Looking back.....

Looking back, I can say there have been several things that have helped me as a first year teacher.

1. Ask for help from more experienced, seasoned teachers. They usually already have what you're looking for and can offer great advice.
2. KEEP RECORDS! Keep track of everything. Student work, notes home, anything you submit to licensure, etc. Keep up with everything.
3. Plan for the worst, but hope for the best. Your students will sometimes surprise you so always have plan B in place when things go better or worst than you think they will.
4. Classroom management...it works! Have rules, consequences, and rewards. Teach your students how you want them to do it (say it AND model it!) and they will do it. Even the most difficult student loves structure and consistency.
5. RELAX! Everyone knows your new and will help you in any way they can. Do your best and make sure you take some time for yourself.
6. When all else fails, just say "I'm new. I didn't know." LOL!

Being a new teacher is a GREAT experience. I love it! I've learned so much along the way and I know I can only get better with time.

Blog posted by March writer Janel Johnson, 7th grade Math teacher at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Charlotte, NC.

OMG...what a week!

My oh, my... what a week it has been. I've had grades due, meetings to attend, EOGs to prepare my students for, and off course the inevitable, lesson plans to write. And while I love the job it's so hard to do it all CORRECTLY all the time. After attending a long, extensive training on NC WISE, I still struggle with using it. You have to set it up and then put in all your grades. It's a very long and time consuming process, but it's one of those non-negotiables. It has to be done. The meetings...a good bit of my time each week it at meetings. I have grade level meetings, department meetings, and 7th grade math meetings. It never ends. Day in and day out...there's always something to meet about. EOGs are around the corner and based on how mt students performed on the last quarterly, there are still some objectives they need to master. So I have to meet their needs and guide them in the direction I need them to go in. How do I do that? Lesson plans. I have to write lesson plans that will meet the needs off all my students. Does Johnny need to see it? Will Sally do better if she writes it? I have to help them and differentiate learning for all students. What happens when I decide to not give all these things my best? Could I lose my job? YES! But more than that, who am I really hurting? My students! If I decide to be slack on my job and not give my all, then how can I expect more from my students? I have to go in my classroom everyday and give it my all. Even when I'm tired, frustrated, stressed, and/or in a "bad" mood. It's my job. I have to do all I can to educate my students. I have to teach what they need to know and teach them in the way that will be most effective for each one of them. It's not an option. I have to give them 150% each day and hopefully they will give me the same in return.

Blog posted by March writer Janel Johnson, 7th grade Math teacher at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Charlotte, NC.