I saw First Year Teacher by Randy Howe available for free on Kindle several days ago. It is still available for free if you are interested. I will quickly say that there are a lot of things in here that do not apply at the school I have the privilege of serving at. There are some things that are definitely applicable…and some that are downright hilarious. This book would be a good resource for those that are interested in teaching, but definitely take it with a grain of salt.
Below I have pasted a few things while reading this book…
- Although some teachers will say that if you don’t love teaching, you should find a different job, our Voices of Experience beg to differ. Give yourself time to adjust; find things you can work on to better enjoy your job … and work on them the best you can!
- Often the most troublesome student is acting out just to get your attention. By paying the least amount of attention when the student is acting out and giving the student your undivided attention when she is behaving, you can reduce this negative behavior.
- Like the students themselves, motivation comes in all shapes and sizes.
- “I find that specific praise is the best motivation.”
- In any people-driven industry, communication is of the utmost importance.
- No matter how tired they are, no matter how worn out, no matter how tough this particular school year is, more times than not, teachers will still speak lovingly of the students when out socially—so don’t be surprised when you do it, too!
- As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”
- If you speak like a professional, eventually they realize you are a professional.”
- “Praise and encouragement go a long, long way.”
- “I learned that the process is often more valuable than the product. Don’t just focus on the test score!”