TIPS AND TRICKS FOR NEW EDUCATORS
1-SET CLEAR EXPECTATIONS WITH STUDENTS
Set clear expectations first thing and reinforce them often during the first month of school. Emphasize processes and routines, and follow through on expectations and consequences consistently. Remember, it’s easier to pull back and be less strict than it is to become more strict when it comes to classroom management.
2-WRITE AND CREATE YOUR PLAN BOOK DIGITALLY
So many unexpected hiccups can derail your best-laid plans, so design with flexibility top of your mind and an eraser in hand. Writing plans on mini sticky notes is also helpful.
Consider making your plan book digital as well, so it’s always easy to organize, edit, sort, and search for the resources you need.
3-MAKE #besties
Establish strong relationships early on with the front office assistants and the custodians, as you will need them in your court countless times week in and week out (if not daily). They have eyes and ears on all aspects of the school community, and they will be your go-to ally in many instances, promise.
Give yourself the gift of not having to know everything. Don’t be afraid ask ask ask questions of veteran teachers you trust. PLUS, the office manager and the custodian can save you, make friends with them!
4-KEEP YOUR SPACE CLEAN
A dust buster, a Mr. Clean Eraser, and a fragrant plug-in will keep your classroom in tip-top shape on a day-to-day basis. However, please keep allergens in mind when it comes to fragrances! Remember to check school policies before introducing any scented products.
5-ASK QUESTIONS!
Best PD might be right down the hallway. Don’t be afraid to ask your fellow teachers for feedback or help when you need it or when you feel overwhelmed. They won’t think less of you! And, all the teachers I’ve worked with have always bent over backward to help if I asked for it.
There are no stupid questions, only answers. No matter who asks, the teacher or the student.
6-GET ORGANIZED DIGITALLY AND TRADITIONALLY
Organize one master copy of your printed materials — lessons, worksheets, and resources — in plastic sleeves. Put those sleeves in sequential order, pair them with lesson plans and notes, and group them thematically in labelled binders that can be on a shelf within reach.
7-PAPER, PLEASE!
Consider ways to cut back on paper use and save that tree by using digital alternatives on Nearpod such as Draw It, Drag and Drop, and more to support classroom activities and collaboration.
You can also seek out local companies to donate, put in requests with DonorsChoose.org, or ask your classroom families to contribute, but you will go through a lot of paper in any given school year, and the worst is having plans but then running out of paper for copies.
8-COLOUR COUNTS
Regardless of your students’ ages, go all out in decorating and covering classroom walls with colourful learning resources and rotating student work. You all spend hours in your room, so treat it like a second home that you all want to take care of.
9-DON’T PICK AT IT
A staple remover will save your fingers and fingernails! This handy dandy little plastic contraption will be your new best friend. Invest in more than one sense those little guys can easily be misplaced or lost.
10-REMEMBER TO HANG TOUGH
Invest in several rolls of blue or green painter’s tape instead of masking tape to adhere student work to the walls. Regularly change out so kids can see their hard work appreciated. However, when true staying power is needed, especially on those concrete classroom walls, turn to ever-impressive duct tape.
11-DON’T GO RED
Vary the colours of the pens you use when reviewing work so that kids don’t associate being wrong with colour. Create a robust feedback loop by considering other ways to provide feedback besides with a pen, like video feedback or a face-to-face conference. Cultivate the mindset of “failing forward,” and remember that a sticker (for all ages) goes a long way when it comes to recognition!
12-TRY OUT DIFFERENT WAYS TO CHANNEL STUDENTS’ ATTENTION
Research ways to help channel children’s attention — put a strip of Velcro under desks for some tactile stimulation, add a red card to the corner of desks for focus, use exercise balls instead of chairs, and practice group breathing exercises to help kids embrace mindfulness.
13-PLAY MUSIC
Discover what kinds of music your students like as background noise, which can help drown out other distracting classroom noises while everyone works. Look for playlists on Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Prime Music, or other streaming sources, or simply make your own and play from any digital device. Music can help calm anxiety, soothe feelings, and lift moods.
14-BUILD MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH STUDENTS
Sounds simple enough, but do find the time to get to know your students on a personal level. Have them fill out a questionnaire, conduct mini-conferences, and reach out to their families continuously throughout the year to establish an authentic relationship. You can use Nearpod’s Polls or Collaborate Board to conduct questionnaires and collect feedback. Weave in social and emotional learning (SEL) moments with your students in your daily instruction to reinforce relationship building.
Relationships matter! Get to know the ins and outs of your students and their families! Making those connections from the start will make for a successful school year and carry you through the thick and thin! It’s as simple as knowing your student’s favourite sports team or what they enjoy doing on the weekend. Those little things go a long way!
15-STICK TO A ROUTINE
Your students will thrive with it, your families will appreciate it, your administration will expect it, and don’t worry — there’s enough good daily drama within classrooms that your day will never be boring!
16-PLAN FOR THE UNEXPECTED
Have a sub folder ready to go with the practical notes about your students and their schedules, plus a host of turnkey activities that a substitute teacher can use in your absence; especially for those unplanned ones.
We’ve compiled a list of tips to make sub teacher plans a smoother experience for classroom teachers, substitute teachers, and students.
17-LEAVE IT BEHIND
Don’t bring (too much) work home with you. Teachers’ prep and grading work is never done, so do try to set strict limits so that you have a balanced work-home life.
18-DESIGN YOUR OWN PD
In this day and age, seek out recommended ways to hone your craft. Consider reading the Wong’s tried-and-true handbook, The First Days of School: How to Be An Effective Teacher. Discover the many free options such as listening to educator podcasts, subscribing to blogs, registering for webinars, or taking an online course.
Friendly reminder to register for Camp Engage, Nearpod’s free virtual professional development for educators! Camp Engage happens several times a year – around February, July, and November.
19-PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO COMMUNICATE
Giving out your phone number may be a controversial tip, but I relied on my phone both as a way for students to reach me so that they were never left with unanswered questions and so that I could simply connect with their caregivers to share a good story.
You can also use a parent communication app like Remind or ClassDojo. You can also create a Google Phone number that you can discontinue at any time.
I would suggest seeing if there’s one that is commonly used in your building that the parents are used to, in addition to seeing which platform offers the best options that you’d like it to do.
20-DON’T REINVENT THE WHEEL
Share your great ideas so your colleagues will be willing to too, but remember what a treasure trove Pinterest is — so much inspiration can be found for creative activities in a single photo.
21-AND BREATHE!
Accept that you will make mistakes, veteran teachers do too. Learn from them and move on.
[About the Author: Ms. Priya Durairaj M.A., M.Ed., M.Phil.,Principal, Lotus International school]
