Before the Students Show Up
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I followed a traditional teacher pathway and went through a collegiate teacher certification program. Years later I completed an alternative certification program to add an endorsement. I received all of the classes about lesson planning, literacy skills, curriculum design, educational equity, classroom and behavior management.
None of that instruction prepared me for what I needed my first weeks on the job.
My first year of teaching, I was split between two buildings, teaching Spanish to 550 students in grades K-8. There was no established curriculum, only a textbook at the middle school level. I would arrive at school at 7AM and leave at 9PM each day. At least once a month I could be found curled up sobbing on my bathroom floor from the overwhelm of the job.
The basic information and support I needed, and what most new teachers need before they start the year, has nothing to do with instruction or the students. It has everything to do with the minutiae of the school where you are working, and it is generally assumed that you will just “figure it out.”
So, here are some strategies that I’m hoping will support new teachers out there to get their feet on the ground before the students show up.
Find a mentor team
Most schools are required to provide you with a teaching mentor. I will still remember the day when I found out who my assigned mentor was, walked over to introduce myself, and watched as he asked me, “We don’t have to actually meet, right?” Nothing says support like being informed that your mentor will likely have nothing to do with you the rest of the school year.
Hopefully your assigned mentor will be slightly more involved. You need more than one mentor, however, so here’s your first list: your mentor team.
The Secretary. S/he is the person who truly runs the building, and will be able to answer almost any question you have. Always start a question by asking if now is a good time, or if you should schedule a time to come back. Secretaries are crazy busy and you never want to assume they have time for you right then. Also, spoil them with gifts. Seriously.
A Decompression Buddy. Despite the fact that you are around people all day long, teaching is an incredibly isolating profession. You shouldn’t be unloading your frustrations on your students. Find a person or two who you can go out with after school for drinks or ice cream and vent about your day. This is healthy. Make sure they are someone you can trust, and be careful about what you say in public places.
A Content Mentor. As a Spanish teacher, I was the only one in my building teaching my content. Find someone knowledgeable in your area who can answer questions about how to take content and make it understandable for students.
A Tech Guru. Most schools have a tech department who can help with things, but they can’t always be in your room right away. Find someone in your building who is techy who you can call upon if things aren’t working.
A Friend. You want to find someone in the building who you can go to over and over again to ask questions and who will not be frustrated with you.
2. Ask questions
The list below are things that you will be expected to know. Use your mentor team to get the answers.
Where are the teacher bathrooms?
Where is the staff lounge? Do people eat lunch there?
How do I get tech support for my computer or projector? How quickly does the tech department usually respond?
How can I add printers to my computer? Where are the printers? Do I have a printer code? Am I limited on the amount of paper I can use?
What school supplies are provided (pencils, notebooks, white board markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc.)? Where do I get these?
What system does this school use for attendance? Grades? Online assessments?
When do I have to put in my attendance? How are tardy students handled?
Does this school have a school-wide behavior management system? If I need help with a situation in my room, how do I get that help?
Does this school use a particular program or app for communicating with families? (BAND, Remind, etc)
3. Seats for Success
I am a big proponent of student voice and choice, and letting students pick their own seats can give them some agency in their classroom experience. However, here is why you don’t do that right away:
Many, MANY students are struggling with social anxiety these days. If you meet them at the door and tell them to pick a seat, that can be extremely overwhelming for them. Give them an assigned seat this first time around so that they have the confidence of knowing where to sit. They can choose seats later once you’ve spent time creating a safe and supportive environment.
It is imperative that you learn your students’ names. Their name is the first doorway to building a relationship with them. Having a seating chart will enable you to learn names much more quickly than if they came in and switched seats every class period.
I stole the name Seats for Success from my husband - one of the best teachers I know. You want your students in a seating arrangement where they can be successful. You have the ability to change these seats at any time in an effort to support your students’ success.
4. Meet the Teacher/ Open House
Most schools will do some sort of event before the year starts so students can find their classrooms and meet you. Have the following ready:
If you are teaching elementary, have your seats (and lockers) prelabeled so students can check out their space. If you are in secondary, this can happen on the first day with each new class.
Have a letter about you either up on the board for people to read, or a paper copy to share. Include in it some information about your educational background, your family (students and adults love learning about your pets), and some hopes you have for this year. Short and sweet is best.
Have a wishlist of supplies that families can bring in. I like to do this with sticky notes - one item on each sticky note and the families can take these and then return the item with the sticky note. Suggestions to ask for: tissues, disinfecting wipes, whiteboard markers, sticky notes, lined paper, pencils.
A check-in sheet. You can keep this on a clipboard with you. Have a list of your students’ names and mark off those that you meet that day. Put notes to help you remember who they were.
A way for families to sign up for updates from you. I highly recommend using the Remind App, and you can have families sign up for your Remind class during the open house.
Dress to Impress. This may be the only time you see some of these families during the year. You don’t want to look like you just rolled out of bed or showed up from the gym. Put some effort in, people!
5. Determine your Non-negotiables
In order to create a safe and supportive classroom, you’re going to need to establish some expectations. It’s always great to do this in collaboration with the students. That said, students tend to come up with 50 class rules that are written down and then never discussed again. Plus, 50 is waaaaay too many for you to be able to uphold.
Before the students arrive, choose your top 3-5 expectations that are important to YOU. Still have conversations about expectations and let students have a voice in what they want the class to look like. Tell them that you will take all of these ideas and consolidate them into something you can all agree on. The following day, show them your list of expectations. Chances are, all the ones that they came up with will already fit into your categories.
Also, always word your expectations in a positive voice. Here are my four:
Have fun
Be kind
Believe in yourself
Try to keep a positive attitude
These are easy to remember, and easy for me to refer to when a student is struggling.
This is in no way a fully comprehensive list, but my hope is that it will remove some of the pain and suffering for all you new teachers out there.
Current teachers out there - what is missing? What would have been helpful for you going into that first year?
For all you new teachers out there - THANK YOU for choosing this profession. We need you. And maybe this will help:).
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