Traveling Teacher

Prior to signing your teacher contract, you may have had dreams and visions about the design of your classroom, the bulletin boards you would create, or the multitude of plants you would bring from home to create the perfect atmosphere for learning. Unfortunately, that may not be reality. Many new teachers find themselves traveling from classroom to classroom with no "home" of their own.

If you find yourself in that situation, view the following clip to learn strategies to make your life easier as the "traveling teacher".

First Days of School

Students want to be able to relax in your classroom. The following clip highlights questions students will have (but won't ask!) on their first day in your classroom. Addressing these potential concerns early can help maximize the level of positive engagement they will have in their new environment.



There are many activities that can be done in the first few days that will help provide answers to the questions posed in the clip. Some teachers prefer structured teacher-oriented activities while others prefer community building activities. There is no best way. However, if you are going to use a community building activity, make sure to teach the procedures clearly beforehand. And if you are going to use a teacher-oriented activity, make sure to make strong connections with your students from the outset.

Share your first day of school activity with others by adding a post. Or pose a question to the BTSA community about possible activities. Also, refer to Rick's book, Conscious Classroom Management, pages 127 - 130, for ideas.

Content
The following 1-minute clip is a humorous anecdote about Rick's early days of teaching and the importance of being over-prepared for the first day. His advice is well-worth the 60 seconds it takes to view.

Behavior
Behavior issues can be a challenge for both new and veteran teachers alike. The clip below describes a strategy in which students take a quiz on classroom rules and behavior. Students must take the quiz until they earn 100%. Read more about this stategy on page 182. It may come in handy when meeting with parents about classroom management issues.

Setting Up Your Classroom

Safety, movement, line of sight, place for centers and materials, and personal touches are all important things to consider when arranging your classroom. In the following video, Rick suggests using poster paper and post-it notes to design your classroom. After watching the video, consider how you might arrange student desks or your own placement in the room for more effective teaching. If you've got ideas or suggestions that you think might work for others, please post. Or if you have questions about arranging your room, post those as well.

Managing Your Checklist

Once you've made your checklist and visited with your Support Provider, your list may look less daunting than when you started. If not, consider the following strategy: Divide your list into two categories as Rick describes in this next video.

Dividing the list into two categories: things you can take care of before the first day of shcool and things you can only address once school starts; will help you relax with certain anxieties. This helps you target the things you can take care of right away and know that there are certainn things you will not be able to address until after school starts.

Welcome to BTSA 2010

Congratulations on getting a new job and moving forward with a new school year!

Now the questions and self-doubt begin to surface . . .

• You have prepared yourself - but have you really?
• Are you second guessing what you need to do?
• Are you worried you made a mistake?
• Feeling paralyzed or sick to your stomach?

RELAX! We all have asked those same questions - some of us year after year. We succeeded and we want to help you succeed too. These are some of the most exciting times in your career - ENJOY them!

Butte BTSA is here to provide you with the resources and support you need to get through your first two years. We want to start by providing you with some simple suggestions for what to do during the first few days and weeks.

Below are a series of video clips that provide insight, suggestions, and support for the first year teacher.

A great place to start is with a checklist. The first item on the list is to set a meeting with a mentor. Take a look at the clip and then respond to the prompt with your ideas and questions.

All clips provided with permission from:
2007 Conscious Teaching LLC
Conscious Classroom Teaching
Unlocking the Secrets of Great Teaching

Now that you have viewed the clip:

Write down all the questions and concerns that arise for you - particularly the ones that might be keeping you up at night. Contact your BTSA Support Provider and go over your questions.

List one or two of your questions on this blog in the comments box. Provide answers to your questions based on the conversation between you and your Support Provider so others can utilize the information. You might ask a question another teacher forgot to ask! (Special note: You may use the anonymous post, but please include an identifier (first name/last initial or an appropriate nickname) which we will be able to identify you.

If you don't yet have a Support Provider, visit with your principal to determine who might be the best fit for you and your content area.