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Keys For Success

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☻Consider brainstorming "classroom guidelines" with your students during the first week of classes.  Letting them in on the rule making process sends the message that it is their classroom too.   The students are largely responsible
for upholding a friendly atmosphere.


☻Post your classroom guidelines in an easy-to-read place and refer to them as needed throughout the year.


☻Take the time to explain your classroom rules and procedures well during the first couple of weeks of classes.  Consider developing a lesson on peer respect and tolerance.
 

☻Consider posting a sign outside your door that declares your room a "Safe Room."  No discrimination or harsh words will be tolerated.  Students must leave all conflict outside your room because inside every student is "safe."
 

☻Be consistent in all of your daily activities, grading techniques, disciplinary action, etc.  Consistency is key!!!
 

☻Ask your mentor for other helpful resources, such as conference materials/ideas
(ex. Santa Cruz Analysis of Student Work).
 

☻Use the school library!!!  Libraries have a wealth of resources.  Librarians can help you find them.


☻Label your furniture, books, etc.  Unlabeled resources may be misplaced during breaks.


☻If you need something, ask for it!  New teachers are in a unique position to obtain the materials
required to start out in a new school.
 

☻Use warm-ups and closures to begin and end the day.  These can include daily questions, quick
quizzes, short reviews, etc.
 

☻Give prompt feedback so that students can learn from their mistakes.


☻On standardized tests, students tend to better on material learned at the beginning of the year.  To take advantage of this, ask questions early.  Use pre-assessments and on-going assessments.


☻Students (even high schoolers) like little encouragements such as stickers, smiley faces, etc.


☻Don't plan an assignment/test without first planning how to evaluate/grade it.


☻Be clear about your expectations!  Provide your students with grading rubrics, etc BEFORE they
begin their assignments.


☻Keep all tests.  Give them back to students a couple of weeks before the SOLs so the students can
use them as study guides.


☻Try to have the necessary project materials, etc. available in the classroom.   Remember that not all students have the same access to materials at home.


☻Don't be drawn into gossip with other teachers about individual students.  This is not only unprofessional, but it is also ILLEGAL.  Stand up against inappropriateness, even though you may be new.


☻Meet with members of your department to discuss the expectations of grading
(ex; when are grades due per period, etc.)
 

☻Find someone in your department to bond with.  This gets you more resources and makes it easier to deal with certain problems unique to your subject/school.


☻Find another first year teacher to talk with... sharing your fears and ideas with someone in the same position can
boost your self-confidence.


☻Know your students.  At parent/teacher conferences have a mental list prepared of strengths and weakness
for each child in your class.
 

☻Visit online discussion boards to post anonymous questions and get more colleague input.

 

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If you have questions related to this website please contact:

Dr. Gail Brown, Instructor of Education
Dr. Peggy Schimmoeller, Associate Professor of Education
Randolph-Macon Woman's College
2500 Rivermont Ave.
Lynchburg, Va. 24503

gbrown@rmwc.edu
pschimmoeller@rmwc.edu