Wanna be a Substitute Teacher ?
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As a new teacher you will likely encounter many good and bad days in the classroom. The ideas given here will help you as you navigate through teaching for the first time, and a new career.
Take Charge of Your Classroom
Long-time teachers know the importance of establishing rules and expectations for the students during the first week - and preferably the first day. Talk with your students about each of the guidelines, place them somewhere in the classroom where they can easily be seen and review them several times. Initiate a discussion about each guideline and get the students to give their opinion or explain them in their own words. . This will help to establish understanding and ownership of the rules. It's also great to have different stations in the classroom so students get familiar with what's proper behavior at the different areas. Have specific spots for play time and designate other areas for reading and quite time by using items like quality classroom rugs.
Learn To Prepare Lessons Ahead Of Time
You will find your job as a teacher much less demanding if you are able to work ahead. Plan your lessons a week or even a whole month in advance. Remember that each day is different. For each unit, have extra activities planned and supplies on hand for days when the planned lesson is completed more quickly than expected.
Keep What You Need Close At Hand
The daily lesson goes so much easier if you are prepared and have the teaching supplies you need on hand. You may choose to achieve such an inventory by having the children contribute materials to the whole classroom at the start of the school year. However you decide to do it, keep your classroom supply cupboard well stocked with all the necessary materials for each day's activities. A monthly check of supplies can help avoid the panic of lacking the proper materials to complete a lesson or project.
Create A Balance
First year teachers find it easy to be so caught up with the duties of their job that they forget to have a personal life. This is definitely not a pattern you want to encourage.
You may push yourself to work harder and put in more time perfecting your routine and your methods during the first year, but don't be so hard on yourself. Select class decorations and bulletin board sets that are easy to maintain, as well as long-lasting and reusable. If everything you attempt in your classroom takes a lot of energy to maintain, you will find it easy to get burnt out.
If you can, involve the class and parent volunteers as much as possible with class decorations and focus your attention on insightful lessons.
How To Set Up For A Substitute Teacher
No teacher is infallible so you must be equipped for days of missed school. Before school begins, take time to assemble the important information for your substitutes. This file should detail your own tips for running the classroom and a checklist for locating all the necessary materials and teaching supplies in the classroom. In addition, make a list of approved classroom games and activities for substitute days, as well as several different handouts that children can complete in place of regular instruction. It's also important that the substitute teacher has access to all of the needed teaching supplies.
Be Available
As a teacher, it is important that you encourage parents to be a part of their child's education. Take time before and after class for parents who would like to know how their child is doing. If you can be reached via email, this is a convenient way to connect with busy parents and may make your job less demanding; responding to emails can be completed when you have time.
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These teaching tips for your first year are designed to highlight and simplify some of the more difficult aspects of your teaching career so that you can focus more attention on your students and take less of your responsibilities home with you.
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