BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION...NOT THE PROBLEM!
Simply Said:
Over the last 27 years I saw it coming in the schools slowly
year by year...abbreviated language, abbreviated thinking &
caring about others. It wouldn't have been so bad, except I was teaching "positive thinking" and ethics!!
NEW TEACHERS:
1. If you want to "bond" with students while also keeping the professional conduct in tact: You do not have to DRESS like them, TALK like them or put them DOWN by your obvious academic power OVER them.
2. You WILL bond to them by: "understanding" their need to dress and talk like that; NOT forgetting YOU were that age.
3. You will be HONEST with them; if you do NOT know the answer to a question...you will tell them that! You will FIND the answer to that question by that student ASAP.
4. PLEASE DO NOT GIVE THEM "BUSY WORK". They know when you do...they know if you grade it or not...and worst of all...you will be "punishing" the class as a whole when it is for the few causing the problem. The "control" of your classroom is part of your job and many times can be stopped before you have to ring for the Dean.
5. Keep your "class rules" sheet as clear and specific as possible. Ask yourself what is MOST important to YOU in that classroom. Many of the "list" of rules can fit under:
"You will abide by the Student Conduct Rules. (that is it! From that simple statement you have included attendance,tardies,
Dean-type rules & what will make the Principal happy!"
6. EXPECT chaos pretty much the first day or two and be PREPARED for it. If you need help with some more tips just ask me!
7. Get to know: (1) The custodians (2)The Secretaries (3)The
Guidance Dept. & (4)The Library/Personnel. Can't tell you how important this can be. They are ALL helpful to your career and as ONE big family...run this school WITH the teachers. KNOW your Deans and what is important to them.
8.) Here comes the trickier part, New Teachers: Unless you are teaching a totally one way subject....YOU to THEM...listen!
The better you get to know your students each term, the better it is for THEM and YOU. Not just Academically, but their set of Ethics, Visible signs of physical/emotional abuse,
and their POTENTIAL in your class. If you don't give a damn about them...why the Hell are you teaching?!
IF THEY RESPECT YOU THEY WILL GIVE YOU EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT. TRUST ME ON THIS.
9.) I don't care HOW many Degrees,Published books etc. you may have...if you can't get your subject from you to them...you are not "teaching". You must constantly remember
this is their FIRST encounter with the subject and certainly NOT for you.
10.) THE FIRST DAY back is today for teachers...craziness...
too many "mandatory" meetings, nerves of even the "veterans" are felt each year....please feel free to ask me any questions you would like to at anytime at: bevbirge1@gmail.com. There ARE NO dumb questions for you or for your students to ask.
Mrs.B.
