teaching for the first time?

Question

i'm a final year student of scince with education.i'm gonna be a teacher soon.majoring in biology.

i desperately need good tips on how to build my confidence and how to handle my nervousness for my first time teaching.
i don wanna look nervous or stupid in front of my future students.

perhaps i can have advice on what to say what to wear what to bear in mind etc.

pliz help me..

Answer 1

One of the best things you can do is learn to laugh at yourself. We all make mistakes, but if you can laugh at your own mistakes, you won't take them quite so seriously. It might help if you start out being really up front with the kids. Tell them you are terribly nervous and ask them to help you feel at home. Tell them you want this to be fun and interesting for everyone, including you. Tell them what your rules are because they will be more comfortable with a structured situation and a framework for the class, but tell them that you really want to hear their opinions, questions, and ideas. And NEVER laugh at a question, because there is NO SUCH THING as a dumb question!

As far as how you dress, you want to look professional, but make sure you keep it comfortable. You'll be a little nervous anyway, but shoes that pinch your feet or pants that squeeze you will only make it worse.

Answer 2

I have taught for 6 years. You need to fake it and be very strict from day one. Here's why: you can always ease up as the year goes by, but you CANNOT get stricter. The students will be relentless in their behavior if you seem weak or try to be stricter. ( I know I had a first year from HELL!) This is why you fake it. At the beginning of the year, I am extremely strict and by the end of the year very laidback, but the kids don't take advantage because they know. There have been many a days where I could have easily got a nomination for an Academy Award!

Remember, they cannot see inside you and only know what you present. Therefore you'll need to be very prepared; have too much to do. Busy kids don't have time to act up. Remember your job is to teach them not have them like you. They will if you are a sincere person even if you are strict.

You also need to have clear proceedures and rules. Always refer back to them and have the students perform each proceedure until they do it the way you want it. They will comply, but stick to your guns. Respect- teacher, peers, classroom materails, school

Substituting is a good idea. Take a notebook with you and copy anything down that you see that you might want to use. i.e seating arrangements, organizational strategies, behavior plans. Remember, don't try to reinvent the wheel. Someone has already thought of it for the most part; seek it out, borrow, and use it. You have enough to do already your first few years!

As far as looking stupid, you will make mistakes in front of your class. Teachers are humans. I have and if anyone laughs, I always remind them about repect, that everyone makes mistakes and I don't laugh at them when they make mistakes. I expect the same. How would they like me to laugh when they answer a question wrong? How would you handle it if they did that to another student? It is the same or perhaps worse. Depending on the way it happened, I decide if it is conversation that needs to be done in private or as a class. Be strict and except nothing short of respect for you and your students!

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Hello! I am in the process of studying for the Cert. Exam to become a math teacher. Why won't you try to substitute. That's what I have done in the past and I am gonna continue to do it until I take and pass the exam. It will help you get a feel of things.

I already have a little idea of the first day. Try an "Icebreaker" game. Let the students know a little about you, and it will give a chance to learn a little about them.

Dress how it makes you feel comfortable.

The only thing you have to bear in mind is that for those 6-8 hours, you are the "parent" to those students. You are there to teach, guide, and direct.

Good Luck, and wish me the same!

Answer 4

It is okay to make mistakes and as a new teacher it is definitely okay to make MANY MANY mistakes. Building relationships with your students should be your first and foremost goal in teaching, even before teaching science. Learn their names quickly and learn a few details about each person. Smile alot and be yourself. The more you're willing to look a little foolish, the more your students will appreciate you as a person. I hop and skip and sing ridiculous songs.

Always dress professionally. If you wear jeans on Friday, tuck in your shirt and wear a belt.

Lifesaver: use a ticket system for incentives. For example, if your school's mascot is the eagle, make Eagle bucks (I cut up construction paper). Pass out Eagle bucks throughout class time to award desirable behaviors. Students can cash in Eagle bucks for things they want such as computer time, a day in the teacher's chair, lunch with you, an invitation to be your helper before or after school (i don't know why but my students love being invited to work for me). Breathe easy and you'll be fine.

Answer 5

Just be prepared and try to relax. You need to be strict from the beginning, day one, or the students will walk all over you. You can also loosen up a little as time goes on. Don't worry, all teachers have had that first day experience. We get through it! If you have to fake it, the kids won't know the difference. Go to a spa before school starts to try and relax a little more!

Answer 6

What grade will you be teaching?

If your majoring in biology i'm assuming you'll be in the upper grades. Just remember that high school kids can be brutal! I just got out of high school 2 years ago. I wanted to be a High School teacher but I said forget it (becuase i hated high school kids so much) so instead i'm going for Early Childhood Ed lol.

Anyways, remember a few things - dont take their nonsense. You have to put down a firm hand from the start. Remember that its not fair for ONE student to ruin 19 other students behavior. So if that ONE student is out of control and needs to be removed from the class, then thats what you have to do.

At the same time develop a respectful relationship with your students. Let them know that your understanding that they have a lot of other classes with a lot of other homework, as well as a social life and perhaps even a job. Some teachers do not accept late assignments at all. Maybe you can work out something where the first day its handed in - full credit. One day late - 5 points off - 2 days late 10 points off - 3 days late 0 credit.
Reward your good students as well. If only 5 kids bring in their assignment and everybody else seems to be slacking off - reward your good students perhaps with some extra credit, or a 'free homework pass'

One thing i hated in high school (and now in college) was when my teachers would put material on the test that we didnt go over in class. There were many times where i WOULD read the chapter on my own, not understand something - and we'd never go over it in class. I remember one time trying to ask a question about a certian topic in History and my teacher told me "Thats not what we're discussing in todays class'. Well - we didnt discuss it in ANY class and its what the WHOLE TEST was based on. Maybe you can create a "Test review" based on the actual test. Sometimes kids have a hard time knowing whats important to know and whats not so important. Doing something like that will insure that they know what they should be studying. Maybe even set asside a day in class to fill out the test review together.

Remember that YOU'RE the teacher. You make the call. Dont be nervous - you just went through a lot of schooling, you know what you're talking about, and you're obviously older than the kids so you've got to have more life expierence. Stand up in that classroom and be proud of yourself - you've achieved an amazing thing. College is HARD!! (I know!!) Put your foot down when it needs to be put down, but dont be afraid to walk once in a while.

Also, this will be your first time teaching - we learn sometimes from trial and error. Just remember to learn from your mistakes - and try not to make them again. as time goes on this will get easier.

Answer 7

Go on eBay or Amazon.com and get yourself a copy of "The First Days of School" by Harry Wong. This book is like a "Bible" for first-time teachers! Worth its weight in gold!

Just relax - you'll do fine - don't take yourself too seriously, either! Learn to laugh at your own mistakes - high school kids can easily be won over if they know you like them and are not trying to be their "best friend" nor their "dictator"!

Answer 8

YOU are the teacher. They will run the whole show if you let them, so don't let them. don't be their friend, set the rules on day 1 and be CONSISTENT, keep them involved and busy, over plan every lesson, have them participate, quiz them often, hold them accountable, dress professionally but not formally, smile but don't mess around until you really know what you are doing.

Answer 9

Know your curriculum. I can show you a sample biology curriculum and how to build your own as well as how to introduce it to your students.

Answer 10

teaching for first time