Back-to-school season is a busy time for teachers. Prepping lesson plans, trainings, and creating a welcoming classroom environment are only a small portion of the tasks teachers have to complete before students arrive on the first day of school. If you are a new teacher you probably are thinking about all of the above which may bring excitement but also nervousness and anxiety. Those feelings are okay and these back-to-school tips for new teachers will help you get ready to embark on your teaching journey!
1. Give yourself grace
I would do you a disservice if I did not say teaching as a career is hard. It’s even harder if you are a new teacher. However, each day will become easier as you will enter your classroom knowing more than the previous day. Also, remember every expert was once a beginner. As a teacher there will be days where you will experience trials due to lack of knowledge but remember as a new teacher there is no way you can know everything. Even veteran teachers don’t know it all.
Think about the path that students take throughout a school year. Many of the students will come to you at the beginning of the school year without knowledge of certain academics or social skills. Through time and instruction they grow and blossom and at the end of the school year, you will be amazed at their growth!
Use the same scenario with yourself. As a new teacher, you will without a doubt grow and experience many learning experiences.
Embrace those learning experiences and reflect often. Surround yourself with mentors and veteran teachers who can help you grow as a new teacher. They have a vast amount of knowledge and can relate to you as they were also once a new teacher at some point and time.
2. Set Clear Expectations and Rules
Before planning your lesson plans, think about and create a plan for your classroom expectations and rules. These areas in addition to classroom management (Tip #3) are vital. If you don’t have a structured system to include expectations and rules, it will be nearly impossible to teach an academic lesson.
One effective approach to setting clear expectations and rules at the beginning of the year is to involve your students in the process. By allowing their input you are creating a class community that encourages ownership. It also lets students know their opinions matter.
Have a class discussion where students can share their ideas and suggestions for classroom rules. Allow students to offer suggestions and keep a running record of their suggestions.
After all suggestions have been made, go through the list together, merging similar or identical rules together. Have a discussion and rank the rules by importance and agree on a set of 3-5 rules. As you agree on the rules, select expectations and establish rules that promote structure and positive behavior.
You can also have a discussion on why some suggestions were not selected.
Start this process and introduce these expectations on the first day of school and reference the rules often.
By clearly defining your expectations, you provide a framework for behavior that helps students understand what is acceptable, what is not acceptable, and sets the tone for a productive learning environment. When expectations are explicitly communicated, students are more likely to understand what is expected of them and are better equipped to meet those expectations.
3. Develop Strong Classroom Management Skills
Classroom expectations go hand in hand with classroom management. Management is important in any classroom but crucial in a new teacher’s classroom.
Classroom management occurs when you have certain structures and routines in place that promote a learning environment. Without classroom management, teaching is nearly impossible which can lead to burnout fast.
When developing your classroom management plan reflect on your physical classroom layout, transitions, managing student work, managing behavior, planning and organization, bathroom procedures, and voice levels.
These are just a few procedures that you will want to cover.
During the first two weeks of school spend the majority of your time teaching classroom management procedures allowing students to practice the routines. Provide on-the-spot corrections. This prevents students from practicing the rules incorrectly consistently which can form bad habits.
Revise the procedures as needed and be consistent with your classroom procedures!
The time you spend at the beginning of the year on expectations, rules, and classroom management, will pay off throughout the year.
I love to use this scenario: If you need to be out for a day or two, your students should be so familiar with your classroom expectations and management style that they can effectively run the class with minimal assistance from the substitute.
4. Establish Positive Relationships
In addition to setting clear expectations and rules, it is essential to establish positive relationships with your students. Building rapport and trust creates a strong foundation for effective classroom management. When students feel valued, supported, and connected to their teacher, they are more likely to engage in positive behavior and be motivated to succeed academically.
One way to create positive relationships is by getting to know your students on a personal level. Take the time to learn about their interests, hobbies, and aspirations. Show genuine interest in their lives outside of the classroom and find opportunities to incorporate their interests into your conversations with the students.
Questionnaires and break-the-ice activities are fun ways to learn about your students at the beginning of the year. Be sure to tell your students about interests and hobbies. Believe it or not, they really enjoy this part.
5. Develop An Organization Plan
Lastly, as a teacher, you will have many tasks throughout the day to complete. Taking the steps to become an organized teacher will help you conquer the many daily responsibilities that you will have.
Create a plan that tackles how you will organize the following:
Important Dates-Planners work great as well as alerts
Transitioning Subjects- Will you have folders for each subject taught?
Lesson Plans-Will you store these digitally or print them out each week?
Centers or Stations-How will you organize the materials in each environment?
Paperwork-Will you utilize a file cabinet or bin to store unit resources and other documents?
This article offers additional classroom organization tips that will allow you to rock your classroom organization.
Final Thoughts For Back To School Tips For New Teachers:
Being a new teacher starting a new school year is such an exciting time. These back-to-school tips for new teachers are meant to give you practical tips that have helped teachers not only survive their first year but also grow and excel in the profession of teaching. Use these back-to-school tips for new teachers in addition to support from your colleagues, and daily experiences, to kick this year off with a bang!
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