According to Mrs. Fun

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