Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Calling all Interns & New Teachers!

Even though I have been teaching for 13 years now, I still remember burning the midnight oil during my internship, wondering if I could really do this teaching thing forever. I also remember my 4th day of teaching, when the Twin Towers fell on 9/11. I wondered how on earth I was supposed to help my precious 5th graders process the tragedy when I didn't know how to process it myself. And since then, I can recall at least a thousand other times I questioned my career choice, ability, and qualification. But at the end of the day, teaching is what I am passionate about. It's what I want to do. I will be the first to admit, however, that it's not easy. 

If you're just starting out in or thinking about entering the world of education, just know that although it's a very rewarding and enjoyable ( most days, in my opinion) career, it's not always easy. You will have days when you want to pull out your hair and days when you have more questions than answers. But the thing you need to remember is that you can do this. You're not alone. Ask others for help. Be confident. Yes, some lessons will absolutely suck, but there's always tomorrow. When you make a mistake-- notice I said 'when' and not 'if'-- figure out what you need to learn from it and try it again tomorrow. The kiddos in your class need you!

Below you will find a variety of resources to help you on this journey.  

Resources I Have Created

Co-teaching Pamphlet- click here
Plan that Lesson! Power Point- click here 
First Days of School Game Plan- click here 
Parent Conference Planning Sheet- click here
Best Practice for Teaching Active Kids video

Introductory Video to Microsoft OneNote
  

Resources I Have Gathered From The Web

Proven Classroom Management video
      (it specifies middle school, but useful for all teachers)
 
"What if Everything You Knew About Disciplining Kids Is Wrong?" Article
      Presents a different view on disciplining. click here 

"20 Tidbits for New Teachers" Article (via Edutopia)- click here

"Common Core Math Cheat Sheets"- click here

English Language Learners: Culture, Equity and Language video