So You’re a New Teacher?? How to Survive the First Years “Every teacher must understand the importance of promoting a positive class atmosphere. Each school is a microcosm of our society with its positives and negatives, and the importance of respect, kindness and honesty among students should NOT be minimized” - Lindberg and Swick, 2005

1. So You’re a New Teacher??
How to Survive the First
Years

3. Belief: To be a successful teacher, one needs to
relate and be a friend to their students ; teaching
means doing FUN activities.

4. Belief: Teaching is a job; they rely on ineffective
practices just to make it through each day; no
accountability; they spend a lot of time
whining about work conditions
and making excuses
“I teach the stuff; if they do not
want to learn it, it’s not my fault”

5. 3.
Belief: They teach to make a difference, teach for
MASTERY and place HIGH EXPECTATIONS on
students; they read professionally and
attend trainings.
“If my students are not learning, I need to find
another way. I am a problem solver”

6. 4.
Belief: A teacher’s role is to OPEN the door to
learning. Effective master teachers are able to
affect and make a significant impact on the
students. You have ARRIVED as
a teacher because you have gone
beyond mastery.

7. Students of today need YOU to be an adult
model that they can look up to.
If you become a friend, the
student will start asking for
favors, as people do of friends

9. 1. Has positive expectations for student success
– This greatly influences pupil achievement
– Expectations are DIFFERENT from STANDARDS.
Standards are levels of achievement
– The teacher is constantly alert and aware of
opportunities to be successful

10. 2. Is an extremely good classroom manager
– Class management consists practices and routines
that a teacher uses to maintain an environment in
which teaching and learning occur

11. Effective teachers MANAGE their classrooms.
Ineffective ones DISCIPLINE their classrooms.
The effective teacher organize students,
space, time and materials so that learning is
maximized.

12. To promote student involvement and
cooperation in all class activities
To establish a productive working
environment
o Where students pay attention, respect each other,
exhibit self-discipline and remain on task

13. • Students know what is expected of them and
are generally successful
• There is relatively little wasted time and
description
• The climate is task-oriented, yet pleasant and
relaxed

14. 3rd Characteristic of an Effective
Teacher
KNOWS HOW TO DESIGN LESSONS FOR
STUDENT MASTERY
“If the student can’t demonstrate learning, the
student has not failed, WE have failed the
student”

15. Increase the amount of time the
student is WORKING, and you increase
LEARNING
• Research says only 35% of allocated time is
devoted to learning
• The teacher does most of the work and that’s
why there is little learning

16. Have an assignment posted daily to be done
upon entering the room
Teach routines to minimize interruptions
Constantly monitor students to keep them on
tasks

17. X What am I going to cover tomorrow?
What are my students to learn and accomplish
tomorrow?
“The role of a teacher is not to cover but to
UNCOVER.”

18. The bottom line is always STUDENT
ACHIEVEMENT
Education is not a process of putting learners
under control BUT putting in control of their
learning

19. Ineffective Task: The T tells the class what will be
covered
Effective Task: The T tells the class what they will
accomplish at the end of the lesson
Teach with the end in mind!

22. •Be authentic. Walk your
talk. Don’t weasel out of
answering touchy
questions
•Dare to talk about your
values with PASSION

23. •Be absolutely clear about expectations.
Have reasons for your rules AND follow
through consistently.
• Avoid trivializing issues
that are important
to them

24. •Don’t try to talk to them like a
teenager. It won’t work. They know
you’re an adult.
•Don’t come across as a
martyr. More often
than not, they
don’t care.

25. •Respect student privacy and confidentiality.
•Practice amnesty. Don’t dwell on past
mistakes.

26. •Use language that boosts their self-
esteem
•Stick to facts
•Show them that you
sincerely care
•Give them your
undivided attention
•Be an adult!

27. •Give long-winded explanations
•Talk a lot about yourself
•Accuse without proof.
Jump to conclusions.
•Intimidate students
•Soft-pedal the truth
•
because you think kids
can’t handle the truth

29. •Honest praise is essential to
positive growth and development
•Of all messages,
PRAISE is the most
important

30. •Be honest. Kids spot PHONY praise.
•Be specific. Descriptive praise is
preferred.
•Don’t make a bigger
deal than what it deserves.
They know exaggerations
when they see it.

31. Don’t act surprised when they
have achieved or excelled.
Dispel doubts or skepticism.
Show confidence in them.

32. You aced it!
Another milestone
Couldn’t be better!
Bull’s-eye!
In a class by yourself
A-OK
Right on!
Remarkable
A class act
Impressive!
Top rate
A blue ribbon success
You surpassed all expectations

33. Thumbs up
Hand shake
Victory sign
Wink
Nod
Warm hug

34. “No school achieves success unless the home-
school partnership works”

35. •Project self-assurance
•Make eye-contact. Smile.
•Make it clear that you
know the child and
the issue at hand.
•Again, do straight talk

36. •Demonstrate empathy
•Respect the parent’s point of
view even if it differs from yours
•Be willing to say,
“I don’t know” instead
of offering
lame excuses

37. •Be accurate in describing the child’s
performance. (e.g. show the portfolio)
•Emphasize choices
•Pledge your best efforts
to respond to
their concern/s
•Always end with an
agreed-upon action plan

39. •Don’t hint or drop clues. Spell it
out. Say “Can you help
me______?”or “Please help me to
_____.”
•Make the helper
feel good. Show
your appreciation

40. •Enjoy the opportunity to help. Feel
good about it.
•Offer to do something specific that
you can do.

41. Education goes beyond
information.
Education is positive
transformation
Be a catalyst in effecting CHANGE
and be the change you dream of

42. Why do you need to be a character-builder?
It is your responsibility to cultivate a high-character
environment
A person with good
character has the inward
motivation to do what
is right in every situation.

43. Teachers who NEGLECT character-
building lose the opportunity to make a
difference and contribute to society’s
betterment. Simply put, it’s missing
their calling.

44. How, then, CAN WE BUILD A CULTURE OF
CHARACTER IN OUR CLASSROOMS?
 We set the example. Avoid hypocrisy
Character building starts from the top. Influence begins with us
and ripples outward.

45.  Character-building requires patient persistence. It can
not be mandated- it becomes evident over time.
Remember. This task is a marathon, NOT a sprint.

46.  Praise CHARACTER over achievement.
We acknowledge good character and not singular
achievement
 Accept that
character-building HURTS.
It involves
self-denial and sacrifice
but the reward? A priceless
legacy of character

47.  Authentic character formation
Requires us to get out life in order.
Why? So we can project a consistently wholesome
character

48.  Class Procedures – form the framework for a class
climate conducive to a cooperative work relationship
between a teacher and students
 Class rules – form the
heart and soul of a
caring and cooperative
 Students MUST be
part of the rule – making process

49.  RULES connote compliance to classroom
discipline measures. Other suggested terms:
behavior standards, norms or expectations
Kohn (1991)
Research shows that children are mere likely to
follow if its rationale has been clearly explained
to them as opposed to “Because I’m the teacher,
that’s why” approach.

50. Consistent with overall school rules
Understandable
Doable
Always applicable
Positively stated
Behaviorally stated
Reflective of teacher’s own
philosophy of how
students learn BEST

51. TOO GENERAL: Students should not bother other
students
TOO SPECIFIC: Students should not grad, push, shove
or trip other students
BETTER RULE: It is better that
students keep their hands
off other people

52.  Respect other people’s property
 Participate in your own learning
 Strive for excellence
 Raise your hand to be recognized
 Be polite towards the ideas and practices of others
 Care for the classroom
 Obey all the rules
RESPECT IS NONNEGOTIABLE

53. Tardiness policy
Leaving the room
Use of cellphones and other gadgets/electronic devices
Students who do not have supplies and required
materials
Seating arrangement
Use of supplies and other class equipment

69. To be educated, a person must be exposed to
the transformative events of an engaged life.
Many are schooled BUT few are educated.
Thomas More

70. Leaders must be close enough to relate to
others but for enough ahead to motivate
them.
John Maxwell

71. People must understand the world not only
because it’s fascinating but to understand it
so that they position themselves to make it a
BETTER place.
Howard Gardner

72. I begin my class affirming
That I’m guided by this
divine presence.
My presence fills the
classroom
I know I am my best visual
aid
Therefore, I look good and
smell good
I feel and act responsible

73. I am an effective teacher in
motion
I facilitate. I motivate.
I relay. I relate.
I reach out to communicate.
I don’t just talk. I impart a
message.
I don’t just pronounce. I
enunciate.
I don’t just deliver. I receive.
For I am both a radar and a
radiator of ideas.

74. I guide the
underachievers
With patience and
understanding
I lead the good to be
better
I inspire the best to be
better
Than their best
Of in some situations
my tolerance
Runs low
I pause to listen and
reflect

75. If in trying
moments
I break my
composure
I shall strive to
change,
NOT my students
but
My attitude
towards them.

76. At the end of the day
In my life as a teacher,
I pause to relish the
Good the day has
brought
Thank you, Father for
that one day in my life
when
I chose to focus on
the good that I am
and I have.
Amen.