Supporting New Teachers in the Classroom: Teacher-to-Teacher Tips

The excitement of the new school year is upon us – teachers have put the finishing touches on their classrooms and students are settling into their routines after the first day of school. While this is an exciting time, it can bring some nerves to new teachers welcoming students into the classroom for the first time. Fear not, your partners at Education Advanced, Inc. compiled a list of tips and tricks for teachers to ensure a smooth transition into the classroom.

Take time to build relationships with students.

Getting to know students, their likes, dislikes, interests, and past experiences builds trust and sets the foundation for strong classroom management. Relationship-building also provides key information that you can use to plan more engaging and impactful lessons and activities.

Set expectations and involve students in the process.

Communicating clear and reasonable expectations for all classroom practices and processes (cell phones, passing out items, going to the restroom, etc.) informs student behavior and avoids ambiguity. Involving students in the creation of these expectations increases understanding and ownership of the classroom processes and items.

Develop routines.

Creating routines and being consistent in following them allows students to know what to expect. Students are more likely to meet your expectations when they are clearly communicated and know what to expect. Further, routines bring students a sense of safety and comfort.

Plan student-centered lessons.

Planning student-centered lessons with variety and opportunities to move and interact with others improves student achievement of the learning objectives, increases engagement with the content, and develops social skills. These types of lessons boost positive classroom interactions and improve overall classroom management.

Over plan.

Over planning or having extra tasks ready is essential. There are times when you will finish a lesson with time left in the period, and, if unplanned, could be a classroom management issue and result in loss of valuable class time. With foresight and planning, it can be an opportunity to deepen understanding of a concept and/or build stronger relationships with your students. Some ideas: review games, ice-breaker type activities, silent reading options, extension activities. While these activities should align to the course standards, there is always wiggle room for relationship building or social emotional learning.

Expect the unexpected.

Planning goes a long way to avoid issues in the classroom; however, teaching is a profession where plans change in an instant. Be flexible – there will be student absences, fire drills, sick days, all of which can

deter the best laid plans. Don’t let this get you down, reassess and do what is best for your students in the current situation.

Allow brain breaks.

Allowing students a break to re-engage can increase the efficacy of a lesson and promote a positive classroom climate. Let’s face it, some lessons are very dense and, just like adults, young minds need some time to rest and refresh. Play music, lead students in stretches, or utilize online resources to re-engage students, when necessary.

Be human.

Showing that you are human can increase trust and promote a growth mindset. Students will ask questions you don’t know the answer to – it is ok to tell them you will look it up or look it up together. These are teachable moments; explain the steps you use to find the answers to questions. Have students recall those steps the next time they ask a question.

Use backwards design.

Plan your course, units, and lessons with the end in mind – assessments first, then what you want students to learn and do to be prepared for the assessment.

While this is not an all-encompassing list and you may not be able to incorporate all the strategies all at once, just know that your partners at Education Advanced, Inc. are here to help. Take it one lesson at a time and know that you are making a difference in the lives of children. From all of us to all of you, we wish you a great school year!