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
Short URL: http://sywtt.com/e4AaCp
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Thank you for sharing these! These are things that every first year teacher needs to know.
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@pat – I hope they turn out being as helpful as I believe they will be. Thanks for your comments!
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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.”
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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!
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@Waski_the_Squirrel – I like that advice about the pig. Thanks for making me smile!
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@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…
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My first year was awful but as the years go by it gets so much better!
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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.
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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
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