When I first started out teaching, I desperately wanted the kids to like me. To this end, I ended up letting my classes get out of control. A handful of things contributed to this:
- Concerning myself with every matter that was brought to my attention
- Allowing kids to mesbehave
- Trying to get the kids to like me
- Yelling at kids
- Arguing with them
So I learned how to get control. If this sounds like something you might have trouble with, I encourage you to check out these articles in this order:
- You Better Smile Before Christmas!
- How Do I Keep My Students Quiet?
- Arguing Is Normal, isn’t It?
- 5 Surefire Tips For Handling Misbehavior
- Make Love not War – How to Control an Unruly Class
- What My Classroom Is Really Like
- Classroom Management: The Key To Your Success
- Are Classroom Rules Needed?
- Habit 2: Classroom Procedures
- Calling Home
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Thank you for sharing these! These are things that every first year teacher needs to know.
@pat – I hope they turn out being as helpful as I believe they will be. Thanks for your comments!
You’re bringing back terrible memories of my first year teaching. The worst mistake I made was to argue with students. It took me most of that year to realize that I could never win the argument!
It’s a little harsh, but the best advice I ever got that year was, “Never argue with a pig. You just get dirty and the pig enjoys it.”
I am on the verge of quitting my job, but my district holds me for 60 days. I teaching in the inner-city, quite challenging. I am very frustrated, very alone, and disconnected from myself. Please help… Plus, I am a first year teacher…HELP!
@Waski_the_Squirrel – I like that advice about the pig. Thanks for making me smile!
@Sarah – I hope you can check out Confessions from the Couch and get some support there! Also, read and see if that helps you some. There seems to be a bit of a resurgance in the comments over there now that I look at it…
My first year was awful but as the years go by it gets so much better!
It sure does, Michelle. A lot of that has to do with comfort and personal growth. But A lot of it also has to do with learning what works and what doesn’t work. Either through trial and error (the slow way), or through asking more experienced teachers.
Thanks Joel,
Great advice, plus great links to even more advice for new teachers. I expect I'll be linking a lot more to your site from mine. Good stuff.
Thanks again,
Sam