Panel of New Teachers: UT Arlington New Teacher Webinar

UT ARLINGTON
NEW TEACHER WEBINAR 1
Advice for New Teachers
SEPTEMBER 28, 2013
*Recordings will be available of all webinars. No
names will be visible in the recordings.
Chat window
1. All: *Type a greeting in the chat window! 
2. Optional: Type what you hope to learn during the webinar.
NOTE:
All private chat is visible !
Please leave audio/talk button off unless speaking. Thanks! 
WEBINAR OVERVIEW
• Brief Overview of webinar tools
• Guest panelists share advice for new teachers
• Question-and-answer time
• Info on future webinars

Goals of UTA New Teacher
Induction-Open to everyone!
• Teacher Induction Project: Building Digital Community:
•
The purpose of the three fall webinars are to begin to build "digital
community" for current students and alumni of the department and
for all new teachers beyond UT Arlington. The focus is primarily on
building knowledge for recent graduates as part of a larger overall
teacher induction initiative. The focus will be on interactivity and
participation around crucial topics to new teachers.
Webinar 2 (October 19, 1:00 pm, CST)
• Building Classroom Community (October 19, 1:00 pm, CST)
• (Dr. Amber Brown, Dr. Peggy Semingson, other panelists TBA)
Webinar 3 (November 16, 1:00 pm, CST):
• Behavior Management (Dr. Jon Leffingwell, Dr. Diane Galloway)

UTA New Teachers Blog
http://blog.uta.edu/utanewteachers/
• We are looking for guest bloggers —students, teachers, and
faculty. Contact Dr. Semingson peggys@uta.edu with your
fabulous ideas!

Logistical & technical tips
• Raise hand to speak and press “Talk” if you wish to speak. Speaking
is not required!
• Ask questions along the way. The webinar is to meet the needs of
you all!
• No one can see you unless you press “Video”
• Same goes for audio. You have to press “Talk” to speak.
• Make a list of “Things to Google” later.
• Raise hand to speak. Speaking is optional.
• Use chat window often throughout. We will check it throughout it
and respond in “real time” 
• Use of emoticons are encouraged.
• Webinar is about 60-80 minutes in length.
• Tip: Take notes

These are our opinions and
suggestions!
• The opinions of each of the panelists are their own individual
viewpoints. 
• Our goal is for you to hear a variety of viewpoints to help
support you in your first years of teaching! We have been
down the road you are going! 
• GOALS/GUIDELINES
• Support
• Respect
• Dialogue
• Sharing

Where we are now:
• Thanks for joining us! Please use the marker/pen tool to mark a
small x below where you are at. You can also type it in the chat
window:

Interactive Poll 1
• Poll question: Where are you in your teaching career?
• Select A-E
• Voting is optional! I will display the results.
• I am currently a
• A. Pre-service teacher
• B. First year teacher
• C. 2nd or 3rd year teacher
• D. 4th year+ teacher
• E. Faculty or none of the above

Order of speakers
1. Brittany Saliano (elementary, lower grades)
2. Joy Brown (elementary, upper grades)
3. Jessica Hardin (elementary)
4. Tierney Gage (mid-level, science)
5. Nikki Cade (secondary, instructional specialist)
There will be a question and answer time at the end if you have
questions for panelists.
Feel free to ask questions along the way! UTA Faculty will
monitor the chat window during the webinar.

Introduction of UTA Faculty
*Department of Curriculum and Instruction
• We are here to support you and to answer questions!

Advice for new teachers from
Dr. Semingson!
• Former bilingual/ESL teacher and reading
specialist (8 years, elementary, public schools)
• Ph.D. in Language and Literacy from UT Austin
• Sixth year as professor at UT Arlington
• Advice—top five list:
• 1) Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
• Example: “How do you teach guided reading?”
• 2) Seek resourceful colleagues.
• 3) Keep your students in mind.
• 4) Take care of yourself.
• 5) Instruction: whole group (lots of modeling),
small group/peer learning, table for students who
need support w/teacher.
• I do-we do-you do
• *Don’t underestimate the power of your
modeling! Practice if possible. It builds
confidence.

Dr. Semingson’s advice
High-level instruction!
• Focus on RIGOR in instruction. “Is my instruction rigorous?”
• Plan and prepare HIGHER ORDER THINKING QUESTIONS
• Be ready to explain the rationale for why you are doing what
you doing.
• There will be visitors to your classroom; be prepared with your
lesson plans on your desk.
• Ask yourself, “How can students assess themselves”.
• The power of well designed rubrics
• Rubistar—rubric generator
• Be data-driven….data informs instructional decision making!

New teacher scenarios and solution! Advice from Dr. S.
*As I discuss each one, please also type your solutions in the chat
window!
• Scenario: Not enough books for your classroom library
• Possible solutions:
• Donations from family & friends (internet link)
• Donors choose project
• Garage sales/thrift stores
• Mini-grants for teachers (look online)
What other solutions can we think of?

Scenario and solutions
• Scenario: I am a bundle of nerves before school begins.
• Ask for the checklist for getting ready for the school year (if
available)
• Talk to other teachers at your grade level to borrow first-week
activities (“Don’t reinvent the wheel”).
• Write a postcard to your future students (get list of addresses
from school administrative assistant)
• Enlist help from family and friends to get your classroom
ready.
• Remember to breathe!

Scenario and Solutions
• Scenario: I am looking for a teaching job!
• Look on the ESC (region service center) sites for lists of school
districts.
• Attend the UTA or your school’s job fair.
• Make your resume look great!
• Experience working with students enhances your resume;
consider volunteering opportunities that involve teaching.
• Prepare short statements about your ideas on teaching;
rehearse a job interview

Teacher: Brittany Saliano
• Current teaching placement: Kindergarten Teacher
• Previous teaching placements: Kindergarten
• Certifications (optional): Generalist EC-4, ESL Supplemental

Background:
• Teacher’s Aide (Early Childhood Assistant) 2009-2010 in
Arlington ISD
• Graduated from UTA in 2010
• Taught Kindergarten 2010-2013.
• Teacher of the Year nominee 2013
• Currently teaching Kindergarten at a charter school

What has been going well in
your teaching?
• I have been using several methods to teach reading and
phonics that show great gains in my students’ abilities.
• I have recommended these three things to almost every
teacher I have worked with, and they love them too. I think
that I am also strong in parent communication.
• I keep the parents informed from the very beginning of any
concerns I have, as well as positive things I’ve noticed about
their child. Finally, I think that I am skilled at making learning
fun (especially since I teach five-year-olds!).
• I love to use songs with movements and games to get the kids
excited about learning.

What general advice do you have for
new teachers?
• I have found that being very organized can really save you
time: Color-code, file, label, and categorize everything that
you can.
• Give yourself the maximum amount of time to set up your first
classroom; it always takes much longer than you think it will.
• Ask for help! Don’t worry about being a burden to your
experienced team members. I have found that most teachers
love sharing with you. They are teachers, after all! They want
to teach you, too.
• Don’t compare yourself to teachers on Pinterest or teacher
blogs. Use their ideas, but don’t expect perfection from
yourself!

Where do you get help at work if
you have questions about
teaching?
• I always ask the mentor teacher first, then the team leader. If
it’s a minor thing, I just ask someone on my team. I don’t go to
the principal unless the mentor teacher or team leader tells
me to. Principals are very busy, but not busy enough to ignore
your questions. Don’t be intimidated by them.

What online resources have
helped you?
• I browse Pinterest about once a month (more than that and it
becomes a time-waster), and I have a few teacher blogs that I
visit weekly or bi-weekly. Teachers Pay Teachers has been a
great resource.

Learning….
• I wish I had known.... that most team members are willing to
share their resources. I could have saved a lot of money! I
wish I had known that paperwork can sometimes take hours
and hours of my time.
• I still want to learn ____ to become a better teacher.... I want
to learn more about Whole Brain Teaching. I have seen it pop
up on blogs and other teachers mention it. It sounds
awesome.

What helps me get my classroom
set up is....
• Visiting it before and taking pictures
• Measuring the length and width, as well as the furniture
• Determining ahead of time what “centers” or “areas” I want
• Deciding on a theme or color scheme
• Having a friend help me! (invaluable!)
• Going to set up the first day the school is open
• Completing 95% of the setup before the teacher workdays.
You will use these days for other important tasks.

Behavior & Academics
• Behavior issues: I recommend the following
books/philosophies:
• Teaching with Love and Logic by Jim Fay and David Funk
• Positive Discipline, A Teacher’s A-Z Guide by Jane Nelson
• If you’re having trouble with a student’s behavior, take notes and
share them with your mentor teacher. The two of you can come
up with a plan.
• Academic issues:
• Yardsticks by Chip Wood has a chapter on each age so you can
compare it to the student that is having problems.
• If a student is very low academically, gather work samples and
take notes, then share this information with your mentor teacher.
They will help you decide if the student is in need of
interventions.

Other Advice
• Inspiring quotes:
“Teachers who inspire know that teaching is like cultivating a garden, and
those who would have nothing to do with thorns must never attempt to
gather flowers.” –Author unknown
"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." -W. B. Yeats
• Educators you admire:
“The 2 Sisters”- Gail Boushey and Joan Moser
Patti Belknap- Mentor teacher at John’s Elementary. Has taught Kindergarten
for 36+ years. I have used many and more of her fabulous ideas and
techniques.
• Mentor’s advice:
• My mentor Patti always told me to borrow ideas from others, but to make
sure I personalized it to fit my class. She told me to aim high, and teach
high, and the others will catch up.

Teacher:
Joy Brown (elementary)
• Background
• Current teaching placement: Third Grade ESL Math, Arlington
ISD
• Previous teaching placements: Fifth Grade Self Contained,
Fifth Grade Science/Math, PPCD Aide
• Generalist EC-6, ESL Supplemental
• Graduated from UTA in 2011

What has been going well in
your teaching?
• I have been doing a lot of research into how children acquire
an understanding of numbers, number sense. I have used this
research to teach students the concepts of math, such as the
concepts of place value, and what really is happening when
you follow mathematical algorithms. I don’t like to use
worksheets, and I use a lot of manipulative blocks.

new teachers?
• Don’t expect that you will be a master teacher right away.
Some things can only be learned by experience. Teaching is a
lifetime of learning- learning what to teach, and when and
how to teach it.
• Write down everything- and refer to it often. You will not
remember it- what ever it is- in thirty minutes.
• Your instructional coaches can be a major support in helping
you prepare for your classes, learning the structure of the
school and accessing information.
• Ask for help.

Where do you get help at work if you
have questions about teaching?
• I usually go to the instructional coaches first. I have found that
they have researched many methods of teaching and have
been teachers themselves.
• I wish I had known....
• that the first answer you get might not be a valid one. If you
have a question about anything from availability of materials
to how to teach a concept, ask for multiple opinions.

What online resources have helped
you?
•
• NCTM, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has been
a great resource.
• Khan academy has excellent videos that I have watched in
order to see how to teach a unfamiliar concept or to gain a
different teaching perspective about a concept.

What helps me get my classroom set
up is....
• Thinking ahead of time about what it will look like with
students working in it.
• Thinking about how the colors and atmosphere will best work
with the age of the students. (I try to pick a theme that
resonates with the students. Last year I had “Champ” Birds,
and this year I am doing, “Mathsters University”.

Do you have any other advice for new
teachers (and/or student teachers) on
academic or behavioral issues?
• Academic and behavioral issues are resolved easier if you have
a good relationship with the parents before an issue arises.
• I try to call or e-mail several students each week.
• If I see that a student may potentially have a problem, then I
try to call the parents quickly so that I have something positive
to say before I have to call about something negative.
• Always follow up a negative phone call with any positive
improvement.

Interactive Poll: Select A, B, C, or D in drop down
poll (near your name in participant window)
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
In being a first year or new teacher, what do you believe is the
biggest challenge?
A. Finding the time to get everything done I need to get done.
B. Coming up with lesson plan ideas and curriculum
C. Feeling like a “real teacher” and feeling in charge
D. Behavior management and/or classroom organization
E. Other [state in chat window]
Vote in the poll area.
Optional: type your additional thoughts in the chat window.

Teacher:
Jessica Hardin
• Background:
First year teacher
• Prior experiences subbing
• Getting the job I have now was well worth the wait.
• Working as an aid in Special Ed while trying to get a full time
teaching job was a great learning experience.

Teacher
Tierney Gage (mid-level)
• 8th grade science
• Advice about being a new teacher

Interactive Poll 3: seeking help
on the Internet/social media
• Question:
• I look on certain websites/social/media to help
me find teaching ideas!
Green check (yes)
Red X (no)
• Optional: Please share good websites for
teachers in the chat window!

Teacher
Nikki Cade (secondary)
• Certifications: Special Education EC-12 + ELAR 4-8
• Grades 9-12/Sped Instructional Specialist
• I have taught special education grades 9-12 for 6 years and
this is my first year as an instructional coach. I work at a
growing charter school based in Irving, Texas. I currently travel
to 6 campuses in the Metroplex, helping teachers with
accommodations, modifications, special education resources,
and co-teaching.
•

What has been going well in your
teaching? (4-6 sentences)
•
We began implementing a co-teaching initiative last year. This
is year two and I am responsible for ensuring teachers are
trained and collaborating effectively. Although it is a huge
challenge, I have seen some really great lessons so far this
year.

new teachers?
• I remember feeling very inadequate my first years teaching. I
am alternatively certified and at the time I just did not have
the educational background in teaching or the experience I
needed to feel adequate. However, what I lacked in
experience I made up for in my ability to jump in and take
initiative.
• I began watching YouTube channels/videos of good teaching
practices, observing fellow teachers classrooms and taking
notes, subscribing to educational journals/organizations, and
reading books about teaching.

Take initiative
• My best advice for new teachers is to take initiative. If you are
week in classroom management take an online or onsite
course at your local educational service center or read about
strategies that work and practice them.
• If you are only certified in content areas consider a
certification in special education or ESL.
• If you are never invited to ARD meetings for some of your
students, ask to be included next time to gain valuable insight,
etc.

What online resources have helped you?
(e.g., social media, websites, blogs, etc.)
• The Teaching Channel
• You Tube-Peggy Semingson
• Pinterest- (for classroom organization ideas)
• ReadWriteThink.Org-(for lesson plan ideas, interactives, etc.)

I wish I had known....
• Although graduate school helped me tremendously, I wish I
had known just how many resources there were available to
help me with professional growth.
• I still want to learn ____ to become a better teacher....
• I still want to learn many things! For example, I would like to
learn more about English Language Learners

Classroom environment
• My best advice on creating a positive classroom environment
includes....
• Setting expectations at the beginning of every class!!
• Considering the needs of all students (I have had a blind
student and a 17 year old that was only 3 feet tall! I couldn’t
imagine consideration for their needs not being the priority of
every teacher not just special education).
• What helps me get my classroom set up is....
• Planning for learning instead of just decorating and a checklist!
•

Include any other advice for new teachers
(and/or student teachers) on academic or
behavioral issues!
• Follow what is stated in your student’s IEP (especially for
behavioral issues) and get an overview from your special
education team about their background. A general education
student and a special education student with an emotional
disturbance might react completely different to the same
redirection.
• One way to differentiate instruction that is often over looked
is with questioning. Varying levels of questioning
(Bloom’s/Depth of Knowledge) is an excellent way to add a
layer of differentiation to your lessons, which is key for your
special population students.

Dr. LeisaMartin,
Social Studies Education, UT Arlington
“Become familiar with the your state exam.”
• Know the type of content tested and how you can prepare
your students for success.
• Familiarize yourself with the types of questions that will be
asked.
• Released tests are on the Texas Education Agency website:
• http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/testque
stions/

Final advice from Dr. S:
Reward yourself!
To-do lists work! (checklists)
Break the task down into a lot of little things to do! Then cross
them off as you complete them.
Set a timer to work to stay focused.
Reward yourself!
Type in chat window. What are your rewards to yourself for
working hard? Dr. S’s: coffee and scone!

A big THANK YOU to our
panelists and faculty!
• Let’s give the panelists a round of applause
for taking time to share with us! 

Websites for new teachers
• Discovery Channel
http://www.discoveryeducation.com/survival/
• Reading Rockets First Year Teacher Program (FREE!)
• http://www.readingrockets.org/firstyear/
• PBS Teachers
• http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/
• National Geographic Education
• http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/?ar_a=1
• Edutopia
• http://www.edutopia.org/

Master’s in Mind, Brain, and Education
Our work at the SW Center for Mind, Brain and Education seeks to advance the quality of teaching based upon
insights gained from the cognitive and neural sciences as well as contribute to research in this new and
evolving field.
We build collaborative research relationships with schools, develop research trajectories that profit from the
strengths of our faculty and students and maintain a working and teaching laboratory for researchers and
graduate students.
1. Courses include:
Neuroscience of typical and atypical language development
Neuroscience of typical and atypical mathematical reasoning
Complex dynamic systems
Research design
EEG research methodology
2. Individual work:
Research-based capstone project
encouraged - Conference presentations
encouraged - Publishing in peer-reviewed journals

For more information on the
Mind, Brain, and Education
Master’s degree, please
contact Dr. Marc Schwartz
schwarma@uta.edu

We hope to see you next time!
Webinar 2 (October 19, 1:00 pm, CST)
• Building Classroom Community (October 19, 1:00 pm, CST)
• (Dr. Amber Brown, Dr. Peggy Semingson, Mary Curtis, other
panelists TBA).
Webinar 3 (November 16, 1:00 pm, CST):
• Behavior Management (Dr. Jon Leffingwell, Dr. Diane
Galloway)
• For questions, email Dr. Semingson peggys@uta.edu
• To register for Webinar 2 (October 19) email Jane Merrill
merrillj@uta.edu

Recording will be here on the
UTA New Teacher Blog
• http://blog.uta.edu/utanewteachers/recordings-of-webinars-link-
mp4-video-mp3-audio/

Facebook page:
UT Arlington-Curriculum and Instruction

Feedback-chat window
• Please share general
thoughts/feedback on this webinar.
•What topics would you like to see in
future webinars?
•What is best day/time?

Panel of New Teachers: UT Arlington New Teacher Webinar

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Featured

Featured (20)

Panel of New Teachers: UT Arlington New Teacher Webinar