Shared Wisdom
Here is a collection of practical advice and inspirational quotes from other educators. If you would like to share your wisdom, please contact us at 512.471.1511.
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| A Message to New Teacher | Tracye Wear, Art, Jesse H. Jones High School, Houston, TX |
| For Graduating Education Majors | Judy Howard, physical education, T. A. Brown Elementary, Austin, TX |
| Practical Tips for Your First Year | Carolyn Schofield, Biology, Robert E. Lee High School, Tyler, TX |
| Six Lessons from My Students | Janice Feistel McNeil, U.S. History/Government AP, Cypress Falls High School, Houston, TX |
| Twelve Commandments for Secondary Teachers | Madge Cady, Mathematics, Randolph High School, Universal City, TX |
| Six Ways to Ensure Success | Rebecca "Becky" Hoag, English, Tom C. Clark High School, San Antonio, TX |
| Sensible Reminders for Novice Teachers | Sally Black, Mathematics, Ross Sterling High School, Baytown, TX |
| An Instructor's Primer | Mary Diehl, veteran teacher, formerly, Spanish, Westwood High School, Austin, TX |
| High Interest | Dr. Margaret Hamlin, English, The Episcopal School, Dallas, TX |
| Touch the Future | Janis Lariviere, veteran teacher, formerly, Biology, Westlake High School Alternative Center, Austin, TX |
| The First Day of School | Wendy McCuiston, Home Economics/Cooperative Education, Jefferson High School, El Paso, TX |
| Be a Model | Judy McEnany, Choral Music, Mirabeau B. Lamar High School, Houston, TX |
| Twelve Tips for the Beginning of the Year | Merle L. Picone, Mathematics, Brenham High School, Brenham, TX |
A Message to New Teachers
To New Teachers:
I've walked into classrooms where rows of students sat quietly listening to a student expound on a point from the lesson. When she is finished, another student raises his hand to add more information. The teacher silently directs the conversation by nodding to the students.
I've walked into classrooms where the teacher is sitting on the edge of the table surrounded by three or four students all seemingly talking at once about an issue. In the corner other students are working on a project. Other students are busy at their desks. Piles are everywhere.
People figure out how to best conduct their classrooms. I don't think my advice is necessary here.
However, I can make two recommendations for beginning teachers.
The first is to continue to be a student. Read, stay in school, attend at least one conference a year, subscribe to several magazines in your field in addition to the educational journals, and become actively involved in your field. Your students will know you are a lifelong student.
The second recommendation is that all teachers should be advocates of public education. Speak out in your community in support for public education. Encourage elected officials to vote in support of public education. Challenge those who don't. Always vote. We do not have the luxury of silence anymore when it comes to our profession.
For Graduating Education Majors
Think of the teachers who challenged your mind, Enlightening, eye-opening, Amazing and kind.
Creating a class filled with care and concern,
Helping their students to happily learn.
Educators of children, now your knowledge impart,
Rejoice in the journey, with vision and heart.
Practical Tips for Your First Year
Rather than wax philosophical, I'll wax practical...
Find a strong and enthusiastic mentor ASAP. A wise friend who knows the ropes, can relay the unwritten rules and traditions, knows the ins and outs of copy machines and field trips, and holds the keys to the hearts of counselors and janitors is an invaluable asset!
Have very few rules, make them reasonable and then enforce them consistently and fairly. Mine are:
- Be in class on time with you own things
- Be respectful of others
- Do your own work to the best of your ability
Once the kids know you mean what you say, life is much easier!
Use the telephone! Lots! Most problems can be avoided if at the first sign of trouble--grade or discipline--you call home and tell the parents you are concerned. Hopefully have something positive to say before you let them know of the problems, but having the parents already on your side makes working with the child much easier! Forget progress reports (kids may never take them home or forge signatures)--go for the personal and caring touch--phone home!
Six Lessons from My Students
Over twenty years of teaching, the students have taught me many things that have helped me become a more effective teacher. I would suggest all of the following:
- Get online: Push yourself to acquire new technology skills, and assume that even first-graders are likely to know more about it than you do at any given point in time. Learn from them. Let them teach you; it's a relationship that makes them better students and helps you teach more effectively.
- Give up feeling that you need to be in control in the classroom: The sooner you stop worrying about control, the sooner there will be nothing to worry about. Too many rules and too many consequences lead the students to resist and test; treat them like responsible individuals, use group reinforcement, praise positive efforts and the rest of it takes care of itself.
- Never be afraid to be wrong, to need to look up a piece of information or to admit that you don't know something: The students will respect your honesty, admire your candor, and benefit from seeing you model learning taking place.
- Always respect your students as dignified human beings with opinions that make complete sense (to them): Even the most difficult, most trouble-prone students will finally respond positively to respect.
- Constantly read in your field: Do not ever let yourself believe that last year's notes or lessons will do for this year. Personal growth is a fundamental part of the success of all accomplished teachers. The students see it as spontaneity and a love of the subject which is infectious.
- Remember that you are a professional: Join a professional organization. Learn to say NO to uncompensated extra jobs that require tons of time and detract from both your teaching and your life. Be assertive about yourself as a professional. Expect to be treated with dignity; do not accept anything less of yourself or of others.
Twelve Commandments for Secondary Teachers
- Uphold your ideals, your dreams.
- Exult in your strengths.
- Remain patient with your weaknesses.
- Build friendships with colleagues whose philosophies you admire.
- Pursue a balanced life, keeping your teacher-life in perspective.
- Seek varied learning opportunities.
- Believe every student's ability exceeds his expectations.
- Elevate your academic discipline.
- Conduct every class as if visitors were present.
- Maintain your adult status at all times.
- Evaluate bureaucratic opinions on their merits.
- Devalue the complaints of the naysayers around you.
- You get what you expect--so expect a lot!
- Develop classroom management guidelines that coincide with school and district policy and stick to it!
- Young as you probably are, remember which side of the desk you're on. Students don't want a buddy; they want an adult whom they can respect and learn from.
- Keep learning! A good teacher is never satisfied with what he/she knows.
- Enjoy what you do--it's contagious!
- Get involved in the total community--sponsor something.
Sensible Reminders for Novice Teachers
Remember everyday when you walk into the classroom, arm yourself with:
* A Sense of Humor: Be able to laugh at yourself. Don't take yourself so seriously. I am not saying your subject is not the most important task at hand; I am suggesting that we remember a classroom is a blending of many personalities. Each is important and each is very delicate.
* Patience: Remember you are teaching your favorite subject, probably what you did best in school. That may not be true for those in your classroom.
* A Caring Heart: When I asked a young man to remove his earring this year, I locked my jaw waiting for his response. This is what he said: "You are the only one that even looks at me. You are the one that sees me as an individual." Don't computerize your students. Don't just give them a number, but individualize your teaching.
An Instructor's Primer
Congratulations! I commend your decision to enter the teaching profession. Please accept the following observations, warnings, and suggestions in the hope they may help you discover the great satisfaction and genuine fulfillment I have experienced as a career teacher.
An Instructor's Primer
- Hold high standards for your students and yourself. You will never be sorry and your students and their parents will thank you.
- Remember that each student is unique. What works effectively with one may not produce the desired results with another. Seek training in dealing with different learning styles.
- Create interesting activities, which engage your students in the learning process. Do not be afraid to experiment and don't be devastated if your experiment should fail. Learn from your mistakes.
- Thorough knowledge of your subject matter is essential; however, it is not enough. Establish a warm, caring classroom atmosphere. Let your students know you are human too.
- Take risks. Move beyond the textbook. Offer the floor to your students. They will amaze and surprise you with what they achieve.
- Never, never blame previous instructors for what your students do not know. Instead, provide students with the necessary tools - they will learn.
- Establishing high standards for oneself and one's students may appear to be deceptively easy. It is not. It is hard work. Your day will not end when the last bell rings.
- Grow, read, join professional organizations, attend conferences, learn to use technology, and collaborate with colleagues. Receiving your teaching certificate does not mean learning ends.
- Beware of teachers who complain about students, count the days until retirement, and copy hundreds of fill-in-the-blank worksheets. Seek out teachers who are positive and love teaching.
- You will only be a "new" teacher your first year. In the future, help other teachers grow by sharing information and techniques. Present workshops, guide student teachers, and generally seek to improve the educational system.
- Bridge the gap between the classroom and the world community. Incorporate activities that reach outside the classroom. Students should feel what they do in the classroom is meaningful, valuable, and relevant to their experiences away from school.
- Be sensitive to individual differences. Convey an appreciation of diversity. Demonstrate fairness at all times.
- Kind words and notes work magic. The smallest compliments reap great rewards. Use them often. They may be the only positive reinforcement some students receive.
- Mail postcards home for good performance in the classroom. Even refrigerators of homes with teenagers need decorating!
- Laugh! Make learning exciting and even fun without lowering standards. This is tricky, but with practice you will succeed.
- Ask Master Teachers in your building if you can visit their classrooms. They will be honored. Observe carefully and incorporate successful techniques and activities into your own classroom.
- Sponsor a club. Get involved with school activities. Take your students to competitions. They may win honors and prizes but you will receive even greater reward in your sense of pride in their accomplishment. After all, you are their teacher!
- Plan! Set short-term and long-term goals for your students that are realistic and challenging.
- If, by chance, you have decided to teach a foreign language (my fingers are crossed), create a classroom atmosphere in which students feel free, even eager, to express themselves in the language. Teach for proficiency so that students may actually use the language to communicate.
One final suggestion: As you develop your skills as a teacher, feel free to make additions to the "Instructor's Primer" and share it with a future teacher.
High Interest
- Learn your students' names and interests ASAP. Being able to call them by name not only sends the message that you think they are important enough to recognize by name, but it also gives you some "power" over them when they know that you know who they are.
- Notice and comment on things about them as they come into the room--different hair styles or ways of dress--or simply smile and call them by name. Try to acknowledge every student in some small way every day. If a student does not contribute or get called on in class, at least speak to him/her on his way out of the room.
- Start class on time every day. Be a bear about tardiest at first, so they know you expect them to be there on time with the right books/materials. Be on time yourself!
- Show an interest in what they do outside of your class--teams, clubs, musicals, debates, etc. It will add to their interest in what YOU think is important.
- Make your classroom interesting--posters, plants, things to look at when they aren't looking at the textbook.
- Be interesting yourself. Travel, share things you enjoy that show you are still living and learning. It's OK to let them know you have a life outside of school, but don't share details of your personal life/romances with them.
- Vary the kinds of things you do. When possible, give them choices. Ask their opinions or reactions and LISTEN to their responses.
- Grade papers and return them promptly. Let them know HOW you arrived at the grade. (Using rubrics helps in essay grading.)
- Call parents before they call you. This applies to students who are obvious problems and to students who are doing well. Calling to express your concern is far more effective than fielding a call from an irate parent who doesn't understand what is going on in your classroom.
- When possible put directions and expectations in writing. This is especially important on major projects, such as research papers. Put dates major steps are due and how points are earned in writing so that there can be no doubt what is expected and when. (If you have a parents' night in the fall, try to have this ready to hand out so that they will know when major projects are due.) Give a copy to your department chairperson and/or dean or principal. No one likes to be blindsided.
- Find someone else who teaches your subject and grade level and get that teacher to guide you. Be willing to reciprocate--don't just take all his/her handouts. Share what YOU do. (We can all use a new test on Hamlet or some more practice exercises on punctuating compound sentences!)
- Join professional organizations and read their journals.
Touch the Future
- Love your students more than your subject matter.
- Have a sense of humor about the shortcomings of both you and your students.
- Prepare more to do each period than can possibly be finished--you don't want down time in the classroom when you are just starting out. I don't mean that you overload your students. You just have plenty of extra activities in the wings. Expect to revise your lesson plans at the end of each day.
- Network with other teachers--both "on line" and with your colleagues in the building.
- Make time for yourself. Exercise, eat well and pat yourself on the back from time to time for doing a job that can "touch the future."
The First Day of School
After eighteen years of teaching, the first day of school still brings back all the jitters, anxieties and excitement of starting over again. Once again you must take inventory of your bag of tricks to be sure you are prepared. The following trick is one I use to this day. When I first started teaching, home economics instructors were required to make home visits. Home visits in an urban area such as El Paso seemed somewhat unrealistic, especially when you had a class load of 150 students. As unrealistic as is seemed at the time, it was my most helpful assignment. It gave me an advantage over other teachers in that I was able to see first hand the type of environment my students lived in on a daily basis.
My advice to you as a first year teacher is:
- Get to know your students. Find out the types of neighborhoods they come from; know the people who are responsible for their well-being. It will give you the greatest advantage and insight into their behavior in the classroom. Knowing that a child works 6 hours after he leaves football practice so that he can help pay the household bills, then stays up all hours of the night with babies or little brother or sisters may give you an insight as to why is homework assignment cannot be top priority all the time.
- Be flexible. Flexibility is the key to effective teaching. So many times we as teachers become inflexible when it comes to our standards and class requirements. For example, ninety-one percent of our students at Jefferson High School are on the free or reduced lunch program; many of my students have their breakfast during my first period class since it is the only time they can eat.
- Offer every opportunity for success. I read so often that we "teach" self-esteem. It must be realized, and it is realized through success.
Good luck, and one last bit of advice...When you stop feeling those jitters and anxieties on the first day of school...it might be time to move on.
Be a Model
- Know your subject.
- Love your subject.
- Search for material that excites you, so that you can in turn share the excitement with your students.
- Continue to study, do research, and enjoy your subject and related material throughout your life.
- Respect your students as individuals.
- Provide a classroom environment that ensures respect for teacher, fellow students, and learning.
- Model the manners, tone of voice, mood, etc. that you want the students to adopt.
Twelve Tips for the Beginning of the Year
- Establish the desired pattern of student behavior by giving students your rules and expectations the first day of school. If you lose students the first day, you will have lost them for the year.
- Inform parents about your rules and expectations.
- Stand by your door and greet student when they enter your room.
- Learn the names of your students as quickly as possible.
- Display enthusiasm about what you are teaching.
- Be positive and insist that students have an "I CAN" attitude.
- To be fair you must be consistent.
- You must earn the trust and respect of your students.
- Create a secure environment and provide some success for each student each day.
- Verbalize as often as possible that you are there to help your students and that you want them to be successful.
- A well-planned lesson will result in fewer discipline problems.
- Preventing problems from arising is easier than correcting them once they occur.