Top 10 Tips for Teachers… Getting started

1 – Be prepared

For pretty much anything… I always have the following in my cupboard:

• ·         Baby wipes
• ·         Pain killers
• ·         Antacid
• ·         Nail file
• ·         Spare stockings / tights
• ·         A small amount of change
• ·         Hair clip / hair grip
• ·         Teabags or instant coffee
• ·         A mug
• ·         Dried milk powered / creamer
• ·         Tissues
• ·         A notepad
• ·         A USB memory stick

2 – Your mentor / buddy is your new best friend

This is the person the school has asked to look after you, they are there to give you the “low down” on things and to help you when you need it

3 – Know the school rules on everything… sanctions / rewards, uniform…

Every school has clear rules laid out – the students will know these! Make sure that you follow them to the letter. If you don’t the students will make the most of the situation and push things to the limit and beyond… Remember you can get nicer, it is a lot harder to get nastier!

4 – Know the layout of the school

You don’t want to be caught out by being asked to go to room “XYZ” and have no idea where it is, make sure you know where you are going before you go. It is also advisable to walk round the school a few times so you know roughly where each department is – students will expect you to know.

5 – Know the students names

This is essential and allows you to pick them up instantly on poor behaviour. You can do this in one of two ways – photographs of the students in the register next to their names or a seating plan.

6– Involve the form tutor

Form tutors are the first line of support and have an overview of how any student in their form is behaving. Remember your class is a small part of the day and chances are if a child is misbehaving for you they are doing it elsewhere.

7 – Make sure your instructions are followed

If the class are loud talk quietly, if you shout you are competing with the class.

Use a sound to get the attention of the class, a whistle, a ringing bell, a dropped box, the phrase “5, 4, 3, 2, 1 I am waiting”.

If your instructions are not followed through immediately, repeat them at the same volume and wait… Repeat them again after a minute and continue to wait… Wait time DOES work.

8 – Plan your lessons

If you haven’t planned your lessons it is very obvious – they are disjointed and behavioural problems are much more likely. Plan to make the lessons fun and interesting the students want to be involved, behaviour problems are less likely to occur.

If you are teaching something that is new to you, make sure you are AT LEAST one lesson ahead of the students… If they ask you something you don’t know a good response is “great question Jimmy, bonus points for anyone who provides the answer as an extra credit homework”

9 – Know YOUR expectations and always be consistent

You need to decide what you will and won’t accept in a lesson – make this very clear to the students from the outset. Draw your line in the sand and stick to your guns, it is hard to start with but becomes easier. (Remember you can get nicer, but getting nastier is MUCH  harder!)

Each student MUST be treated in the same way, this ensures that your room is fair; this does help gain respect from the students. Also you can’t have the “but x did it and…” used against you!

10 – Use lots of praise

All students essentially want to do well and be noticed. Positive reinforcement is much better than negative. The badly behaved students are often simply looking for attention however they can get it… if you can spot them being good and praise this, that’s half the battle won!

Remember above all “Potty training is key!”

Get the students to understand your expectations, it may well be hard to begin with, but as long as you persevere it WILL get easier as the year goes on…. Eventually your reputation precedes you!

You might also like:

Top 10 Tips for Teachers: The Golden Rules

Top 10 Tips for Teachers: What to Wear

Top 10 Tip for Teachers: How to Avoid Favoring The Best Students

Top 10 Tips for Teachers: Writing Reports

Top 10 Tips for Teachers: Marking

If you liked this….

More of my articles on a wide variety of subjects can be found via the links on my blog, click here for the link -> misty’s articles online