Tips for First Year Teachers
Posted by Beth DuBose on Aug 11, 2008
Posted by Machele Stefhon, a 16 year veteran of education as a special education teacher and administrator.
Jane Fung, a 22 year veteran and teacher mentor, provides novice teachers with tips on how to start a great first year.
With many school getting ready to start the new school year, I wanted to provide some great resources this week for back-to-school.
Teacher Magazine has a great article for new teachers as they prepare for their first year. The author, Jane Fung, is a 22 year veteran of teaching and a teacher mentor. Fung wanted to provide teachers with things she knows know that she wished she knew her first year teaching. She provides some great pointers for first teaching assignments:
- Find a friend
- Take a tour of the school
- Ask other teachers on your grade level what they usually do the first week of school
- Have classroom management and expectations ready
- Take observation notes on students
- Find out who your students are
She also gives great advice on what school procedures you should know on the first week of school:
- How to take attendance and (if it’s not all computerized) where to send attendance
- Where to sign in and out each day
- Official reporting hours
- How to arrange for a sub when ill
- What is the general bell schedule for recess, lunch, and dismissal
- How do students purchase a lunch and where do they eat
- What if a student becomes ill or gets hurt in class
- Where do students play at recess/lunch
- Where (depending on grade level) do I pick up my students
- Where do I dismiss students at the end of the day
- In case of an emergency (or fire drill), what do I do
- How do I contact the office if there is an emergency
- How often will my class be cleaned
- Procedures for ordering class materials and what is available
- Where do I check out playground and/or PE equipment
- Will I have a mentor
The article allows for comments, so you can also get great advice from other teachers that have commented on the article.