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ICANEWS
Noviembre / Diciembre 2009, Año 6 # 19 |
REAL TEACHING IN REAL CLASSROOMS.
SUGGESTIONS FROM A VETERAN TEACHER. |
by Jen Bonn
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If I had to come up with a list of tips for a new teacher, this is what it would be:
Never be afraid to ask questions of veteran teachers.
Discipline with a sense of humor, never sarcasm.
Document your interactions with students.
Try not to be pulled into negativity. This includes mindless griping about colleagues or school policy.
Understand you can be a student’s advocate, but not their buddy.
Over plan for class and always have a plan-b. Be flexible and realize that sometimes you have to change your plans to fit the moment.
Keep teaching outside of the class; be a good role model.
Be organized. Use notebooks.
Always expect a little more from your students than they expect from themselves.
Show your students the sam respect that you would want them to show you. Make sure they show the same respect to each other. When my students say something disrespectful, I say “cancel.” This is their signal to stop.
Fulfill the same expectations that you demand of your students. Hand back homework in a timely way and be on time for class.
Make your classroom user friendly. Decorate it with subject-related materials. Display student work.
Do not let work consume every minute of your day. Make time to follow other passions and get enough rest.
Find time to brainstorm with colleagues or just to listen to what they are doing in their classes.
Realize that you always have something to learn and improve.
Know your students and become good at reading emotions. Some of our students are coping with more than we can imagine. Meet your students at the door and let them know that you care and are there to listen.
When you speak with students or colleagues, give them your full attention. Stop doing e-mail. Put away the cell phone. Interact fully with another human being.
When you make mistakes, admit it, apologize, forgive yourself, and move on.
Jen Bonn has been teaching French and Spanish for twenty-eight years. |
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