Know administrative organizational chart of your district and align your work with their goals and objectives.
Common Sense Tips NOT To Overlook:
- Do not sent your students to the office all the time. Some principals' offices look like a line to the rock concert because of the number of students that were sent out of the classroom. The worst punishment for the student is to stay in the classroom and learn. Students take it as a fun break when they have to get out and walk to the office. Most teachers send students because they didn't bring a pencil to school or didn't do homework. Most discipline problems can be handled within the classroom. If you do have to send a student, make sure you filled out the report and delivered it to the office or at least called ahead and make sure they know what is happening. Send students only in a threatening situation where speaking to a principal or an AP will truly help solve the problem and not just give you a few minuted of a break from that particular student. If you want to get on the principal's good side, keep your students at all times in your classroom learning.
- Respond to your emails promptly.
- Make sure you turn in all of the work that is required or asked from you
- Work collaboratively with other teachers. Share your resources with others.
- Do not be late (Early is on time, On time is LATE!)
- Always be present at your duty station and always on time
- Help out when asked by the administrative team, they only ask when they really need help
- Help out when not asked but you can see that the Principal or the AP need help
- Do not let people ask you twice to do something. Do it right away.
- Make sure your students are engaged and learning at all times
- Make sure you follow school's mission and vision. Move in which direction the school is moving and make sure you follow the path even if you might not agree with it. (Speak with the principal and voice your concerns but also be open-minded to try the things that are being implemented.)
- Read new material, new policies, new paperwork
- Look at the data. Collect data to refer to. Know how to use data to improve future lessons.
- Be open to receive constructive criticism (It might not seem constructive to you at the moment!). You do not know it all and might really benefit from another point of view if you stay open to a change
- Make friends in the school. Do not overlook auxiliary staff such as janitors, and cafeteria workers. They make your day a lot easier.
- Do not spend time with negative people who complain a lot because you will become just like that. Spend time with the ones who really enjoy what they do. Check yourself to see whether your words are positive or negative. If most of the things you say are negative, stop and think why you are in the school.
- Do not take work home but rest to keep your sanity. Do not leave things for later and use your time wisely.
- Keep in mind your TEKs for the year. Think of two possible outcomes/grades for the the students: mastered or haven't mastered. Your job is to make sure ALL of your students have mastered the required TEKs. If you really want your students to succeed, help them master the essential TEKs for that year. You might not agree with some of the TEKs, or think of a million reasons why the previous years' teachers or maybe students' parents have set you up to a failure, and that there is no way in the world you can make some of your students learn certain things. Evaluate your thinking, are you being negative? Take it as an experience to believe that every student in your class can learn no matter what. Just try it once and do your absolute best even through the hardest times in the year. Try it and see what happens. If nothing else, at least you can say that you have tried.
- Do not be quick to judge people in the central office. It might seem like they work against you and try to make your life as difficult as possible with the new policies, salary and staff cuts, etc. However, they might be trying to keep your job and not have to let people go. Before you judge, find out what is going on. If you see that the changes they are making are not working, invite someone from the office to come for a visit and see for themselves. Also remember that many laws come from the legislature that must be implemented.
- You cannot be perfect, make no mistakes, or remember everything. It is all right to make mistakes. If you get upset and start overlooking the important things, it will not do anyone any good. Do what you have to do but remember why you are a teacher. It is all about the students...
- Respond to your emails promptly.
- Make sure you turn in all of the work that is required or asked from you
- Work collaboratively with other teachers. Share your resources with others.
- Do not be late (Early is on time, On time is LATE!)
- Always be present at your duty station and always on time
- Help out when asked by the administrative team, they only ask when they really need help
- Help out when not asked but you can see that the Principal or the AP need help
- Do not let people ask you twice to do something. Do it right away.
- Make sure your students are engaged and learning at all times
- Make sure you follow school's mission and vision. Move in which direction the school is moving and make sure you follow the path even if you might not agree with it. (Speak with the principal and voice your concerns but also be open-minded to try the things that are being implemented.)
- Read new material, new policies, new paperwork
- Look at the data. Collect data to refer to. Know how to use data to improve future lessons.
- Be open to receive constructive criticism (It might not seem constructive to you at the moment!). You do not know it all and might really benefit from another point of view if you stay open to a change
- Make friends in the school. Do not overlook auxiliary staff such as janitors, and cafeteria workers. They make your day a lot easier.
- Do not spend time with negative people who complain a lot because you will become just like that. Spend time with the ones who really enjoy what they do. Check yourself to see whether your words are positive or negative. If most of the things you say are negative, stop and think why you are in the school.
- Do not take work home but rest to keep your sanity. Do not leave things for later and use your time wisely.
- Keep in mind your TEKs for the year. Think of two possible outcomes/grades for the the students: mastered or haven't mastered. Your job is to make sure ALL of your students have mastered the required TEKs. If you really want your students to succeed, help them master the essential TEKs for that year. You might not agree with some of the TEKs, or think of a million reasons why the previous years' teachers or maybe students' parents have set you up to a failure, and that there is no way in the world you can make some of your students learn certain things. Evaluate your thinking, are you being negative? Take it as an experience to believe that every student in your class can learn no matter what. Just try it once and do your absolute best even through the hardest times in the year. Try it and see what happens. If nothing else, at least you can say that you have tried.
- Do not be quick to judge people in the central office. It might seem like they work against you and try to make your life as difficult as possible with the new policies, salary and staff cuts, etc. However, they might be trying to keep your job and not have to let people go. Before you judge, find out what is going on. If you see that the changes they are making are not working, invite someone from the office to come for a visit and see for themselves. Also remember that many laws come from the legislature that must be implemented.
- You cannot be perfect, make no mistakes, or remember everything. It is all right to make mistakes. If you get upset and start overlooking the important things, it will not do anyone any good. Do what you have to do but remember why you are a teacher. It is all about the students...