So much to think about...so little time to think

As a new teacher there is often so much to think about, for example what kind of expectations am I going to have for my students? What kind of discipline or rewards will I have for my students? How will I communicate with the parents of my students? Those questions are only the beginning of many more questions to follow, however every teacher needs to start somewhere. In order not to get overwhelmed by everything that needs to get done every teacher should have some sort of calender or list of things to do to keep them on track. Organization is the key and by keeping a tangible reminder of things that need to be finished you will be more successful at finishing everything that needs to get done. But what should go on your list? How do you even begin to get organized? (The link previously provides is a great start!) However there are also other great places to look offered on the web, teachers are always trying to help echer out so take a look you never know what you could find!

Getting started is the hardest part of getting organized, once you develop a system that works best for you and meets the needs of your students you will not feel so overwhelmed and lost. The important thing is not to give up and don't be afraid to mid-year change soemthing that has not been working well for you. Ask around, ask your collegues what works best for them, there is no better resource! Hceck online, do some searching, it won't tak long and you can always find something great!

A new Journey-Same Job....

This week has been extremely crazy, as we are wrapping up the school year we are looking ahead to the next one to come as well. Something is in the air, the children are acting crazy and the teachers are acting even crazier! You can most definitely smell summer just around the corner. This year at the school I work at, we are all so very blessed, we have all teachers returning for the next year, so in some ways there is less to worry about. However we are always trying to make improvements and ways to better address the needs of our students, so there will be some changes that we will be making that should all be positive. One change that I am extremely looking forward to is the fact that I have been signed as a long term substitute! The 6th grade teacher as the school is expecting a new baby and she is due right as we begin school next year. I was generously offered the position and gratefully accepted the position! Considering I have never been given such a responsibility before (actually let me take that back) I have never been given such a responsibility for such a duration of time I am beginning to get a little nervous. What can expect? Will I met her expectations? Will I meet the children's needs? Some days I think I have gotten in over my head, but overall I know it must be a positive move that will only help better establish me within the school I hope one day I will fully be teaching at! There is so much to take in and so much to figure out..Which brings me to my number 3 tip!
Tip #3: Be prepared! As a substitute you never fully know what you are getting yourself into, however a way to help relieve some of the expected jitters is, if you are given sufficient amount of notice before you will actually be long term subbing, ASK QUESTIONS!!!! Prepare yourself as much as you can, what I have been doing for the past week, ever since I discovered I would be taking this position is writing down questions as they pop in my head, because I know that before the school year ends I will be having a meeting with the 6th grade teacher and the principal. I want to be prepared to ask all the questions I have in my head and if I don't write them down I may forget. Also I am taking a large notebook with me to ensure I can take as many notes as I would like for the information that is covered throughout the meeting. You can never be over prepared however you can be under, and as a new teacher or a long term substitute teacher that is the last thing you ever want to be! I want to show everyone I am capable and perfect for any job they may have opening up in the future as a teacher.

School Fiascos

There are many wonderful things about working with children in an educational setting, first you can be a kid yourself, second you can be as creative as you want when teaching a lesson, and lastly no one day is the same! It seems ever since we returned back from Christmas break each week we have something going on and this week is no exception! The Talent show is on Friday and of course I along with 5 other teachers are set to preform a little dance number. I can barely remember what I had for breakfast, let alone remember coordinated dance moves!
However, I know the kids don't care if I get every step correct they are just more excited to cheer me on and see me be silly, so I am putting on my best smile and giving each afternoon practice all i have to give! My body is sore and my mind is all over the place with everything I know I must get done with before the end of week, but so help me I will make it to Friday and put on at the very least an entertaining performance! Wish me luck!
Tip #2:
Make time for fun! We all know teachers are under a lot of stress to meet the standards and cover all the appropriate curriculum set for each grade level, however sometimes we just need to let loose and have fun! As important as it is for your students to have respect for their teacher it is almost equally important they see their teacher as relatable (not some foreign alien I believed most of my teacher were throughout school). As educators its important we embrace all opportunities to teach our students in and outside of the classroom. Though some may argue the validity of what we are exactly teaching our students by entering for example a silly talent show, I believe we are encouraging a sense of community which is a CA Social Studies standard for most elementary grade levels. We as teachers are becoming involved and help create a sense of becoming involved no matter who you are within the community. We are also displaying self confidence, which many students need to have more of in today's world. Whether it be playing hopscotch one afternoon during recess with your students or entering the talent show, make sure just because you have the title of teacher you don't distance yourself from your students, sometimes the best lessons are the ones that are modeled and often those have a lasting impression! Seize the day and put a smile on a student's face!

Substitute Teaching Teaches the Substitute?

So my morning began very interesting today. I was woken up by my boss at 5:45 am! Not the usual way most people like to begin their day, however i happen to like my boss. She is not only the one that is my superior but also my mentor. She has helped me get through so many difficult situations and challenges that I have encountered on my way to obtaing my B.A degree. Anyway, I have been working at this school for almost 6 years now and have slowly built my way up to a substitute teacher,(hopefully one day I can actually be a full time teacher....however that is a whole other story). So I was called in this morning because one of the teachers had contracted the flu.
Let me just say it has been a few months since I have substituted and in fact I have never substituted for this teacher before so I was a little nervous. But I wanted to prove that I was the type of employee you could call in jam, so I jumped out of bed and got ready as quickly as possible (I know what some of you must be thinking, why the heck am I in a rush at 5:45 am, if school doesn't start til 8:00 am, however I live about an hour away and I can never tell what traffic will be like). I made it to work with time to spare! I would liked to say I was woman of the hour, unfortunately I was given the lesson plan and pointed in the direction of the classroom. My hard work will one day pay off was all I could think, I have to believe that or else everything I am working for may become less desireable.
Let me just say I had many educational moments today! I learned about classroom management and methods I would have never thought would actually work. I mean kids are so unpredicatable I am never quite sure what to expect, but I followed through on some tips left behind by the teacher and I was amazed how great and smooth the day went along.

Tip #1: Praise really does work! I can not tell you how many times I have seen teacher after teacher repeat themselves "John sit down...Megan stop talking...Joey please find something to do quietly!" Psstt...teachers out there who find yourself saying similar phrases like this over and over...you will continue to say it until you are blue in the face because that stuff doesn't work! Turn your negative "do's and don'ts" into positives, when you see a child doing what they are suppose to or follwing your directions beautifully, point it out to the rest of the class, for example, "Oh I like what Justin is doing, he is reading a book so nice and quietly while he is waiting for me to give the next directions! Wow look, Kate is doing it too! Very good!" It takes some getting use to but I must say I used it today with my students and it worked! Before I knew it the other ones who were not on track were quickly getting on track so they would be recognized too!