So You Decided to Teach: A Handbook of Advice, Hints, Wisdom, and Strategies for First Time Teachers

By Ray Matlock Smythe

So You Decided to Teach is a handbook for first time teachers. The book is full of pieces of wisdom, hints, and strategies on how to navigate the school and classroom during a teachers first year. It is designed so a teacher can pick it up and quickly find a piece of useful advice.

Topics discuss grades, teaching strategies, and discipline as well as inspiration and compassion. There is even a section on how to get along with difficult co-workers

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 27, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465371218

Book preview

Copyright © 2011 by Ray M. Smythe.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2011917361

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-4653-7120-1

                   Softcover                                 978-1-4653-7119-5

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4653-7121-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

Contents

Passion

Be Yourself

The First Day

The Second Day

Chicken Soup for the Soul

Quote Card

Confidence

Humor

Humor Guidelines

Introductions for Lessons

Bathroom Rules

Five Minutes Left

Note Taking

Use Visuals/Examples

Photographs/Slides

Special Pencils

Student Photos

More Student Photos

Parent Conferences

Full Moons

Professional Dress

Show Empathy

Homework

Teacher Burnout

Making Learning Fun

Teaching Strategy # 1

Be Nice to the School Secretaries and Custodians

Learning Game – History Hysterics

The Car Wash

No Bullies Allowed

Clean Your Desks

Display Your Diplomas

Chaperone or Attend Events Outside of the Classroom

More Fun with Your Subject

State and World Events

The Newspaper Notebook

First Five Minutes Activity

Your Headmaster or Principal

Teaching Packets

Writing Groups

College Bowls

Goals

Gratefulness

Order in the Classroom

Discipline

Visit Other Classrooms

Workshops

Department Shares

Holidays

Calling on Students

Teacher Workshop Days

Grade Flexibility

Make Handouts Visually Appealing

Difficult Co-Workers

Be a Boy Scout

Move

Guest Speakers

Your Voice

Deadlines

Protect Yourself from a Lawsuit

Sarcasm

Fitting In

Mentor Teacher

A+

After Test Activities

Magazines

Cheating

Don’t Fake It

Perseverance

Dedicated to the Principals and Headmasters

who influenced my career and life:

Alice Ott

Jean Bruck

John Harrington

Graham Hookey

Vince Downey

"Act as if what you do makes

a difference. It does."

William James

Passion

Passion. The first and foremost quality any successful teacher must have is Passion for the subject and the profession. You must live it and breathe it every day of your life. You must love your students and get excited about the subject matter you teach.

Now don’t get discouraged……passion sometimes takes time to grow. It is a seed that grows and blossoms over a period of time. Your first year of teaching will be a challenge, but go into the classroom with passion EACH day and your students will respond positively to you. You can light up the classroom each day by the way you enter it and give the students hope for the day.

Passion……It is the key element to a successful career in education.

"Three things in human life are important.

The first is to be kind. The second is to

be kind. And the third is to be kind."

Henry James

Be Yourself

Be Yourself. Many first time teachers tend to be Copy Cats, trying to be some teacher they remember who was popular or inspirational. Those individuals who have positively influenced you are great, but remember YOU have qualities that make you special. Just be true to yourself and the kids will love and respect you for who you are.

Judy Garland once said, Always be a first rate version of yourself, instead of a second- rate version of someone else.

Fall seven times, stand up eight.

Japanese Proverb

The First Day

The first day of school is usually dismal. Rules and Regulations are flying out of every teacher’s mouth. Do not discuss all the do’s and don’ts on your first day.

Start the period out by putting the kids in a seating chart. This will help you