Professional Tips for Student Teaching and New Teachers

            These are tips generally given to those graduates headed into the regular workforce and not into public schools, but they still apply to student teaching and new teachers.

Make friends with everyone

In the regular workforce it’s important to make friends with everyone not just those in your field, but even the office staff. This is also true in teaching. Make friends with everyone from the office staff and janitors to the teachers who are in your specialty. Even if you’re an English teacher know the math teachers.  Learn the cafeteria workers names. Paraprofessionals are also a great help. Don’t forget to get to know the students as much as possible even if you’re there only for a little bit. If you’re subbing make sure you leave your name on your note and eat lunch in the teachers lounge. I’m an introvert and so I know that taking one of the few period of break you have and forcing yourself to interact with new people may not sound like fun, but it makes a great impression even if you’re just sitting there listening to the conversation.

Dress Professionally

            This is probably obvious, so I’m not going to delve too deeply into the why at some point it starts to become insulting. Dress professionally. Look at what other teachers are wearing at the schools you observe, student teach, and sub at. It gives you an insight into the school culture as well as gives you inspiration for building your own professional wardrobe. Personally, I don’t have a lot of money to spend on mine so if I can avoid accidentally buying things I won’t be able to wear at my future jobs that is a plus. Also, if you haven’t already, look into the concept of capsule wardrobes, by knowing almost every top works with almost every pair of pants with every pair of shoes you take away a lot of minute decisions that can add stress to your day.*

Be Extra Prepared

Leave extra time, take extra notes, double check the state of the classroom when you leave. This is something I always forget, when you are subbing bring a notebook then you don’t have to worry at the end of the day about finding paper when you are writing your note for the teacher. Also take notes throughout the day on how things went. This helps your own reflective process and makes you a better teacher regardless of whether you are a student teacher, substitute teacher, or a brand new teacher. If you are a substitute this also makes writing the note at the end of the day a lot easier. If you are a student teacher, then if you are required to write a reflection on the lesson you taught you can refer to your notes. It doesn’t have to be really detailed. Just “the students flew through this activity,” “struggled with this problem,” and “took longer than expected on this worksheet” are fine examples of things to jot down throughout the day.

Look for Advancement Everywhere

This is definitely one that is repeated a lot for those going into the regular workforce, but I don’t hear it as often with those in the education field. Take every opportunity you get. My mentor gave me this advice and at first I was worried that I would quickly overwhelm myself if I followed this mentality, but I don’t think that he literally means take every opportunity you get, but if someone offers something make sure you take it. If there’s professional development, go to it. If there’s an opportunity to sub in a different position like learning support teacher, autistic support teacher, or anything else like that take it. Not only do you get to see something new outside of your regular certification, but it can give you an idea of what you want to do when you go for your masters. Plus you meet a lot of new people who you otherwise wouldn’t know and get your name out there.

Here’s an example from student teaching. At one point, when my mentor teacher another teacher and I were leaving the cafeteria from lunch duty there were two students about to get into a fight. My mentor teacher and the other teacher moved to separate the two students and deescalate the situation. Afterwards I was really wondering what I should do in this situation since I am a smaller person and couldn’t physically step in between like my mentor teacher and the other teacher did. I was nervous about asking the question, but I took an opportunity during the plan period to ask my mentor teacher about it. This apparently created such an impression on him that he wrote about in my recommendation letter. I don’t say this to brag, but to illustrate my point that you need to take the opportunities presented to you ask questions, meet people and you’ll make a great impression on those around you.

What About You?

Do you have any tips for student teachers, substitute teachers, and new teachers in general? What tips given to business people do you think should also be given to people in education? 

Notes:

*Decision fatigue is real my friend and even if you are only making a bunch of little decisions they quickly add up and unnecessarily complicate your life.

Sources:
Image Credit: “Debbie Merion, Deb Nystrom” by Deb Nystrom