I teach 4th grade. Labor Day is coming fast, which means 1st day of school is getting closer and closer. I have learned sooo much from other teachers, and most of what they know they also "stole" from other teachers... you know what I mean. ;)
My question is, most teachers, if not all of them, have that "one thing" they are so glad they picked up or learned/stole from someone else that helps them every day. Whether it was organization, classroom management, grading, filing, how to deal with parents, whatever- what was it for you? Email me after you answer, and I'd be glad to tell you mine!
Let's help each other out.
2006-08-25 03:48:18 · 14 answers · asked by Adje J 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
I've learned so much, it's really hard to choose one thing.
The first that comes to my mind is learning not to get into arguments with students. All the classroom management guides tell you not to do that, and I knew it was true, but I still made the mistake. When a student would argue with me, I always felt like I had to assert my dominance right there are that moment. I thought that if I let a student get away with continuing a bad behavior, it would undermine my authority. I also thought it was important for the children to understand WHY they were being punished, and to think it was fair. So I spent a lot of time arguing with ten-year-olds! Which is the worst thing you can do.
I learned that students will always say you're not being fair, even if they know you really are. I learned that they will find a reason to object to every rule and every decision. They will deny every misbehavior. So instead of trying to convince them that I'm being fair, or that I saw them misbehave, I just let it go. If they continue to misbehave, I don't feel like I have to put a stop to it right at that moment. I ignore it and move on.
Then, later on, when the other students are working, I sit down and have a private conversation with the child who was acting up.
It sounds like the simplest thing, but I had to learn it the hard way!
2006-08-25 04:32:53 · answer #1 · answered by dark_phoenix 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The best trick I learned was as a substitute teacher. If I had a class that would not settle down, I stopped talking and started writing. It would usually be about something other than the students behavior. Sometimes it would be about the bulletin board displays or about artwork around the room. In time, some student would notice and would attempt to quiet the other students. This rarely took more than five minutes, but it was worth it because the students "knew" the note was about their behavior and they knew what behavior was expected from their teacher. It also showed them that I was not the type of person to yell at them. When things did settle down, it was back to business. In all the years of subbing, I only had to call in an administrator four times (twice for the same class).
Try it. Students can think of many things you may be writing, and all of them are worse than the actual note.
2006-08-25 08:40:23 · answer #2 · answered by RDW928 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well....I'm not a full-time real teacher yet. I only taught 1 class of Spanish for 2 semesters. One of the biggest things I learned in that time is to have a back up plan. There were times that the copy machine was broken.....and my whole lesson was planned around those sheets I needed.
Other times I received a call a few mintues before walking out the door to class from a different teacher saying she was sick needing me to take her class as well. (we only had about 10/group) So, since our classes did not follow the same lessons...there was no way to just print extra copies of the sheets/activities. We had to do something that everyone could participate in.
You never know what will happen: as far as lesson plans, behavior/interruptions, if the students will be sooo confused/or they get it right away and there is too much time to waste
2006-08-25 08:10:58 · answer #3 · answered by hambone1985 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are getting some good tips. One more that I learned from a teacher friend who always came up with awesome stuff. She kept a mailbox just inside her door. Actual mailbox on a post. Kids who had missed the day before knew to check inside when they first walked in to get assignments they missed. Saved her a ton of time and the kids thought it was cool. Also, send parents a note home early to let them know who you are and how glad you are to be teaching their child,...... That way if you do have to contact them later, their first contact with you is not negative. Good luck
2006-08-27 09:59:03 · answer #4 · answered by Alan J 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I teach high school chemistry. I have been teaching for 12 years. Kids like stories. Relate your stories to what you are teaching. True stories/made up stories...doesn't matter. Kids will listen more attentively to "stories with lessons." They will tune out quicker if they think you are teaching them something.
One of the best compliments a student has given me was during a review for the course final. This student was happy about knowing/remembering most of the material in the packet of material covered in the class. He said, "Wow, Mr. G.!!! I did not know that we learned this much stuff in your class. I thought we were just having fun."
2006-08-25 13:49:01 · answer #5 · answered by Mr. G 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My favorite trick is to have the kids get to the business of learning the moment they walk into the classroom. I start each class with a "Problem of the Day," which is written on the board between class periods. My students are expected to grab a piece of scrap paper on their way to their seats and to work on it right away. This gives me a minute or two I need to take attendance or get kids who'd missed the day before their assignments, and 99.5% of the time class starts right away without incident. Time is very precious... use all of it in class that you can.
2006-08-25 11:47:48 · answer #6 · answered by Louise 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I use humor A LOT. It keeps the kids interested and never knowing what will happen next keeps them on their toes. I might just break into song one minute, and tell a joke to diffuse a tense situation with a kid. It has really helped.
2006-08-25 17:00:00 · answer #7 · answered by b_friskey 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
#1 Respect the students. And teach them to respect you. Don't talk down to them. Have a positive attitude when you walk into the classroom and smile a lot :-)
2006-08-25 03:54:26 · answer #8 · answered by Linda 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Magic tricks. Kids love em!
2006-08-25 03:53:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A whisper can be more effective at getting attention focused than a shout.
2006-08-25 04:23:21 · answer #10 · answered by Arrow 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋