Dear New Teacher!
I am very excited for you as your begin your journey into the field of education! Being a quality educator is challenging, but incredibly rewarding. As educators, we sculpt the future! It is extremely important that you reflect and grow throughout your journey. As John Cotton Dana stated, “Who dares to teach must never cease to learn.”
There are many suggestions and ideas that we can share with you to support you in your inaugural year of teaching. I encourage you to read, The First Days of School, by Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T. Wong. There is an incredible amount of information, knowledge, wisdom, tried and true methods shared throughout this book that will support all new teachers in having effective first experiences in teaching. Through this book we learn that The Effective Teacher:
- Establishes good control the first week of school.
- Does things right, consistently.
- Affects and touches lives.
As educators, we have many resources around us: parents, colleagues, administrators. I know at times we hesitate to call parents or tell another teacher or supervisor that we need help. Please contact your parents. Contact all parents. Share something great that their students did!“We perpetuate what we celebrate (L.A. Burns).”Make parents your partners through positive consistent contact. Then, if a difficult issue arises, you have already built a positive history and you are much more likely to receive their help. Your colleagues are the greatest resource. All teachers understand the difficulties you face throughout your first year. Ask them for ideas, resources and support. We are all here to help you! Also, your supervisors want the best for you and for your students. Ask for assistance when you need it. Also, share with them your successes. Everyone loves a great classroom learning story!
The key to a great fist year is to remember the heart of your profession is the students. Student success is our goal. Successful students take risks because they have been encouraged, feel safe and have had their curiosity awakened. It is our duty to ensure each student has the best learning experience possible. Our approach, language, and mannerisms impact our students. Students listen and take to heart everything we say and do. Noted educator, Haim Gigot said it best:
"I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my personal approach that creates the climate. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized."
I know you will be an inspiration!
Best Wishes,
Sarah L. Clem
TIPS Facilitator