Things I've learned from Teaching

Happy Wednesday! I hope you are having a wonderful week. I've been busy working with a team to align our curriculum Pre-K-6th grade to the Common Core. It has been a busy two days, but we have gotten a lot accomplished!

Before I head off to work, I'm excited to link up with Miss Kindergarten to share Ten Things I've Learned from Teaching.

 

This year will be my tenth year teaching! Where does the time go?

 

1. Never stop learning, there is always something you can learn more about. To be a good teacher, you need to be a life-long learner. Even after teaching for ten years I know that I still have a lot to learn.!

 

2. Caffeine is your best friend. A morning coffee is great...but another coffee around 2:00 p.m. can help get you through the day!

 3. Don't forget to partner with parents. You may not understand why parents do what they do, but they are doing the best they can. Do what you can to come alongside them and support them. When they know you want to help them and work with them, they are more apt to work with you.

4. You don't have to grade everything! Nor should you grade everything! Grading every single paper and activity your kiddos do will drive you insane. Choose to grade those things that are truly important.

5. Go to the bathroom whenever your kids are at a special-whether you have to go or not. You never know when you will have time to go again...and "holding it" all day is awful.

6. Be encouraging. Letting your students know that you believe in them will help them to believe in themselves. They will work harder if they know you think they can do it.

7. Be honest with your kids. Don't be afraid to tell them that you aren't sure of the answer to their random question. If at all possible, do take the time to find the answer to the question you didn't know the answer to. Kids know when adults are lying.

 8. Classroom management is everything. Don't get caught into the "yelling trap." If you do, you end the day exhausted and grumpy. Find a way to manage your kids that doesn't involve yelling. If you do this, when you do have to raise your voice (think safety issue) they stop immediately and listen because they KNOW something is seriously wrong.

9. Get to know your students. I don't mean just as students and learners, but get to know what they like, what sports they play, what their favorite colors are, what they really care about etc. This is the beginning of building a classroom community...we as teachers are a part of that community. The more we put into it, the better it will become.

10. Have fun! Enjoy what you do. If you don't like a subject or topic you are teaching, fake it. Find some way to make it exciting for you. Doing this will keep the kids excited about learning and being in your classroom.

 

What have you learned from teaching? I'd love to hear your top ten!