First Year Survival Tips
Kristin Edwards ~
Adams City Middle School
It
Begins…
And so
it
Ends…
Phases of First Year Teaching
Anticipation
Anticipation
Survival Reflection
Rejuvenation
Disillusionment
Anticipation
Before school starts you can’t wait;
highly romanticized. So many ideas
they are ready to jump out of your head.
Survival:
First month or so, very
overwhelming, thought you’d be
busy but this is nuts!
Disillusionment:
Six to eight weeks into the year, morale is
down, you’re tired, probably on your third
major illness, and starting parent teacher
conferences. And you’re thinking that being
a waiter wasn’t that bad.
Rejuvenation:
A slow rise in attitude usually
following winter break.
You’ve slept, you planned, and
you organized over the break.
Things are starting to fall into
place.You know that you can
do this!
Reflection:
May…school is almost out and
you’re looking back and thinking
about how you’ll do it all next
year.
So now you have your students…
whatever will you do with them?
Classroom management ~ via PBS
AVID strategies
Foldables
What is PBS?
Not your local public broadcasting station
Positive Behavior Systems:
– Based on the idea that we should provide our
students with expectations and the tools to meet
them.
– It is better to reward and thank for good behavior
rather than fight bad behavior.
– Everything is stated in a positive tone
– Expectations are re-stated when asking for
compliance.
An Example of PBS at Work
I will give two minutes for you to get all your
supplies out. I will know you are ready when
you have your notebook and pencil on your
desk and you are quiet.
– Thank you Kevin
– I really like the way that Teresa is showing me
that she is ready
– We are almost ready, can someone help Roger
find a pencil?
Classroom Management for the
Individual: Build Rapport!
Maintain boundaries ~ be friendly but not friends.
Use the one minute intervention: take one
minute to notice your student doing something
good or just bring up something that you noticed
about them.
Go to sporting events and after school activities
Be fair and as dispassionate as possible when
disciplining. ~ This one is hard!
Be consistent!!!
Building Rapport
Let students know you
like them!
– Know their interests
– Make eye contact
– Listen
– Use student ideas and
give them credit
– “one minute
intervention”
– choice
Classroom Management for the
Whole Class:
The LEAST Principle
The problem is hardly what you think it is…..
And it is hardly where you think it is, and often
has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with
you.
Do as little as possible to solve the problem..
~ Physical presence ~ quiet whisper
~ Little signals ~ calm reminders
Meeting Needs
socialization structured group work , paired
conversations
acceptance believe the teacher likes
them, (if needed) discrete redirection
movement chores, errands
Not movies!
Preplanned Consequences:
Rewards!
Consult student(s)
access to snack machine good call or note
care for class pets write on chalk board games
free time (outside) games with peers
display work run errands
omit certain assignments
time with favorite adult or peer
tutor others use of magic markers
Positive Reinforcement
Use verbal or written praise.
Bonus bucks that they can use
to buy fun things with.
Computer time, music time, or
library time.
Discussion Question:
(2 minutes for each partner)
1. What do you consider rewarding?
2. What rewards did you like when you
were a child or teenager?
3. What do today’s children or teens
enjoy?
Attention Getters
Wind Chime Funny Voices
Quiet voices
Talking from a different part of the room (your talking square)
Large displays Colors
Having the kids do some of the teaching
The “Hairy Eyeball” Accents
Big demonstrations
Allow a little competition
Preplanned Consequences:
Reductive!
Reductive*
– non-verbal warning Serious behavior
clause:
– verbal warning
–Interclass time-
– sign warning book out
– loss of recess time (5 min) –Parent
– Passing period (mere conference
seconds) –Office referral
– eat lunch in classroom
– change seat
– call home *Serious (not angry)
voice and facial
expressions
Have a ladder of consequences
Start within the room
– Move kids
– Stand close
– Remind of rules
Move kids out of the room with a neighbor
teacher
Parent phone call
Send non-negotiables to office (last resort)
Postponing Conflicts
Never argue in front of the class!
Things to say to put off the conflict until after the rest of the
class has begun working productively:
“You may have a point; let’s talk more in a minute.”
“Let me think about that.”
“I am interested in your ideas; do you have a minute
to write out your suggestions for me?”
Rules
Make them represent the battles that you are
willing to fight.
Be super specific
EVOLVE!!
OLD NEW
One voice at a time Raise your hand and
wait to be called on
Be Proactive
Tell students
the behaviors
that you want
to see first.
Know what your kids are ready
for!
Seat them in rows if they are not ready for
groups
Never be afraid to take away an activity
because the kids aren’t ready.
Model the behavior that you want to see
from your kids.
Try to be in tune to internal problems
Seat kids together that don’t like each other
and call it a learning experience.
If You Completely Lose IT
Do Not Panic!
Do Not Touch the Kid
Take a Time Out
Send the Kid to Time Out
~ say something like “I
cannot be fair to you right
now because I’m angry.
Go xxx place until we are
both calm.”
Where Should You Start?
Create a vision of what your perfect
classroom would look and sound like.
Decide which hills you are willing to die on.
Your rules and policies should reflect both of
these.
Pair/Share Activity
Take 5 minutes to think
and jot down some
ideas about your non-
negotiables.
Then think of 5 rules
that reflect that.
Share these ideas with
the person next to you.
Write your rules into the
foldable.
Parents 101
Remember that they are sending
you the best that they have
everyday.
Call them before there is a problem!
Be honest
Agree and validate their feelings
Try to remember you both want the
best for their kid.
Begin and end the conversation on
a positive note
Good ways to start a conversation
with parents on the phone
“Let me start by saying how much I enjoy
having Roger in my class…”
“I know that you are a concerned parent and
would like to be kept informed…”
“ I believe that Roger has wonderful potential
for learning. I think he can work on this area
to help him even more”
If the parent is already angry…
Agree with them…they
are just as frustrated
with the same kid you
are.
Validate their feelings “I
can understand why
this upsets you; I too
would be upset.”
The “BIG SECRET TO PERFECT
MANAGEMENT”
Think Think
Think
Be Planned!
Plan Again!
Over Plan!
Plan while you drive, cook,
bathe, use the restroom,
and sleep.
You’ll be much happier for it!
A few lesson ideas to help you
through…
AVID Strategies
– POSERS
– SOAPSTONE
– ONE PAGERS
POSERS
Photograph Analysis Strategy: POSERS
People ~ Who is in the picture?
Objects ~ What do you see around the people?
Setting ~ Where is this picture taken?
Engagement ~ What is the action? What’s happening?
Relationship ~ How do the people know each other?
Summary ~ 5-7 sentences explaining the picture
•P
•O
•S
•E
•R
•S
SOAPSTone
Questions, Cues and Advanced Organizer
Who is the Speaker?
What is the Occasion?
Who is the Audience?
What is the Purpose?
What is the Subject?
What is the Tone?
Try Soapstone on this…
Africa
Cracked lips, parched land
Dusty promises of help at hand
Hungry children on Christmas cards
Won't help a world that's growing too fast
I just wish it would rain on Africa
But storm clouds gathering won't bring relief
Just darker days with no hope of peace in Africa
I just wish it would rain on Africa
Wash out the pain of Africa
Guns and bombs, tears and mud
Luxury limos race through blood
But bound by debt to hopelessness
Can we ever clean this mess?
I just wish it would rain on Africa
Wash out the pain of Africa
Brynn Fier
From: www.poemhunter.com
One pagers
Title
Author
3 Quotes
Pictures
Summary
A Border
Final
Thoughts
•Be yourself!
•Relax and breathe
in and out everyday
•Realize that each
new day is a new
chance to do things
right
•Fake it until you
make it!
•Ask for help!
•Remember why
you’re doing this! Taylor Mali – What Teachers Make