by J.C.
Veteran teachers gave me some quite valuable advice during my first year of teaching many years ago. Starting a new job is difficult in any setting, but teaching has a unique flavor and challenge that require a strong commitment to excellence. Here are some pearls of wisdom that I have not forgotten in all these years.
1. Start the first month very strict. A mistake made by many new teachers is trying to make friends with students. Their lack of maturity, especially in teenagers, causes them to equate friendly with lack of discipline. When you walk into the classroom the first day, they must understand that you are the boss, the supreme authority that will guide their learning throughout the year. Continue reading Five Valuable Tips For New Teachers
by J.C.
Tremendous progress has been made over the years to facilitate the work of teachers. Not long ago, it was necessary to fill out by hand a multiple array of forms, from attendance sheets to lesson plans. Today, most districts are using different types of software that are user-friendly, thereby cutting down on bureaucratic time and freeing the teacher to concentrate on instruction.
The software used in my district to note attendance and grades will automatically calculate averages, and has various tools to print useful reports, to e-mail parents (and receive e-mails), to access the student’s address and phone number, to organize seating charts, to check the district calendar, to verify objectives for each subject, and to receive timely reminders.
Continue reading Resources and Tools for Teachers
by J.C.
Assistant superintendents can make up to $90,000 a year, while superintendents can easily reach over $200,000. Pre-condition? Having experience as a teacher (at least 3 years) and a master’s degree in educational leadership or management. That is a lofty goal for anybody who wishes to become a teacher, but there are many administrative positions that go unfilled every year. Curriculum specialists, coordinator special education, dean of students, principal, evaluation specialist, all these positions were taken verbatim from the Houston ISD website, with annual salaries ranging from $44,000 to $80,000. Continue reading Teaching: A Door to a New World
by J.C.
When I first applied for a job at the local school district, I had no idea that special education even existed. The certified personnel representative who interviewed me advised me to go into special education after taking a look at my major in psychology. I had some experience teaching English to Mexican college students, but high school was a completely different ball game.
Continue reading Is Special Education Teaching For You?
by J.C.
One of the problems facing teachers, any teacher, is the diversity of learning styles and levels of performance shown by their students. In Texas, especially in South Texas, we have the additional difficulty of instructing children who are labeled as LEP (Limited English Proficiency). The state recognizes 4 levels of LEP students: beginner – intermediate – advanced and advanced high. Teachers at all levels, from kinder to high school, have to adapt to those varied needs. Continue reading Differentiated Curriculum
by J.C.
When I was in high school, my parents told me that the business world was the future for me; I ended up studying accounting, finance, statistics, and other important tools for my future positions in business and finance. Even though I learned important information which helped me get a start as managerial trainee in an insurance company, I felt that something was missing from my life.
After 15 years in the business world, a good friend who worked at the local university invited me to give some conferences to his students; it was a revelation for me. Fielding questions from these young people made me realize that my real vocation was in the classroom. After earning my teaching credentials from an alternative program in one year, I took the state test to earn my certification in special education. Continue reading Teaching: An Excellent Option in Hard Times
by J.C.
Most school districts have set basic standards for new teachers, though these expectations are true also for experienced mentors. These recommendations can be divided in two separate areas: the ethical code of conduct and the actual performance in the classroom.
The State of Texas has published the Professional Ethical Conduct, Teacher Practices and Performance Manual.
While most of the rules obey well-known societal standards, such as not submitting false statements in order to receive unwarranted payments, the most important ones touch on the relation with students. For example: The educator shall not reveal confidential information concerning students unless disclosure serves lawful professional purposes or is required by law. As teachers, we have access to students’ personal files regarding not only their academic records, but also their possible disabilities, brushes with the law (teens especially), and even intimate family matters. Our total discretion is expected. Continue reading Texas Teacher Standards Expected From New Teachers
by J.C.
Many college graduates have been laid-off recently due to the financial crisis that grips the entire world. Some are very young, they are the first to be fired, and others approach the half-century mark, wondering about their dwindling 401Ks. Many of these professionals should seriously consider becoming teachers in public schools for two very good reasons: first, there is a shortage of educators and second, it has become a lot easier to get certified. Continue reading Becoming a Teacher In Difficult Times
by J.C.
Maybe the word “travail” is a bit exaggerated, but the task at hand for a first-year teacher is nevertheless one that requires a special effort. Not everybody is cut to be a teacher, to guide the destiny of 25 or 150 students every year (from elementary to high school). You are like a doctor performing his/her first surgery; no matter how much you studied, you still realize that what you are doing may affect a human life and you may have problems controlling your nerves. Continue reading First Year Teacher Travails