Five Teaching Gems
I've been telling the first-years all kinds of stuff about teaching, Teacher Corps, and living in Mississippi. If I could only impart five, as is the magic number in this blog, here is what they would be:
#1 Cover your butt. As a first year teacher, you'll be making more than $30,000 this year. Doesn't sound like much to you? It does to your students and their lawsuit-happy parents. You will have hundreds of thousands of interactions with students this year, and if just one of them ends up putting you in a vulnerable position (grades, breaking up a fight, being accused of racism), you could find yourself on the receiving end of a lawsuit. The NEA (National Educator's Association) offers insurance as part of its benefits package. Unfortunately, the NEA is also a politically-driven lobbying group that has been accused of being extremely pro-choice and pro-gay marriage . It also runs over $300 a year to be a member. For only $90, you can still cover your butt with over a million dollars in professional insurance if you join the MPE (Mississippi Professional Educators). They do not have political aspirations; they are just around to help protect teachers. To find more information or sign up, go to: www.mpe.org or call 1-800-523-0269.
#2 Keep your sanity. Teaching is a tough job, but don't forget it is still just a job, no matter what your inner-idealogue tells you. Part of doing the best you can means acknowledging that you are a human being with interests that extend beyond lesson-planning, grading papers, and stressing yourself out with teacher-worries. Take time each day, every day, to do something that has nothing to do with teaching. Even if it is just for an hour, go for a run, read a book, watch a movie, play lawn darts, build a popsicle stick suspension bridge--whatever tickles your pickle. AND DON'T FEEL GUILTY ABOUT THIS----EVER!
#3 Pick your battles wisely. Your principal won't listen to you about making sweeping changes if you've only been at the school for a semester. Put yourself in his shoes: you wouldn't want some upstart telling you how to do the job you've been doing for years. Be patient, and if you must make a suggestion, or a request, keep checking in on it until you get what you want.
#4 No rules are set in stone. Teachers have different personas. What one person tells you is a teaching dogma may only be dogma to him/her. Example: some teaching "experts" say you shouldn't have more than 3 rules, some say 5, others say 6. I had 10 this year, and the walls did not come a'crumbling down. If it works for you, do it.
#5 Be a role model. This sounds obvious, but remember: your students are watching you. Even if you are the worst teacher in the world, you can STILL be an amazing role model. Don't lose your cool, be patient, don't hit people or play fight, say kind things to everyone, and never forget that you are making a difference. For two years of your life you are exposing these students to a unique person: whatever you do, they will remember you for it, so be a positive force in their young lives.
#1 Cover your butt. As a first year teacher, you'll be making more than $30,000 this year. Doesn't sound like much to you? It does to your students and their lawsuit-happy parents. You will have hundreds of thousands of interactions with students this year, and if just one of them ends up putting you in a vulnerable position (grades, breaking up a fight, being accused of racism), you could find yourself on the receiving end of a lawsuit. The NEA (National Educator's Association) offers insurance as part of its benefits package. Unfortunately, the NEA is also a politically-driven lobbying group that has been accused of being extremely pro-choice and pro-gay marriage . It also runs over $300 a year to be a member. For only $90, you can still cover your butt with over a million dollars in professional insurance if you join the MPE (Mississippi Professional Educators). They do not have political aspirations; they are just around to help protect teachers. To find more information or sign up, go to: www.mpe.org or call 1-800-523-0269.
#2 Keep your sanity. Teaching is a tough job, but don't forget it is still just a job, no matter what your inner-idealogue tells you. Part of doing the best you can means acknowledging that you are a human being with interests that extend beyond lesson-planning, grading papers, and stressing yourself out with teacher-worries. Take time each day, every day, to do something that has nothing to do with teaching. Even if it is just for an hour, go for a run, read a book, watch a movie, play lawn darts, build a popsicle stick suspension bridge--whatever tickles your pickle. AND DON'T FEEL GUILTY ABOUT THIS----EVER!
#3 Pick your battles wisely. Your principal won't listen to you about making sweeping changes if you've only been at the school for a semester. Put yourself in his shoes: you wouldn't want some upstart telling you how to do the job you've been doing for years. Be patient, and if you must make a suggestion, or a request, keep checking in on it until you get what you want.
#4 No rules are set in stone. Teachers have different personas. What one person tells you is a teaching dogma may only be dogma to him/her. Example: some teaching "experts" say you shouldn't have more than 3 rules, some say 5, others say 6. I had 10 this year, and the walls did not come a'crumbling down. If it works for you, do it.
#5 Be a role model. This sounds obvious, but remember: your students are watching you. Even if you are the worst teacher in the world, you can STILL be an amazing role model. Don't lose your cool, be patient, don't hit people or play fight, say kind things to everyone, and never forget that you are making a difference. For two years of your life you are exposing these students to a unique person: whatever you do, they will remember you for it, so be a positive force in their young lives.
posted by Joel Hebert at 3:16 PM
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