Just a few teacher workdays are left for my first year of teaching. I took a few minutes to reflect on the "lessons" I learned this year. It has been definitely a learning experience- but also everything I thought it would be and also everything I wanted it to be.
- Never do something your kids can do for you
- A little bit of humor goes a long way
- Don't be afraid to challenge your kids- students rise to a challenge
- Address each student personally once a week with a smile, compliment, question, etc
- OVERplan and SAVE everything
- Reflect daily and write it down
- Take advantage of every single minute of free time
- Get to know your admininstration/front office staff
- Food is a major motivator for students
- Give students opportunities to share their opinions and give feedback frequently (not just at the end or the beginning)
- Don't be afraid to try new things (and to crash and burn)
- Share! Share! Share! Collaborate! Collaborate! Collaborate! Steal! Steal! Steal!
- Let students know what you are thinking (model your thinking for them)
- Allow them to use THEIR technology
- Surround the classroom with STUDENT work (not silly posters- it's THEIR room)
- Create creative opportunities and leave directions vague
- Each class is different and one class does not want to know about the other
- The more upfront feedback- the less questions you have to answer
- Share your "plan" with your students- for the day/week/unit/semester
- Don't bring your school work home with you- even if you have to stay so late the janitors kick you out
- Color! Color! Color! (As in encourage students to take notes in several colors/use color on SMARTboard/etc)
- Say no NOW- compromise later
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