1. Prepare yourself
Watch Chapters 1 and 2 and prepare yourself as best you can for your first week.
Remember- your tone of voice and pose (body language) are your main tools!
Chapter 3 will guide you toward spicing up your lesson. Chapter 4 will give you a clue as to how to end the school year and Chapter 5 will empower you!
2. A Journal
Keep a journal in which you write your feelings, thoughts, obstacles. It will help you reflect upon your experiences throughout the week and learn from them. Take into account that the first 3 years are the most difficult ones. It is then you learn about yourself as a teacher, your students, the system and create your reputation as a serious, investing teacher. So, be sure to keep things in perspective.
3. always do your best
In any given moment, do the best you can! Keep in mind that your best keeps changing from moment to moment. Your best depends on your knowledge and the mental and physical resources you have. Once you do your best, you learn to forgive yourself. Simply do your best under any circumstances to avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret. Most importantly, have patience with yourself. We are WIP- works in process.
4. YOU MATTER
If your heart is the right place, don’t be discouraged by the obstacles you encounter on your way to becoming an influential figure in your students' lives. Most kids won't say it or write you a letter (sometimes, simply because they don't know the impact it might have on us, as teachers), but they will always remember your kind words and encouragement. Many times, these kind words will be forever engraved in their memory and will later help them to believe in themselves and overcome different obstacles.
5. no such thing as free gifts
I don’t believe in "free gifts."
A class has "to earn" a special activity either by finishing a task or getting to a certain level.
The prize can be a special activity, watching a movie in class at the end of the year\semester etc.
6. A Peek into the world of students.
As I was exploring the main chapters of my book, I interviewed some of my seniors. I asked few of them to write about their learning experiences and insights.
Here are their letters:
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