Start your teaching year off strong with these top tips from Maggie Layfield.
“Don’t smile until at least halfway through the year.” Nearly 15 years have passed since my first day in a classroom, and I still remember that ‘advice’ given to me by a veteran teacher. If I smiled, I would be seen as ‘nice’ and wouldn’t be respected by students. Better for them to fear me than to like me (clearly this teacher was a fan of Machiavelli). I did not follow her advice, and neither should you.
Whether this is your first year in the classroom (congrats) or your 15th year (also, congrats), these are some best practices that will help you start the year strong.
3 top tips for the new school year
1. Be authentic
Before I began teaching, I imagined myself in the classroom but I always ended up imagining myself as some version of a teacher I’d loved. While there’s nothing wrong with modeling some of your practices after an excellent teacher, it’s important to draw the line at trying to become a duplicate of them. I cannot stress enough how important it is for students to see who you are so that they can feel comfortable being who they are. You are unique, as are they! Developing appropriate relationships with our students is far more likely to positively influence their behavior and performance than being cold, distant, or a shadow version of yourself.
2. Set clear expectations… but don’t be afraid to change them!
Too often, we are our own worst enemy. Imagine being on the Titanic, finding out it’s sinking, and saying “I bought a ticket, I’m staying on board, and I refuse to change my plans.” Absurd! When new facts or information are presented, we should adjust our thinking and our plans accordingly. If a class is performing better than expected, don’t be afraid to challenge them more and raise those expectations. Conversely, if a class is struggling, change your plans and expectations to meet them where they are.
3. Make the classroom your own
The year I taught a unit on Gothic literature, I turned my classroom into a creepy dungeon. Halloween decorations hung on the wall, eerie music played, and I did my best to set the mood. This isn’t always possible in every school, but when you can, look for ways to bring your personality to your classroom. Try rearranging the seating to match your classroom approach, bringing in alternative seating options like pillows/cushions, bean bags, or carpet squares, or creating stations/centers rather than keeping everyone in neat rows. If you can’t go big, go home—literally! Make the classroom feel homey and add some touches like plants, pictures, or unique items that might grab kids’ attention and become a conversation starter.
Friendly advice
Calling on some educator friends, here are some additional tidbits to help:
@VictoriaTheTech says, “Have a decoy candy drawer and then a regular candy drawer (I learned this from 30 Rock).
@K_Cauchi suggests using Blu-tac on your displays instead of staples and, “Focus on culture/behaviour first—don’t be afraid to stop lessons to reinforce rules and routine—easier done sooner than later. Make time to read to your class daily—it’s magic! “
@Ka81 says, “The best advice I was given was, ‘You’re emotional about teaching because you care about getting it right.’ Advice I passed on also in my early years of teaching when I was trying to juggle it all and struggling.”
@Miss_K_Sunray says, “Routines and expectations need to be embedded so that learning flourishes. Story time is a great enabler to create a community culture in your classroom. Have fun!”
One of my favorite things about teaching is that every year is a new opportunity to try something different. Let this year be the best one yet!
Author
Maggie is a teacher turned techie who found her passion was using EdTech to enrich the classroom and create positive, engaging learning spaces. She serves as the VP of sales for NetSupport and enjoys training end users, developing educational content and working with educators.
