A "Survival Kit" for New Teachers

Are your knees knocking at the thought of walking into a classroom for the very first time this fall? Have no fear!

Here it is August and many teachers begin to consider what things they need
to do prior to the beginning of school. Since most school systems begin
during the month of August, teachers will reach the point of rushing to get
ready for that first day.

Rather than give you a lengthy introduction about the fun and follies of being a first-year teacher, we're just going to dive right in. While this list is by no means exhaustive, we'd like to share 5 things first-year teachers should know about the profession. Your classroom is your first responsibility Obviously, right?

Go with the flow. You are likely coming into the classroom with big ideas and big goals. Keep those in mind but remember you're part of larger ecosystem. Establish your footing and build your expertise as you go. After your first year, it'll be much easier to add your 'voice to the lessons, parent-teacher conferences, and staff meetings.

The new school year is right around the corner and you know what that means: stress. Lots of it. There's a lot to worry about and plan for when it comes to building the perfect classroom, group of students, and lesson plans. If you're a seasoned teacher, you know (roughly) what to do in terms of preparation.

Lisa Dabbs Educational Consultant. Author. Speaker. Blogger. In no way, do I want to add to the burden of the already-filled-to-the-brim, new teacher stress bucket. I do however, want to share just 20 tidbits which I hope will help ease new teachers into a fun, successful school year.

Prior to graduation, prospective teachers are told they will have one of the most stressful, but rewarding jobs out there. Teaching is tough work...we all know that. Well, most of us know that. This is my list of things they didn't tell me in college.

Do you have "that" class this year? Or maybe you know they're coming next year? Or maybe you had them last year. Regardless, it's inevitable that at some point in your teaching career you will have "them". I'm not saying this to try and be rude.

Lesson planning is one of the more difficult aspects of being a new teacher. Here are some tips on developing a lesson plan for high school students. Video showcases new teacher with a coach to learn ways to generate new ideas and objectives for a lesson.

This article was originally written for publication in the newsletter for the California New Teacher Project, published by the California Department of Education (CDE), 1990. First-year teaching is a difficult challenge. Equally challenging is figuring out ways to support and assist beginning teachers as they enter the profession.

"First Year" is a real-life documentary that follows the ups and downs of new teacher Jennifer McNickle through her first year of teaching at Arbor Creek Elementary School. This 68-minute program offers insight into a variety of factors that affect the professional and personal life of a person breaking into the field of education.

Not all they say about your first year of teaching is true; here are some tips on how to avoid those.

This summer, Teaching Channel will be helping beginning teachers countdown to their first year of teaching. We'll walk you through the steps you'll need to take before the first day of school. Woohoo! You've secured your first teaching job. I remember how excited I felt when I landed my first teaching job as a first grade teacher.

You probably know that saying, "You only have one chance to make a first impression." Well, you only get one "first day of school." Of course, if you don't do well on the first day, that does not mean you should quit teaching. With that said, here are seven tips to help make a good first impression on that first day.

As the bulletin boards go up and the chalkboards, whiteboards and Smartboards get dusted and polished for another intense school year, some of the newer teachers (at one point, this was me, too) scramble to remind themselves of the tone they need to set in the classroom, and how their own routines will often mirror students' routines.

Here are seven prep steps to help you maximize your non-student time. Your goal is to produce a weekly worksheet, an hour-by-hour view of your time, and to-do's for the week ahead.

Time. It's the thing every teacher needs more of, and no teacher has enough of. Whether you wish to get deeper into student data analysis or want to spend more time with your own children, no teacher has enough hours in the day to do it all. But with very careful planning of their non-teaching time, I've seen thousands of teachers get more time back in their lives. Here are the top five ways you can make the most of your limited "free" time each week:

Rather than provide a list of things to avoid, I would like to take a more proactive stance by sharing things that will help diminish burnout feelings and help you answer, yep, it is worth it.

Classroom management is a delicate balancing act often learned through experience and trial-and-error experimentation. Whether you're a new or experienced teacher, having strategies for effective classroom management is essential for creating positive, successful learning spaces (and staying sane!).

See how this 9th-grade English teacher connects with his students, earns their trust, and then invites them to contemplate their future with -- or without -- reading skills.

Need help figuring out where to start with planning the content for your first year of teaching? In this post from Teaching Channel, Lily Jones cuts to the chase with general questions to consider and a few go-to resources for first-year curriculum planning.

This curriculum-planning guide from KIPP King Collegiate High School includes helpful guidance on creating long-term curriculum and assessment plans. Learn more about how teachers at Kipp King challenge and empower students with critical-thinking skills in " Critical Thinking: A Path to College and Career."

This post focuses on planning curriculum, projects and lessons that are aligned with technology standards.