Day 62 (of 2024/24) monthly book share: So You’re A Teacher Now! What’s next? By @thierck & @mathraps
Tom Hierck and Alex Kajitani have written a neat book for starting teachers – kind of a “what you are afraid to ask” and has some great prompts (though I have some bonus bias….admittedly maybe better for year 3ish…) great read that allowed some good reflection even from this “seasoned educator”…. Very good addition to book shelves and for books to hand out to educators beginning their career! (These notes show how I read books – trying to keep the ‘good parts’ and details for when you pick up the book!
Introductory thoughts to consider: 1) Is this the right profession for me? 2) Am I making a difference? 3) How can I do this better? 4) What have I got myself into???
How do I set up my classroom?
Safety first! How are seats arranged? Rows? Pairs? Horseshoe? Tables? -more radical?
Landy bias: being mindful of a 360 degree classroom – not all facing ‘one way’…
Seating chart? (helpful for replacement staff…) Assigned vs Choice
Walls! Mindful Selections – inviting vs distracting
Landy bias: less is more – don’t be afraid to build the room with students to avoid anxiety… lets kids know why things are where they are…
Supplies: When to use what – place for pencils, place for screens. Physically and Philosophically (group vs personal) <— definitely trickier in some places than others!
Space! Personal vs Public (remember expectation of privacy – for where you can/can’t do photos and for sharing secrets…)
Your work area… and where to store stuff that is not to be accessed by ‘all’… desk at back of room? Front of room? – what is back/front
Landy bias: what about the middle of the room for you and students around…? Not having “one” front of room everyone faces but a 360 degree learning space?
How can I build a relationship with students?
Whats important? Time together. Keeping it professional. Explore what students are interested in… Build Trust
Landy emphasis: Pronounce Names Correctly
Greetings – say hello… be calm
DNA – great activity to do with students: DREAMS; NEEDS; ABILITIES; *really value this activity Tom introduced.
Get to know students home lives – but not making those public… Share your stories/stuff & be authentic
Challenge: 2×4 – 2 minutes a day with 4 different students talking about non-school stuff
Landy emphasis: Be mindful of equity scans and ensuring there is no bias or discrimination in your spaces and language
How should I manage my classroom?
Procedures and Routines – Essential: Attendance & Greeting at the doors! How to deal with fire drills… Non Essential: how to get attention (hands up?) routines like handshakes…
Landy emphasis: Transitions are challenging – especially when bells et al are involved
And if ‘counting for attention’ – count down #s end at zero – counting up…anywhere
Take Notes; plan for food and drink in the classroom? Or not… Walking between rooms…?
Landy emphasis: Prepare for the things like assemblies – how will you sit?
practice being in spaces
Embrace ‘imposter syndrome’ – Project Confidence! Move around the classroom!
Landy emphasis: Wait Time (giving time) is underrated and often rushed…
when you ask something, count to 40 (or other #) and use Visual Schedules on display (words & images) work for learners of all ages (and help if you need to make changes to the class/day)
How do I get students to behave?
Remember Trauma (can’t avoid triggers… just be mindful they exist!) Behaviour adaptions take between 18 and 254 days to become automatic… Know when to Direct, Correct, or Connect
Landy emphasis: Inclusion isn’t easy, and it is easy to believe if ‘that one kid’ wasn’t there, it would be paradise…
Plan A doesn’t always work
Landy emphasis: Quality over Quantity – in work as well as ‘time’… there is always another opportunity to do better…
How do I plan/deliver engaging lessons?
Engagement matters – hooks to start and windups to close are helpful…Know schema; use variety of strategies; make connectionsAsk deep questions (not yes/no…) and provide thinking (wait) time. Tone matters – be enthusiastic whether there is/isnt deep schema!
Landy emphasis: Guided Gradual Release of Responsibility… model & tease
Be clear (clear is kind… unclear is unkind) about what is being learned. Scaffold – break things down. Stop and Check for understanding. Stay flexible
Landy emphasis: AFL (black box article) 6 key things: clear learning intentions; A range of examples; good questions; timely descriptive feedback; peer & self feedback; practice & reflection
How do I know when students have learned?
Dive into the difference of formative and summative assessmentsWhen is Student Mastery the goal? Understand Grading (compared to assessment compared to evaluation)
Landy emphasis: Differentiation matters – not all students need to learn exactly the same as each other (depth vs surface learning)
Explore proficiencies. Offer second chances (quality over quantity) life offers many 2nd chances. Plan Interventions (explore RTI (Response to Interventions) another great book on this via Tom – some for all… some for some… once in awhile something for one…
Landy emphasis: Portfolios are hard to predict… report cards and letter grades are unfortuanetly too easy as they only report on achievement… let’s focus on Communicating Learning!
How do I work with parents and guardians?
Know the differnce/similarity between Parent, Guardian and Family. Communication strategies may need to be different (keep track of when/how you reach out). Don’t let language be a barrier – translation supports have never been more available
Landy emphasis: It is easy to have unconscious bias based on many factors – how money is spent is a big one… are you forcing on middle class values only?
Check in with how families are doing. Ask how they are working with their children at home – alignment can be a great tool. Invite families in!
Landy emphasis: Schools can be very scary to families – not everyone has positive memories of the institute called school. Sometimes it takes time to build trust
How do I take care of myself?
Think of Self-care as Health Care. Love Toms Mindfulness Minutes on social media! Mind * Emotions * Body * Behaviour. Know your options * Take time for yourself. Listen to your body * Foster Relationships & Connections (Landy: even if online!)
Landy emphasis: I don’t seek balance – I am better seeing life and work more as a teeter totter – leaning more to one side than the other at times… be aware if it hits the ground and stays leaning on one side only…
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t go it alone * But consider: what can you STOP doing? Professionals are available via district HR for many reasons
Landy emphasis: I freely admit this is an area more of ‘do as I say more than as I do…’ though I do model and encourage:
Recognize and Control your emotions (you’re the responsible adult – even when you really want to yell and be rude)
Technolandy 
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