Presentation notes-

• When in doubt tell the truth.
• My first year I was clueless. My second I was overwhelmed. My third I had a clue. Then about my fifth year of teaching I started to be competent.
• Information in the public eye is always inflated.
• What is more important for a teacher knowledge or interest? Both! Great teachers have both but good teachers can have a lower mix of these skills.
• Coaching is a false popularity- Being a popular coach does not make you a good classroom teacher! You have to work at both.
• Popularity with students is the wrong path for a young teacher to travel.
• Always be prepared to explain why you are doing what you do in the classroom.
• Weak teachers teach only from the book.
• Know your subject in a way that makes it come alive in your teaching.
• Use technology- it makes your life easier.
• Don’t waste time correcting all the mistakes on a test. Kids learn more if they learn to find their own mistakes.
• Push the kids for the first 6 weeks and make them responsible for their own learning.
• Be prepared for your lessons. If you need help try the Internet or even some educational DVDs from “The Teaching Company” at www.teach12.com. These are for adults, to help you learn or remember a new subject, and not to be used in the classroom.
• Maintain your sanity! A crazy teacher is not a good teacher. Except the substitute teacher on the movie “Teachers”.
• Work at your internship but remember it is nothing like having your own classroom.
• Set up basic rules for your class (less than 10) and expect the students to follow them.
• Homework should be done at home by the students not in class at the overhead by you. Do not except “I didn’t understand” as an excuse for homework not done on time.
• Give out and post all homework for a period of 1 week not night by night.
• Don’t plan on having a life when you intern. If you are doing a good job it will overwhelm you!
• Plan for and find a “sanity base” something, someone, someway to escape the job.
• School and classes are often like skidding on ice. If you have enough control to avoid a wreck it is a good day!
• Plan Vacations! Have something to look forward to on those rough days.
• Find Teaching Buddies- a teacher you trust as a mentor (not always the one you are assigned!), A teacher that makes you laugh, and possibly even a happy hour cohort.
• Set aside 2 hours every day for you. They don’t have to be 2 hours in a row but take time for you. If you don’t take care of yourself you will be “a DooDoo head”.
• Know and be a part of the community in which your students live.
• Low socioeconomic kids can be very hard to win over but they will be extremely loyal if they believe in you.
• Talk to every parent in the first 2 weeks of school.
• Work with parents to set the clear moral lessons taught in your classroom.
• The teacher must be the boss. A classroom is not a Democracy on a good day it is a benevolent dictatorship.
• Pick your battles carefully. Don’t punish small easy to correct behaviors just mention and move on. Be Polite and never raise your voice in an argument with a student. For that matter, never argue with a student. 
• Do not let a parent dictate your job.
• Make “Very good” calls and send “well done” notes home. If the only time a parent hears from you it is bad then your communication is always negative. Positive is always better than negative
• Send more positive comments home!
• Teaching is not a fall back job. Don’t go into teaching if you don’t want to motivate students to grow.
• The public, politicians, often administration, low pay, and even bitter teachers “fry” good teachers. That’s why they often burn out in a few years.
• If you teach to a standardized test you are condemning your students to fail. Teach above the standards!
• Pre-plan your lessons. Too many teachers spend time after lessons grading papers when they should spend time before making the lesson exciting and active.
• Make an impact on your students or get out of the profession!
• You can turn around most (not all) kids if you invest in reaching them.
• Make your classroom the one students talk about and other teachers want to visit.
• Good teachers get in trouble. Great teachers get in trouble. Mediocre teachers slide by unnoticed.
• A good Principal will save well intending teachers. A “great” principal will make school a place where teachers are respected.
• The principal that will make a difference works for the teachers!
• Don’t ever let your principal be surprised. Keep them informed.
• Try new ideas and methods but be prepared to explain your thinking.
• Read “Teaching as a subversive activity”
• It is easier to apologize then it is to get permission.
• Do not complain if you do not have a positive suggestion or idea to contribute.
• Start a journal of teaching ideas now! Look for new ideas every week even if you don’t try them all.
• Teach kids how to memorize and study properly.
• Don’t waste time grading papers. Use technology, Scantrons, and Check point grading.
• Teach them to have a long term relationship with studying not “hook up” for 1 night and forget the next day.
• Remember school email is not private.
• Learn to teach self discipline and reward in place of punishment and “baby sitting”
• Do not ever corner a kid teach them to “self check” their behavior.
• Try to diffuse the situation instead of escalating the problem.
• If you are yelling at a student you are wrong! Never yell, you are the adult act like it.
• Your classes’ behavior says everything about you. It does not matter the level or ability of your kids.
• Don’t be monotone. Change your inflection, use voices, or accents! Try reggae algebra or British English. Be a little silly!
• Return all work promptly. Grade papers within 1-2 days.
• Look up and try Eduware, SchoolIsland, Pasco probeware…etc. use technology.
• Try activities that tell you more about your students. See “Pride and Talent Day”
• Repeat- create silly images- repeat- associate with something- repeat
• Homework done promptly and properly gets rewarded.
• Keep a routine for due dates and testing days.
• Remember thoughts come in complete sentences. Make students do all work in complete sentences.
• Make all tests cumulative. That way when giving a grade to a kid that is improving in your class you can ignore the average.
• Take the student from where they entered your room and teach what they need.
• Never tell a kid “they are dumb”, “they can’t pass” or “shut up”!
• Education politics means there will always be LYNT-TYNT-NYNT (last years new thing- this years new thing- next years new thing)
• Walk away from negative people. Do not talk to teachers that constantly complain. Walk away from complaints saying “We are not having that conversation!”
• Avoid the Teachers’ Lounge it is a pit of vipers.
• Never publicly complain or discuss school or students. It’s a small town in every town. Say “No Comment”.
• If you are dragging butt read “Fish”
• If you can not give teaching your very best –GET OUT!