20 Tidbits for New Teachers

Teachers around the world are gearing up for the new school year -- but the experience is going to be vastly different for new teachers. Where an experienced teacher has the knowledge of what worked and what didn't, a new teacher is going to be bombarded with tons of new info and the need to process it! Not to mention, they will be preparing for the most important piece of all: their classroom instruction.

In no way, do I want to add to the burden of the already-filled-to-the-brim, new teacher stress bucket. I do however, want to share just 20 tidbits which I hope will help ease new teachers into a fun, successful school year. Some of these will be in the form of social media tools, which I think are awesome, and wish I had had as a newbie. And each little tidbit is linked to a resource which I hope you will find supportive.

1. Seek Your Passion!

As a new teacher this may be the farthest thing from your mind. But... it's the real reason you wanted to be a teacher in the first place. I recommend that you consistently keep in mind what your passion is as a teacher. Read The Passion Driven Classroom by Angela Maiers and Amy Sandvold. It's all about the role passion plays in our work, our lives and our classrooms. Grab a copy and take your time this year to read it.

2. Be a 21st Century Educator

We all hear this term so often around the web... but what does it mean? Visit this wiki for an easy read about what it means to be 21st century educator. It has great resources to take you further in the journey when you're ready.

3. Build Relationships

As you begin your first year, building relationships with grade-level buddies and others at your school site is critical to your success. Don't be afraid to reach out and let them know that you are eager to get to know them. You want to seek out your administrators also and begin to build a good relationship. Encourage them to get to know you, too! This also includes the most important relationship: the one with your students and their families. You are central to their lives now, and your actions will play a big role in all they do this year -- you can count on that!

4. Communicate

How you begin to communicate with your student's and families, is truly a reflection of your commitment to them as their teacher. Communication now and throughout the school year is so important. It's vital and essential that it's on-going and creates an environment of collaboration -- with parents as your partners in this journey. Take a look at teacher Pernille Ripp's example of first-time communication with students' parents and get a feel for how you might get started.

5. Collaborate

When I was a new teacher, I sadly taught in isolation. Experienced teachers were unwilling to share resources or lesson plans with me. They held those very close, almost like a mom holds their infant child. It was a tough time for me and I had to rely on my own skills and talents to get me through those early years. This lack of sharing and collaboration meant that every time I wanted to launch a project, I was on my own to make it happen. It doesn't need to be that way! Open yourself up -- share and collaborate with your grade-level team and/or college classmates. Share resources, join planning teams, be a part of the conversation! You will find that the road to developing lessons and projects will be so much more meaningful to you because you did it with a collaborative spirit! And check out the Collaborators Wanted Group here on Edutopia.org to get some inspiration.

6. Get a Mentor

I believe strongly in the power of mentoring. I believe that this relationship is vital to the success of a new teacher. However, not all experienced teachers at a school site are able to take on this challenge. A year ago I had the idea, that if there weren't enough experienced teachers at a school site who could, or were willing to mentor a new teacher, why not a virtual mentor who would be willing to lend support? The Teacher Mentoring Project was born! I urge you to seek out this group on the EduPLN.com community. Many amazing educators from around the globe are available to support and mentor you through the first years of your practice and beyond!

7. Ask for Help

I spent over ten years as a site principal. One thing I noticed most of all, as I worked with my new teachers, was that they failed to ask for help. They didn't ask for help from me, their mentors, or even their own colleagues! Then when the big concerns arose, as they almost always did, they spent all this time apologizing for why they weren't successful. Don't make this same mistake. Ask for help! It's okay and shouldn't be seen as a sign of weakness. On the contrary, most will see it as a strength. Isn't this what we expect from our students? Don't we tell them to ask for help if they are struggling with a concept? So why wouldn't you?

8. Be Willing to Grow

You know it all... right? Are you sure? It has been my experience that some new teachers are offended when their mentor or admin asks them to make some adjustments, or dare I say it, improvements. Don't let that be you. Don't let your ego get in the way of an opportunity to grow or move in a better direction. As the year develops, if you have a good admin, you will have an opportunity to be observed. Again, if you have a good admin they will comment on your lessons and offer some ideas on areas for growth. Be gracious and accept them. Ask questions about what they observed. Ask what they offer as a proactive solution, and how they will be supporting you. Then take some time for personal reflection.

9. Blog for Yourself

I know... I've heard it all from many new teachers: "It's too hard. I'm too tired. I just don't have anything to say." I hope you will consider leaving those excuses behind. Many new teachers are blogging and I can't say enough about the power of blogging in your life as a new teacher. It will help you reflect, get feedback, and collaborate. I, myself, was a novice blogger two years ago. I'm happy to share that I feel like my blogging experience will always be a journey of discovery -- and I kinda like that. In any case, take a look at my blog, and the "Blogs I Follow" on my home page, to get a feel for what others are doing with blogs. There are some awesome blogging platforms available on the web. Pick one that speaks to you and then... jump in! Let me know when you've finally got it up and running!

10. Blog with Your Students

As soon as you have jumped in and started to blog, get your students doing it too! I know there might be confidentiality issues that may persist at your school sight, but if you are able to, this is a must-do. The insight you'll gain about your students' lives will be priceless. Many teachers have their students blogging worldwide. I'm happy to connect you to them so you can ask questions and collaborate. Give it some thought...

11. Make Time for R & R

If you don't take time for rest and relaxation you will crash and burn! This is the truth -- no doubt about it. What commitment have you made to yourself to ensure that you do this -- and get some exercise, too? Joan Young started a blog fueled by this idea: "The goal is for us to help keep ourselves motivated and dedicated to living our healthiest, best lives."

12. Start a Wiki

A wiki is a website that lets any visitor become a participant. You can create or edit the actual site contents without any special technical knowledge or tools. A wiki is continuously being transformed and is a living collaboration. I encourage you to take the time to create a wiki for your classroom. It can hold all kinds of great content that you can share with your students and their parents -- the power of wikis is amazing! Check out this site for ideas on how to get started.

13. Use Skype

Most of us know how to use Skype to chat with friends or colleagues, but did you know that you can use it to connect with educators (some who are also new teachers) around the globe? Be sure to check out Skype in the Classroom for awesome ideas, projects, and collaborations!

14. Join Twitter

Twitter is an online social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets." Twitter is an amazing social media tool for educators and can be a huge source of support for new teachers. If you aren't yet on Twitter, check out Steven Anderson's Live Binder on Twitter for Educators. It's not to be missed. If you are on Twitter... Bravo! Now pass this link to a friend who's still on the fence.

15. Participate in Twitter Chats

Twitter chats are the next best thing to sharing a coffee with a buddy at a local Starbucks. New teachers can find many wonderful support systems in chats. I want to take this time to invite you to join our New Teacher Chat on Twitter. It's small, practitioner focused, and supportive. If you are new to chats, it's really the best place to start. I hope you will join us!

16. Join a Community

As a new teacher, you may at times feel isolated. The power of an online community is that you can probably find someone else who'd like some company. Kidding aside, more than that, it's a way to be a part of something bigger than yourself! You can also freely contribute, share a blog post, or ask a question. Consider joining our New Teacher Connections Group here on Edutopia, for starters. You can also find other great communities such as Ning, which will offer amazing opportunities to connect to resources you may have never known existed! Seek out relevant content specific communities for deeper learning.

17. Start a YouTube Channel

The YouTube channel in the link above was created for new teachers, by me. It's a collaborative with several educators in Canada. The purpose is to provide year-long feedback to new teachers on how to get through the first year of teaching. Think about how you could use your own YouTube channel with your students, parents, and colleagues. It's fun, and easy to do. Give it a try.

18. Participate in Free Online Professional Development

As a new teacher, it's vital that you carve out some time to attend professional development conferences. And these days, it's no longer necessary to spend tons of hard-earned resources to participate. You can attend amazing free professional development opportunities online -- and often times in your jammies! Take a moment to explore an example of what an online conference looks like. And research other opportunities on your own. Let us know what you think about the idea of free online webinars!

19. Journal About Your Experience

When you look back on the journey of this first year, you will be amazed at your experiences! I really hope that you will capture them in a journal, a blog, or with an online diary. I'm a big fan of journal writing, and over the years have captured some amazing memories that would have otherwise been lost. The ability of a journal to allow for personal reflections is truly amazing. In the process of your own journal writing you will think of great ideas of how to do this with your students. For a quick, easy way to journal, check out Penzu. It's really cool -- and it's free!

20. Don't Be Afraid to Fail

"And why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up." ~Thomas Wayne from Batman Begins (2005)

What a great movie quote, don't you think? It speaks to the fact that we are going to fail. No doubt about that. It happens to all of us. But what we do about it, regardless of what "it" is, is truly what's the most important. The sooner you learn that it's okay to fail, the more enriching your experience as a teacher will be. You will embrace your failures as opportunities for new beginnings.

Let me know what you think. All the best to you on your journey!

There are so many more awesome "tidbits" that can be shared with new teachers. What would be one of yours?

Writer: Lisa Dabbs

Source: Edutopia

10 Habits of Highly Effective Students

Being an effective student isn't usually something that comes down to chance. In the majority of circumstances, it is the individual learner who can have the largest impact on the effectiveness of their studies. In this article, we take a look at some of the most important traits and techniques that can help people to reach their full potential as a learner.

Perhaps the most important trait of all amongst effective learners is the ability to set realistic and achievable goals, before working hard to reach these over a set period of time. Having something to work towards can provide students with a great deal of motivation to succeed, and this is vital to keep them engaged in their studies.

One of the best ways to go about goal setting is through assigning two types of objectives: short and long term. In terms of shorter goals, teachers may give students a set of tasks to complete during one lesson - for example, 'The lesson aim today is for you to complete these two addition worksheets before the bell'. In the longer term, however, teachers should work alongside students to set personal targets for over the next term. The most effective students have the ability to recognize their strengths and weaknesses, and this should enable them to create challenging but achievable targets for themselves.

Another common habit which successful students typically possess is the capacity to involve themselves in all types of activities, displaying a genuine desire to learn and do well. Not only does a more hands-on approach make learning more enjoyable, but it also increases knowledge retention and application. Those who stay focused and put 100% effort into every exercise are normally the highest achievers.

Balance is yet another vital trait - albeit a less obvious one - amongst effective pupils. Some people think that those who work constantly and put themselves under a great degree of pressure are naturally the ones who are most successful. Despite this preconception, this isn't always the case. The reality is that those who find a good balance between work and rest are the ones who extract the greatest range of benefits from their studies.

This idea is based upon the fact that it's important to give the brain a break from time to time - similar to sleeping at night to rest your body. Working intensively can contribute to the buildup of stress, and also results in you getting your facts confused - which, realistically, is the last thing you want to happen when trying to learn. Bearing this in mind, a healthier approach to studying would be to plan out what you will do -for instance, 'I'm going to spend half an hour revising my multiplication table and then go for a walk to unwind'.

The above are just a handful of the most important habits that the most highly effective learners share. Self-belief, tenacity and determination are equally essential, and together, all of these traits and techniques can help students in reaching their full potentials as both people and learners.

Source: Teachnology

Can't Stop Talking: Social Needs of Students in the Middle

Middle school students like to socialize and talk a lot. They chatter about boyfriends and girlfriends. Parents. Their teachers. Movies. The Internet. Shopping. Music. Sex. They talk about everything.

Did you know that talking and socializing are not only normal, but also healthy? Through talking and socializing, young adolescents project the social and developmental issues they are experiencing.

The Continuum of Social Development

A child's social development progresses along a continuum, from an egocentric world (the world revolves around him or her) to a world in which the child begins to work and play with other children to a world in which the child integrates his or her work and play with that of other children the same age. By early adolescence, the child's need for social interaction and being a part of the group is very strong.

The middle school classroom is the perfect setting to see the social changes of early adolescence -- when individuals are beginning to develop social skills. Students are whispering or passing notes during quiet times. They are out of their seats (and not just to meet the "moving around" needs of ongoing growing and physical changes). They're going to a friend's desk, or talking with someone as they head to the drinking fountain or pencil sharpener (usually the boys) or the restroom or supply shelves (usually the girls).

During work times, these students form groups and during unstructured times, they cluster to visit. When they are doing group work, the topics move rapidly off and on task, with comments on dress, others, plans for the night or weekend, and what happened in between classes and what might happen during the next break.

Several factors drive the social behavior of young adolescents:

• They have a strong need to belong to a group and form friendships.
• They are creating an identity for themselves within and among a group. They are experimenting with different roles and personas -- but within the safety of the group. They are different, as the group is different. Though they are seeking their own identity, they will take few risks of being rejected from the group. As a result, they tend to conform to group mores such as dress, behavior, values, and activities.
• They are beginning to select adults other than their parents as friends and confidants -- adults who are role models or with whom they can identify.
• They are becoming highly concerned with right and wrong, social justice, and individuals and groups who are less fortunate than they are.

Accommodating These Changes and Behaviors

When teachers, parents, and other adults in the lives of young adolescents begin to think of this social behavior as a normal part of human development and not an aberration, they can enjoy and accommodate behavior changes along the developmental continuum. Here are some ways educators can accommodate the needs of their middle school students:

1. Provide lots of opportunity for students to move around, work in groups, and work in a variety of groups.
2. Allow for some individual expression. Young adolescents occasionally reject directions, create their own rules (usually within the formed rules), speak out in surprising ways (sometimes intending to shock), and dress in ways that exhibit their individuality. This is part of their attempt to develop their uniqueness. Teachers should refrain from judging or condemning their behavior. Trying to change it will only reinforce their determination to continue.
3. Allow students to be like the others in their group. Following the dress and behavior of the group is normal and should not be reason for ridicule or attempts to change. Students select their groups and sometimes change groups. Adults who try to force students to change groups or change their appearance or behavior from that of the group norm could create a situation of perceived or real rejection, which could have serious repercussions. Rejection is a serious issue at this age.
4. Ensure that each student has the support of one significant adult, an advocate who knows the child's learning style, personality, achievement levels, and any other information that could help the adult promote the success of that child. This is especially important at a time when these students are beginning to look for adults with whom they can safely confide, be listened to, and be supported by. Any number of programs or structures in the school can provide this "one significant adult."
5. Promote projects involving social awareness and investigation. Middle school students are concerned about values, right and wrong, and the behavior and unfair treatment of others. Classroom and school activities should promote this emerging social awareness and concern. There are innumerable ways to do this. Here are just a few:

• Participate in community service projects.
• Conduct research to determine the cause of social injustice with a follow-up discussion or project to suggest ways to right these wrongs.
• Promote school improvement projects that focus on the building, the students in the building, or some other aspect of the class or school. 
• Carry out studies with another school in the state or elsewhere in the country or in another part of the world with exchanges of e-mails, letters, and artifacts with information about issues, philosophies, and conditions.

Children in middle school experience many changes -- physical, emotional, and social. Gone is the egocentric child that parents and elementary school teachers know, love, and expect. In his place is a young adolescent with new feelings and a strong interest in others.

As with their physical development, the social development of a young adolescent results in behaviors that are typical of the age group. Middle school teachers who understand these developmental issues and behavior changes can have fun and exciting teaching experiences as they plan for and enjoy the emerging adult.

Writer: Peter Lorain

Source: NEA