First Year 101
Wed, Nov 22, 2017 10:38 PM
Very good advice!
Lynn Hensley’s article, First Year 101, gives great advice for the new science teacher. Hensley gives numerous tips on how a new teacher can make his or her first year a little easier. One suggestion is to create a dry-erase model of the desk arrangement in the classroom with the names of students written where they sit to look at the first week or so of class in order to learn names of students. If students need to be rearranged during this learning period, the teacher can erase and move the student’s name on the chart so a new chart does not need to be made for each change. Another great tip in the article is to gain the attention of the students at the beginning of the year by demonstrating a cool chemical science demonstration and having students write questions they have, and also have them discuss how science is used in their every day lives. Hensley also suggests new teachers find a good mentor and take advantage of professional development and networking opportunities, such as conferences and workshops. One suggestion Hensley gives is to post and teach the class rules on the first day of school. I have recently found that many districts are straying from the traditional posting of rules, and they are now focusing on teaching good character traits students should try to have. When a student misbehaves, the teacher can use it as a teaching opportunity and explain which character trait the students should work on in order to better in the future. I think this is a great way to help students establish and maintain good character, both in and out of school. I appreciated the advice this article gave, and I feel it can be applied to new teachers of any K-12 subject.