New Teacher Orientation ideas and questions

NEW TEACHER ORIENTATION


I'm working on my Master's Degree in Educational Leadership (I already have one in Educational Technology) and my current course is "Developing Teachers." In this course we are looking at recruiting, training, and retaining teachers and this week we are looking at new teacher orientation programs.


When I started, the new teacher orientation program was three days before the rest of the teachers came in. We had talks from each department, received the curriculum for our class, and had some various presentations on different topics. The current new teacher orientation program is similar, but also has the new teachers meeting together once a month throughout the year for more training and support.


Some of the things that I felt were lacking and some of the new teachers from last year also thought were missing:


1. Orientation to computer systems - making sure every teacher has a login for the computers, email, and student information system and then having training on how to use them all. It is very minimal right now.


2. More information about special education services and how the process works.


3. A list of "people to go to" for different issues, such as computer problems, supply needs, and so forth.


4. List of services available to students - special education, social work, health and medical, etc.


5. More on classroom management that specifically addresses the policies of the district rather than being general.


6. Instead of just handing out the curriculum, provide time to look over the curriculum and then have someone from that department to help you with any issues, especially with the material for the first month of school.


7. They currently get an afternoon to go to their building and start setting up their rooms, but it would be nice to have time with the department chair, to look over your classroom, get a tour of the building and get shown where resources and offices are. Currently, it is up to each school to try to fit in a tour when time permits and I think it should be a formal part of the orientation program.


8. A new teacher orientation booklet with allresources, expectations, schedule, rules and procedures. Some of this is handed out now, but it is not combined into a comprehensive book. It probably wouldn't hurt to have this available for all teachers, especially when there have been changes made to policies and procedures from the previous year.


9. The realities of the school system - budget issues, student behavior, buildings, etc. It can be a shock to many new teachers coming out of college with their idealistic views to suddenly run head on into the reality of run down schools, no supplies or resources, student discipline issues, lack of parental support, and other realities of teaching. 




What does your district's new teacher orientation program look like? What do you think should be in a new teacher orientation program?








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New Teacher Advice and Tips - repost


Back to School resources for all educators

Welcome back to School!

New Teacher Survival Central



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New Teacher Advice and Tips - repost




Welcome to the hardest job you'll ever love!


As I think about the fact that most colleges will be holding graduation next month, I thought about all those new graduates that will be joining the education profession next year and thought I'd share some advice and resources for them. I'll be speaking to some from a few different area programs and I hope you will share these with new graduates that you know. I also figured this would be a good time because many seniors are still doing student teaching now. 

  • Your best resource as a new teacher is yourself. Use what you learned in school. Seek out more information from colleagues and the Internet. Use your creativity. Remember what it was like to be a student yourself.
  • Ask for help. Don't be afraid to ask other teachers for help. Do not isolate yourself in your classroom. Make connections with other teachers, whether it is in person, by email, Facebook, Ning, Twitter, web sites, or blogs. Create a Personal Learning Network of people and resources that can help you.
  • Don't reinvent the wheel. Use the resources that are available to you. Most textbooks now come with instructor resource CD-ROMs and companion web sites. Use the resources that they have and then modify them as needed. Search the Internet for lesson plan ideas, activities, classroom management tips, and other tips and tricks. Check out Discovery Education's free resources. 
  • Stay organized. You need to stay organized. Make sure you have a lesson plan guide and calendar of some sort. You can use a paper based planner and lesson planner or use an electronic or web-based system. Smartphones are great for staying organized. You can also use online resources like Google, Evernote and others to keep your files, calendar, tasks, and lesson plans organized.
  • Write things down and make sure you have your classroom materials organized and labeled.
  • Take advantage of professional development opportunities. Your district and school will run professional development sessions, but don't limit yourself to those. Look for free online sessions, webcasts, conferences, and sessions run by your local educational resource agency. Create your own, on-demand professional development using Twitter. 
  • Join a professional society in your area. As a physics teacher, I have joined the National Science Teacher's Association (NSTA) and the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). Find out what organizations are in your area and join them. You will find resources and contacts through these organizations.
  • Read journals. Subscribe to and read educational journals. Most are free, so you don't have to worry about the money. There are journals on general education, educational technology, pedagogy, assessment, and just about every other area of education. Here is a great, free journal: Tech and Learning Magazine - great magazine with educational and technology information and resources. Free subscription for teachers.
  • Be creative with your lessons. Think outside the box. Come up with new, fun ways to teach the students. Use projects and project-based-learning as a way to engage and teach your students. You can find a huge number of resources and ideas for projects on the web.
  • Make connections with the secretaries and custodians in your building. They will be some of your best resources for supplies, ideas, and help.
  • Make connections with local businesses, especially those that are related to your subject area. They can be a huge resource for guests, supplies and equipment, and funding. Many local businesses, such as Staples, have Teacher Appreciation Days with discounts and free gifts. Find out about these. Remind businesses that instead of throwing out things, they can donate usable items to your school as a tax write-off.
  • Get to know the publisher's representative for your class's textbook. They can get you a lot of resources.
  • Be flexible. Remember Murphy's law. Have plans for when your lessons run short or long, to deal with interruptions and fire drills, assemblies, and days when much of your class is absent because of a field trip. 
  • Have back up plans for everything and especially have backup plans in case of technology issues.
  • Know your local and State curriculum. Know what is expected of you. Know what is expected of the students.
  • Track your personal expenses and save receipts. There is a tax deduction for educators.
  • Keep up on your certification requirements.
  • Spend this summer relaxing and getting ready for your new career. Once you get hired by a school, get a copy of the curriculum and review it over the summer. Think about the kind of teacher you want to be. Get yourself organized. 
  • If you are still looking for a job, don't worry. Teachers retire, move to different school systems. There will be openings. If you can't find a job by August, keep trying. Sign up to be a substitute teacher in the towns nearby. That is a foot-in-the-door for a permanent job when one opens. Don't despair, you will find a job. 
  • Ask for help, and look for help. Again, don't be afraid to ask for help.


Good luck and welcome to the profession!


Some more resources for new teachers:

New Teacher Advice - some good advice for new teachers (and old ones too!)

Discovery Education New Teacher Survival Central - a great resource for all teachers (and free).

List of Discovery Education Resources for Educators - very good, inclusive list of Discovery Educations resources.






READ MORE - New Teacher Advice and Tips - repost
Label:

Back to School resources for all educators

READ MORE - Back to School resources for all educators
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Instructional Strategies Online - great resource for teachers



Instructional Strategies Online is a site that contains tips, resources, and information about all different kinds of instructional strategies that teachers can use in their classrooms.

The site is organized by type of strategy, such as Direct Instruction, Indirect, Experiential, instructional skills and more.

There is a huge amount of information and resources available for teachers and it is well worth taking a look at  no matter how experienced you are.
READ MORE - Instructional Strategies Online - great resource for teachers
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Advice to new graduates that will be entering the teaching profession




Welcome to the hardest job you'll ever love!


As I think about the fact that most colleges will be holding graduation next month, I thought about all those new graduates that will be joining the education profession next year and thought I'd share some advice and resources for them. I'll be speaking to some from a few different area programs and I hope you will share these with new graduates that you know. I also figured this would be a good time because many seniors are still doing student teaching now. 

  • Your best resource as a new teacher is yourself. Use what you learned in school. Seek out more information from colleagues and the Internet. Use your creativity. Remember what it was like to be a student yourself.
  • Ask for help. Don't be afraid to ask other teachers for help. Do not isolate yourself in your classroom. Make connections with other teachers, whether it is in person, by email, Facebook, Ning, Twitter, web sites, or blogs. Create a Personal Learning Network of people and resources that can help you.
  • Don't reinvent the wheel. Use the resources that are available to you. Most textbooks now come with instructor resource CD-ROMs and companion web sites. Use the resources that they have and then modify them as needed. Search the Internet for lesson plan ideas, activities, classroom management tips, and other tips and tricks. Check out Discovery Education's free resources. 
  • Stay organized. You need to stay organized. Make sure you have a lesson plan guide and calendar of some sort. You can use a paper based planner and lesson planner or use an electronic or web-based system. Smartphones are great for staying organized. You can also use online resources like Google, Evernote and others to keep your files, calendar, tasks, and lesson plans organized.
  • Write things down and make sure you have your classroom materials organized and labeled.
  • Take advantage of professional development opportunities. Your district and school will run professional development sessions, but don't limit yourself to those. Look for free online sessions, webcasts, conferences, and sessions run by your local educational resource agency. Create your own, on-demand professional development using Twitter. 
  • Join a professional society in your area. As a physics teacher, I have joined the National Science Teacher's Association (NSTA) and the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). Find out what organizations are in your area and join them. You will find resources and contacts through these organizations.
  • Read journals. Subscribe to and read educational journals. Most are free, so you don't have to worry about the money. There are journals on general education, educational technology, pedagogy, assessment, and just about every other area of education. Here is a great, free journal: Tech and Learning Magazine - great magazine with educational and technology information and resources. Free subscription for teachers.
  • Be creative with your lessons. Think outside the box. Come up with new, fun ways to teach the students. Use projects and project-based-learning as a way to engage and teach your students. You can find a huge number of resources and ideas for projects on the web.
  • Make connections with the secretaries and custodians in your building. They will be some of your best resources for supplies, ideas, and help.
  • Make connections with local businesses, especially those that are related to your subject area. They can be a huge resource for guests, supplies and equipment, and funding. Many local businesses, such as Staples, have Teacher Appreciation Days with discounts and free gifts. Find out about these. Remind businesses that instead of throwing out things, they can donate usable items to your school as a tax write-off.
  • Get to know the publisher's representative for your class's textbook. They can get you a lot of resources.
  • Be flexible. Remember Murphy's law. Have plans for when your lessons run short or long, to deal with interruptions and fire drills, assemblies, and days when much of your class is absent because of a field trip. 
  • Have back up plans for everything and especially have backup plans in case of technology issues.
  • Know your local and State curriculum. Know what is expected of you. Know what is expected of the students.
  • Track your personal expenses and save receipts. There is a tax deduction for educators.
  • Keep up on your certification requirements.
  • Spend this summer relaxing and getting ready for your new career. Once you get hired by a school, get a copy of the curriculum and review it over the summer. Think about the kind of teacher you want to be. Get yourself organized. 
  • If you are still looking for a job, don't worry. Teachers retire, move to different school systems. There will be openings. If you can't find a job by August, keep trying. Sign up to be a substitute teacher in the towns nearby. That is a foot-in-the-door for a permanent job when one opens. Don't despair, you will find a job. 
  • Ask for help, and look for help. Again, don't be afraid to ask for help.


Good luck and welcome to the profession!


Some more resources for new teachers:

New Teacher Advice - some good advice for new teachers (and old ones too!)

Discovery Education New Teacher Survival Central - a great resource for all teachers (and free).

List of Discovery Education Resources for Educators - very good, inclusive list of Discovery Educations resources.







READ MORE - Advice to new graduates that will be entering the teaching profession
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New Year to do list for educators


The New Year always brings resolutions from people on what they want to accomplish in the New Year. For educators, this is also a good time to reflect on your teaching and to make a list of things to accomplish for the next semester. We also have a chance to do this over the summer.

Some suggestions for educators (and things I'm going to do):

1. Write a blog (or continue to write one).Share resources, ideas, tips, thoughts, and more. Comment on other people's blogs too.
2. Create or expand your Personal Learning Network. A PLN is an incredible resource for educators.
3. Get involved on Twitter (especially with #edchat)
4. Try a new resource each week (or month). Get started with Educational Technology.
5. Try something new with your classes each month. New lesson ideas, new resources, completely new ideas.
6. Reflect on your teaching and see how you can improve it.


What about you? What do you think are some things for educators to do in the new year?
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131 Tips for New Teachers



131 Tips for New Teachers is a great presentation compiled by Richard Byrne on his blog, Free Technology for Teachers (which I highly recommend). 


Richard asked his readers to submit tips for new teachers and then he compiled them into one presentation. Some of the tips included are:
- Communicate with Parents
- Have a Backup Plan
- Create an "absent box" where you place papers for absent students (with their name written on the top). Teach students to visit this box immediately upon return to class.
- Connect with your students, that's the most important thing. Get to know them.
- Ask if you need help.  Don't be shy.  We've all been there.  Most teachers are very helpful to new teachers...besides we want to learn from you too!


It is an excellent collection of tips for new teachers. The tips are very good for all teachers too!

READ MORE - 131 Tips for New Teachers
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Welcome back to School!

Welcome back to school! I hope everyone had a great summer and was able to relax and recharge. We started this week with teachers back on Monday, freshmen on Wednesday, and all students today. It's been a little hectic, but things are working out.

Here are some resources to help you get the year started.

Create a Personal Learning Network - a PLN is an excellent resource for help, advice, and sharing ideas.

Google for Educators - Google has a huge number of free resources for teachers and students. Check them all out (they're all free).

New Teacher Advice - some good advice for new teachers (and old ones too!)

Discovery Education New Teacher Survival Central - a great resource for all teachers (and free).

List of Discovery Education Resources for Educators - very good, inclusive list of Discovery Educations resources.

Overview of some free technology that can help you be more organized and efficient. 

Some great websites and blogs to check out:

Tech and Learning Magazine - great magazine with educational and technology information and resources. Free subscription for teachers.

Edutopia - George Lucas foundation site dedicated to education.

Twitter - Twitter is a great resource for educators, especially #edchat.
(and follow me on Twitter @daveandcori)

Enjoy these resources and share yours with others.
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How do we motivate students?


How do we motivate students? I know I don't know how to motivate all students. I try to tell them why learning is important, how an education can make them a better person (and more money) and how important it is to do your best in any endeavor.

Some students are self-motivated. They want to do well. They compete with others to do well in school. They like the feeling they get when they do well. Some are motivated by their parents and a history of being pushed to do their best.

What about the rest? I know some unmotivated students can actually get motivated when they finally do well on something. They get a taste of success and want to get more and more of it. Some students do things to avoid a punishment. That only works for so long.

Then there are the students who aren't motivated because they don't see the point in education. Their parents aren't educated and they do ok in the student's eyes. Or, they see their friends working at the local store and think that is a great job (Stop and Shop is a coveted job by my students). The other issues we have to fight is students who see the guys selling drugs and making lots of money, and I've had students tell me why should they worry about school when their mom doesn't work but gets a check every month. There are a lot of things that affect how these students feel about education.

In Connecticut, we have the CAPT test as our standardized test for 10th graders. One of the data points that the State and Feds look at is the percentage of the 10th grade class that takes all sections of the test. Many schools use prizes to motivate students to come every day to take the test. But this only works to get them there. What motivates students to do their best?

In a previous article, I talked about forcing students to learn and how maybe we should look at more alternative programs for students who aren't interested in academics or college, but would rather do a trade, or learn better in different ways. I wonder what we can do to help motivate students who don't see the point in school or aren't into academics at all.

We can use technology to give students access to new things and see new things to motivate them to do well and be successful so that they can go see these things for real. We can use technology to create alternative programs and online classes to help struggling students achieve success which will hopefully get them motivated to try to succeed all the time. We can use technology to make learning more fun and interactive and get these students to like learning.

Rewards are good in some cases. Giving students free time, a pass on homework, time on a computer, etc. can get them to do some things and motivate them in some ways. But how long can rewards motivate students?

We can show students data about how much more money they can make being educated. How much more of the world is opened up to them. But that won't motivate them all.

We can show them what happens to drug dealers and how welfare is not the answer. But some of them won't care.

Some ideas for motivating students (by getting them more interested in learning)
1. Be enthusiastic and positive about what you teach. Create a positive learning environment for them.
2. Let students have some of the fun and let them discover things on their own instead of telling them it all up front.
3. Use visual aids, movies, examples, props, demonstrations and more
4. Take a field trip and make it real
5. Show them how great it feels to succeed and do well (they will want that feeling again)
6. Give them praise for doing well (they will crave it more and more). Frequent, early praise show them that they can do well.
7. Care about students and their lives. Talk to them. Ask them how they are doing. Talk to them about why they didn't do the work and what might be bothering them.
8. Reward them with different things. But, start slowing down on the rewards and increasing the praise as time goes on. Sometimes the praise and attention of an adult is a reward for many students.
9. Create tasks and work that students can complete and succeed in doing (not too easy, not too hard). Give them the skills and resources they need to succeed.
10. Help your students find personal meaning and value in the material that you are teaching.
11. Make your students feel valued and special by acknowledging their contributions to the class.

What else can we do to motivate students?

Please share your ideas!

Resource:

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