Tag Archives: beginning teachers

Breathe and Find your Balance

Posted on September 23, 2010 by hougan

Teaching is a demanding profession. The perception that teachers work only 6 hours a day and have plenty of time off is NOT REALITY. Teachers pour our hearts, souls, and, sometimes, our whole lives into educating our future. Teaching can … Continue reading →

Posted in Stress Management, Student Teaching, Teaching | Tagged beginning teachers, novice teachers, teacher burnout, teacher stress | Leave a comment

Super Quick Teacher Tip – Give Instruction Before Assigning Groups

Posted on March 31, 2010 by hougan

TIP – If placing students into groups either 1) give instructions BEFORE assigning students to groups, and/or 2) provide written instructions once students are placed in groups. This will eliminate the need to raise your voice above the chatter,and repeat instructions … Continue reading →

Posted in Student Teaching, Teaching | Tagged beginning teachers, grouping tips, instructional tips, Student Teacher, Student Teaching, teacher tip, teacher tips, Teaching, teaching tip, teaching tips | Leave a comment

Plethora of Resources for Future and Student Teachers

Posted on January 9, 2010 by hougan

I wrote the following post on Edubloggers – a group for those people blogging about the K12 classroom including teachers, administrators, curriculum directors, professional developers, pre-service teachers, and college level educators who focus on k12 education.: Please share with me … Continue reading →

Posted in Website | Tagged beginning teachers, Classroom Management, k12 classroom, pre-service, Preservice, Student Teacher, Student Teaching, Teacher, teacher interview, Teacher Resources, Teaching | Leave a comment

Recharge Yourself with your Belief / Philosophy Statement

Posted on December 10, 2009 by hougan

I spent yesterday guiding my students through the process of developing their belief/philosophy statement on teaching. I participated alongside my students. To spend a significant block of time to reflect on my values and beliefs regarding education, teaching, and learning, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged beginning teachers, belief statement, education reform, longer school year, philosophy statement, reflection, reflection on teacher beliefs, reform, road to teaching, road to teaching a guide to teacher training student teaching, school reform, teacher belief statement, Teaching, teaching philosophy | Leave a comment

Commentary: My year-end wish

Posted on May 28, 2009 by smithdl

I’m for relevant curricula laden with text-to-world connections, cultural literacy and resume lessons; I’m also for planting seeds in the mulch of escapsim, for preparing students for communities not just as They Are but also as they Can Be. Continue reading →

Posted in Funny Stories, Life, Stress Management, Success Story, Teaching, Uncategorized | Tagged beginning teachers, Derek Smith, first year teachers, New teachers, teacher stories | Leave a comment

Commentary: Take the bathroom pass

Posted on May 12, 2009 by smithdl

A few of the awkward, sometimes heavy, substantially germy bathroom passes teachers use to deter students from leaving: toilet seats, stuffed animals, life preservers, junkyard rims and steel anvils. Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom Management, Funny Stories, Life, Teaching | Tagged beginning teachers, Derek Smith, first year teachers, New teachers, reluctant learners, teacher stories, Teaching | 4 Comments

Lost Causes

Posted on April 24, 2009 by smithdl

I helped Chris one-on-one more than anyone else. I stapled his handouts to the wall so his black hole backpack wouldn’t suck them in. I hand-delivered a manila envelope of rough drafts to his bus. (Not kidding. I stood at the bus turnaround…) Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom Management, Funny Stories, Life, Stress Management, Success Story | Tagged beginning teachers, Derek Smith, first year teachers, New teachers, reluctant learners, teacher stories, Teaching | Leave a comment

Where New Teachers Go

Posted on April 10, 2009 by smithdl

New teachers go out in the portables, the moveable classrooms celebrating their 23rd year in the parking lot, the N-campus shacks where the carpet dampens every time it rains. (Leaks above and below. The rain somehow seeps from the ground … Continue reading →

Posted in Funny Stories, Life, Stress Management, Uncategorized | Tagged beginning teachers, classrooms, Derek Smith, first-year teaching, New teachers, portables | Leave a comment

Free Documentary (TEACH) Portrays First-Year Teachers' Struggle

Posted on October 30, 2008 by hougan

Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim ‘s documentary TEACH is now available online for free at www.teachnow.org. “TEACH chronicles the determination and commitment of four young teachers as they fight the real fight: educating our children. Davis Guggenheim’s award-winning documentary reveals the human … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching | Tagged beginning teacher, beginning teachers, documentary, first year teachers, first-year teacher, Student Teacher, Student Teaching, teacher struggle, Website | Leave a comment

Calculate the Cost of Teacher Attrition at your School

Posted on October 27, 2008 by hougan

In an earlier post, I examined the “teacher shortage” issue. One perspective that I presented was that it was the high rate of teacher attrition causing the shortage. Rather than retaining beginning teachers through mentorship and professional development, teachers are left struggling, … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching | Tagged attrition, beginning teacher mentorship, beginning teachers, cost of teacher attrition, mentorship, teacher mentorship, teacher shortage | 1 Comment