Surviving Your First (and any!)

Year Teachingby

Philippa Parks

Introduction“Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theate

r.”Gail Godwin

About me

About you

Experienced Teachers - PLEASE ADD YOUR THOUGHTS & IDEAS!

Overview Tips & Tricks1.PLAN2.READ3.END POSITIVELY4.GAMES5.ROUTINE6.FLEXIBILITY7.OFFER CHOICES8.EMPATHY9.STAY STRONG10.ADAPT BEFORE CREATING

•ABOVE ALL: Give yourself a break!

1.PLAN: Have a plan - be flexible!

Know your long-term goals

Break them down by terms, then lessons

Keep a skeleton plan - don’t be too elaborate as it will all change!

Example

2.READ: Start with reading

Sets the tone of the class (energy level)

Switches the “English” button on

Gives you time for admin...

Use books / magazines / newspapers

Build on what they read (or not...)

3. End positively

Last ten minutes: review homework / what they learned

End with jokes / game / quiz

Removing the “fun” factor can be consequence if the group is not listening (taking too long)

4.GAMES: Turn “boring” activities into games

Grammar / spelling / vocabulary drills etc. into team games with points (not for marks)

Challenge students to create crosswords etc. for each other

5.ROUTINE: Maintain a general routine

Helps students feel secure

Write daily plan on the board so they know what to expect

Start and end your class on a quiet note (energy: low --> high --> low)

6.FLEXIBILITY: Keep a bag of tricks on hand

Have role-play, writing, reading & quiz activities on hand for when your lesson plan goes to pieces (it happens to all of us!)

Example: Einstein’s riddle, jokes mix & match

7. Offer Choices

Choices help students feel empowered & invested in their learning

Give choices in final project format, or even how they want to be tested on their learning.

Give choices as a form of behaviour management

8.EMPATHY: Be empathetic when you can

When lesson planning, ask yourself: Would I enjoy this if I were my student?

When doing behaviour management - understand you are not usually the problem, just an easy target! Take the student aside quietly when possible and explain that you really like them, just not their behaviour

9.STAY STRONG: Follow through!

Know what kind of actions you can use when engaging in classroom and behaviour management (detentions? phone calls? principal?) How will your school back you up?

When you say something BE PREPARED TO FOLLOW THROUGH - otherwise you will lose credibility

Keep negative consequence annoying rather than painful (e.g. “Meeping”)

10.CREATING: Don’t reinvent the wheel... yet!

Why make or adapt your own?

I am usually inspired by a TEXT (something that sparks my interest and that I am sure will interest my students.)

Find more materials, do research, if necessary

Picture the activity in your mind

Ask yourself “Would I like to do this activity if I were my student?”

Overview Tips & Tricks1.PLAN: Have a plan - be flexible!2.READ: Start with reading3.END POSITIVELY -End with something fun4.GAMES: Turn “boring” activities into games5.ROUTINE: Maintain a general routine6.FLEXIBILITY: Keep a bag of tricks on hand7.OFFER CHOICES: empower students8.EMPATHY: Be empathetic when you can9.STAY STRONG: Follow through!10.CREATING: Don’t reinvent the wheel... yet!

•ABOVE ALL: Give yourself a break!