteacherguy. You will be trying out techniques and seeing how they work, finding out what works for you. There isn't any way around that. My advice would be to take it easy on yourself the first year. Ask others for suggestions. Use the teacher's guides for supplemental extension activities. Make sure you have a couple of handy short games (math games, mad libs, etc.) to turn to when you have some free time. Decide upon how many nights a week to give homework, then stick to it. Don't feel you have to grade every paper that comes across your desk. Remember that your students are kids first, students second. Don't give in to the feeling that you should stay late every single night to get things perfect. It will never be perfect. Keep it simple.
Hi--I'm going to be a second year teacher...and I'm anxious again to start the school year. I also coached so it was quite the adjustment last year, and even though I was so busy...I LOVED IT! In the beginning I would plan out about a week at a time--however I was changing things ALL the time. I would be in the shower that morning and would re-do my whole day because of some brilliant idea. alot of us first year teachers always were doing things last minute. right now, i would work on your syllabus and other things that you can get done. its hard to plan out when you do not know how long its going to take students to accomplish tasks. it was tough last year, but fun! so good luck! i'm so excited to start the school yera.
I too will be going through my first year of teaching except I do not have any student teaching experience. I have the jitters as well but at the same time I am very excited and cannot wait to get things tentatively planned. So I would think it is safe to say from what I read and heard from other teachers that even veterans get the jitters about every school year in some shape or form.
i'm in the same position....i'm nervous, but i've never been so excited about something in my entire life!!! good luck to all the first years out there...i'll be right along with you!
my 2 cents I just returned to teaching this year and luckily landed a job recently. My only prior experience, aside from student teaching, was some substitute teaching and and a one year long-term sub position. This one year position was extremely tough. I had four different preps, 2 of them without any kind of textbook, no curriculum was in place, few materials were left for me to use and i coached every day after school for the first 6 months of the school year. What did I learn from this school year? 1) Make it as easy on yourself as possible. Something I didn't do. For some reason, I felt like I needed to create everything on my own from scratch. Use what's out there. Plans. Notes. Activities. Rubrics. Whatever. I know I will this year. Just like what was mentioned above. Keep it simple. 2) Also, don't be afraid to say no. You've got your entire career to get involved with the school. I agreed to help with girls basketball in the fall. And agreed to be a class advisor. All of this after I was already planning to coach boys basketball in the fall. It was way too much for a first year teacher. Especially with all the preps. 3) And remember. They're just kids. You're the boss. There's nothing to get worked up about. Be tough at first. Loosen up later. Good luck.
Aliceacc- What "extras" do you incorporate into the math classroom. Any suggestions of videos for those "sub" days? Thanks!
Hi! Forgive me; I didn't realize it was you asking the question. (COmpany late last night!) I don't have any math videos. I tend to leave generic assignments, all run off, for the first day of a sub. I include instructions to the kids to bring textbooks until further notice. (I never use the textbook in class, so they need the warning!) For an algebra class, I would start off with a sheet on positive and negative numbers. You could probably make up something cute at www.edhelper.com or come up with one of your own. Even a crossword type number problem would do-- with instructions that they are NOT to use calculators. Or go online and find a copy of any CAtholic high school entrance exam and run off the math section. (Again, at least in ours, calculators are not allowed.) I know that ours is a 30 minute math section, so it would probably fill a typical math period. For geometry, you could: a) gamble that you won't be out until you've started proofs, then leave a sheet of some or b) give them some basic algebra to do-- a sheet of quadratics or messy linear equations to solve. For the upper grades: a) some quadratics that require the Quadratic Formula b) a system of 3x3 (or bigger) equations to solve But, even before I had kids, I always had something run off. The last thing I want to do while combatting the flu is to have to get creative at 7:15 am. It's so much easier in August when I'm feeling fine! Then, as the year goes on, you can give the kids the worksheets and update with something more current. Hope that helps!
Alice, I never use my textbooks either. I rarely get a sub, but when I do, I just have them do extra review work on the current topic. Also, re-do workbook pages to correct their errors (on pages I've graded).
I am in an Alternative Certification Program where you have to be internship eligible by hours taken in college based on state guidelines. After you are hired you then apply for the temp. certification. At least in the state I am in.
