Supported by lots of purple around her new classroom, Meredith Casey is ready for school.
Name: Meredith Casey
Location: Auburn-Washburn USD 437, Topeka, KS
Class/content area taught: Music/Band/REACH Program
(Editor’s note: Meredith actually began her teaching career this summer, when she taught a virtual music class for middle schoolers as part of the inaugural summer for the KSU College of Education Virtual STEAM Academy.)
What are you most excited about with your new career? Finally getting to light fires in students’ lives through music. Sharing my knowledge and love of music is one of the most rewarding things in my life. The fires are going to burn extra bright this year since we didn’t have much band at all for the past year and a half!
What you enjoy most about teaching: Living my nerdiest dream of playing my instruments every day and creating more musicians who have a love for life-long music making!
What are some specific things you believe KSU especially helped prepare you for your new career? I had numerous field experiences with teaching public school kids and fellow peers in K-State music ensembles. I put into practice the strategies we were learning in class daily and helped get over some of the awkward first year teacher moments before I even got a job. My professors, especially Dr. Payne and Dr. Gurgel, made me work hard every semester so I would have plenty of resources to use right away in my first year. All those stressful curriculum projects are really paying off right now!
Ready for a performance.
Suggestions/encouragement for new teachers: Work ahead, set a solid organization system (like Google Drive), and stay connected with your K-State classmates. You will have an overwhelming amount of work to prepare for your first year, so it is best to take it in small chunks each day instead of procrastination. I organize all curriculum, lesson plans, and materials into a Google Drive folder system so I can access my stuff from anywhere. My K-State teacher friends have been lifesavers for bouncing ideas around, borrowing resources, and assisting with teaching. Build a circle of teacher friends you can rely on!
Bonus question, thanks to the Pandemic: COVID-19—How has the Pandemic shaped your classroom—the environment, safety precautions, etc.? How has it affected you as a new teacher? Fortunately, my district seems to have dropped most of the COVID restrictions for the upcoming school year. However, things like Zoom meetings, germ disinfectants, and virtual teaching are not going anywhere. Virtual meetings have made staff interactions much more convenient, healthy habits keep me ready to teach every day, and a few virtual lessons help reach all of my students in our community. Although 1.5 years of virtual band has enormously damaged our enrollment and musical skills, we are pushing forward to reload the band program now that the whole country is on a level playing field musically.
We asked some of your favorite faculty members what their favorite things about starting a new school year are. Here are a few of their responses:
Dr. Brad Burenheide (Secondary Social Studies)—“Just an excitement as to what the new year will bring.”
Mrs. Cyndi Kuhn (Technology)—“Meeting my students, getting a new outfit to wear the first day and reconnecting with colleagues.”
Dr. Vicki Sherbert (Secondary English/Language Arts, Speech/Theatre, Journalism)—“I love sharing books that I’ve read over the summer. I love the organization of a room ready to welcome a new group of students to the family. It’s a new beginning, a fresh start, for all of us!”
Mrs. Kaylee Myers (Elementary Education)—“Organizing! Love to get supplies out, get new supplies and organize it all!”
Dr. Todd Goodson (Secondary English, Speech/Theatre, Journalism)—“There is something special about setting up a classroom to start the year. It’s a little bit like getting ready to leave for a road trip to California. I know I’m going to have lots of adventures. I hope it will be good trip, but I have no way of knowing about the all the specific things that will happen along the way—about running out of gas half way up a mountain somewhere in Nevada or about the taste of warm sourdough bread at a sidewalk café in San Francisco. As we look back on long trips and school years, some were certainly better than others, but every one has changed us. That’s what I think is special about beginning a new school year—the anticipation of the journey to come.”
Dr. Lori Levin (Literacy)—“All the new faces and the stories they bring through the door.”
Know that you, your lessons, and your students won’t be perfect; enjoy that we’re all works in progress.
Keep in mind that your administrators and your colleagues want you to be successful—almost as much as YOU want to succeed.
Students come in all shapes and sizes, mentally and physically; enjoy their unique characteristics. The diversity will make your classroom an interesting and lively community.
Remind yourself that every child in your classroom is someone’s loved one…someone’s baby; respect that.
At some point, you WILL figure out the bell system at the school.
Despite its name, your plan period won’t involve too much planning; however, it’s a good opportunity to take care of other necessary tasks–such as lining up lab time or a visit to the library for your classes.
At some point, a student—even a senior in high school—may slip and call you “mom” or “dad”; that’s a term of endearment and worth a smile.
Keep a metal basket on your desk for materials to be graded; try to empty the basket by the end of the school day.
Try to get a graded assignment in the grading book during the first week of classes; it signals to parents and the students that you’re doing important things in your classroom and that learning has already started.
Take time to really listen to your students; many have no other place for their voices to be heard and honored.
Why don’t you send us a photo of you at work in your classroom! Or, do you have a question about classroom procedures? A suggestion for a topic we should address in Before the Bell? Want to add your name to our mailing list? Or provide a different email for our list? At the very least, just email and say hi! We’d love to hear from you!
Early-career teachers, feel free to jump in and offer suggestions to those who are following your career choice!
As you move through the school year, don’t miss a thing! Be a part of EdCATS!
We want to help beginning and early career teachers like you thrive in your career! Check out #WeAreEdCats for teaching tips and to stay in touch with the COE! Check out the website at coe.k-state.edu/forever-edcats.
What an exciting time! Next month, we’ll offer you some more tips for being successful. Plus we’ll feature more of your COE colleagues out in the classroom. Be sure to read next month’s newsletter for:
Ideas on the importance of procedures and routines
Planning for a substitute
Getting ready for your first parent/student/teacher conferences
A few words of advice from some of your favorite professors!
Morgan Killmar shows a little Kansas City Royals spirit while sitting at her desk in her classroom in Hawaii.
Name: Morgan Killmar
Location: State of Hawaii Department of Education; West Hawaii Complex, Kealakekua, Hawaii
Class/content area taught: 7th grade Health/Healthy Living
What are you most excited about with your new career? I was excited to get “classroom” teaching experience since my main experiences had been in Physical Education so that classroom is a little different. I was also excited to get to work with students of a lot of different backgrounds.
What you enjoy most about teaching: Getting to know the students and finding ways to excite them about learning. I also love teaching students about things that truly affect every aspect of their life, whether or not they grasp it at this age I hope they understand how important these things I’m teaching them are.
In what ways has your school/district supported you? I had weekly meetings with a new teacher mentor. It honestly felt as if there was no support from administration. I had to figure a lot of things out on my own, it was hard to ask questions being a new teacher and not knowing who to ask or feeling nervous/uncomfortable asking. The new teacher mentor was great but it was kind of difficult because I was just given generic answers to questions or concerns, not subject specific. I still felt I had to figure most things out on my own.
What are some specific things you believe KSU especially helped prepare you for your new career? I felt ready and prepared to teach Physical Education and Health. I was comfortable with the subject matter and how to format lessons effectively.
I wish in the general education classes they covered more about the actual process of interviewing and getting a teaching job. This proved to be very difficult for me and I felt unprepared. It was like I knew how I should do the job, just not how to actually get it. Even when I accepted the job, I had no idea about how to read or look over a contract, I had no idea how to understand the health insurance options, I really felt very lost.
Are there specifics about your background that make teaching the perfect fit for you? My grandmother was a teacher, but that didn’t really affect my decision. I love kids and I love teaching them things and having fun with them. Education is very serious and important but I think also kids don’t need to have so much pressure on them because I think that turns them away from education when they should be drawn to it. I want them to want to learn so I try to show them how I want to learn with them.
Suggestions/encouragement for new teachers: DO NOT be afraid to ask questions, I kind of am so it would definitely help make things easier if you felt comfortable asking questions.
Don’t feel pressured to change how you would do or teach something just because it hasn’t been done that way or someone else didn’t find success with it, DO YOU!
Do not let administration or other teachers mistreat or disrespect you. Stand your ground, just because you are young or a new teacher doesn’t mean you don’t deserve the same respect and appreciation. We are the future of education.
If you have an idea, SAY IT! Your ideas are new and fresh, others are reused or overdone, kids need new ideas.
Be respectful to everyone on campus, other teachers, administration, custodial crew, etc. A school is a team, while a team may have leaders, everyone is important to the success of that team so everyone should be equally respected.
It has been hard this year because I feel like people are less social, less likely to gather in rooms or for lunch or things like that but I would encourage you to talk to people at work, try to make friends, it would make things a lot easier.
Other thoughts? Get your PRAXIS done ASAP. In Hawaii you have to teach using a provisional license for 3 years before you get your full license, no one told me this so since testing centers in Kansas were closed because of COVID I only had a one-year non-renewable license in Kansas which only transferred as an Emergency Hire Permit here in Hawaii, meaning this whole year of teaching was NOT going towards my required provisional teaching time. I would just say no matter where you are planning to teach, Kansas or elsewhere, just try to figure out the licensing as soon as possible. They told me here even if I took my Praxis and got my provisional license I would be paid the same as with my Emergency Hire Permit, this was not correct. Once I finished both of my Praxis and transferred from Emergency Hire to having my provisional license my pay raised. This was very frustrating to me. Obviously I could have tried harder to find out if that was correct or not myself but again, I am a brand new teacher in general and in this state so I had no idea where to start looking for information like that or who to attempt to contact. That’s another thing, DO NOT be afraid to ask about money, this is a job… you get paid… so ask about it. Ask what the pay is, what benefits there are, ask about sick leave, etc. Anything you want to know before accepting the job ask, because otherwise no one will tell you.
Don’t be afraid to move! Coming from someone who was born and raised in Kansas and lived there til I was nearly 23, don’t be afraid to move. Just because something feels safe or comfortable doesn’t mean it is what is best for you and your life. This is your first real chance in life to make decisions that serve you and only you, so do what makes you happy! Your family will survive if you move away from them and you will too. (And if staying in Kansas is what makes you happy do that.)
Bonus question, thanks to the Pandemic: COVID-19—How has the Pandemic shaped your classroom—the environment, safety precautions, etc.? How has it affected you as a new teacher? For the first 3 quarters of the year we were completely online. Monday/Thursday in the mornings on Google Meets was 1st-3rd period, Tuesday/Friday was 4th-6th period and Wednesdays are meeting days. Advisory meetings, team meetings, elective team meetings, full faculty meetings, new teacher meetings, etc. 4th quarter we have the same online schedule in the morning but A-Ka Last Names come to campus Monday and Tuesday, Ke-Z Last Names come to campus Thursday and Friday. After lunch there are 40-minute “unplugged” classes in the afternoon with the same periods they met with in the morning.
I think this year made it very very hard to stay motivated and positive as a new teacher. There were very low days, just a boring or sad feeling like this isn’t what I wanted to do or this isn’t what I signed up for. Overall it has been hard, there have been small moments that make me feel like I’m doing a good job but I would say it is very hard to not see people face to face, not make those actual human connections or just not feeling like the kids care at all. I am hopeful for the next school year and hopeful I can get another job and get the chance to start over. I have loved my experience out here and have learned a lot about life, teaching and just myself.
There’s still time to sign up for this fun option for your school district and for your students! Students can register to enjoy STEAM classes at home, or teachers can provide a hybrid version with our teachers leading the instruction. Either way, it’s a great summer learning opportunity! Sign up soon!
Click on the graphic below to find out more information!
We found some of your former Curriculum and Instruction professors and asked them, “As a classroom teacher, what’s your favorite memory from your first year of teaching?”And here are some of their responses.
Dr. Todd Goodson (Secondary English, Speech/Theatre, Journalism) — “My first year was at a very small country school with grades 7-12. The first week I was there, the superintendent came in carrying a Missouri driver’s manual. He explained that I would need to drive the district’s small bus to take students to speech contests, and to do that, I would need a special license. He told me to read through the manual a little bit, and he would come back and watch my classes for me that afternoon while I went to the county seat to take the exam. I’m not sure what would be more intimidating for a new teacher—having the superintendent as a substitute during the first month of teaching, trying to quickly read a book and take a test over it and thinking about how embarrassing it would be to fail, or the sudden discovery the job also included driving buses loaded with students. As it turned out, the test part was a non-issue. I already had a Missouri Chauffeur’s License! Driving high school students to contests never stopped being terrifying.”
Dr. Lori Levin (Literacy) — “I did a Flat Stanley project based on the Flat Stanley books, and my kids sent little flat paper versions of themselves to friends and family around the country and asked for photos or artifacts of the flat child out and about in the community so we could learn about new places. When an envelope would come back to school in the mail, it was the most exciting thing to see what was inside. Teachers still do Flat Stanley units today – it never gets old!”
Dr. Brad Burenheide (Secondary Social Studies) — “Being told I was being brought back for year 2!”
Cyndi Kuhn (Technology) — “OH my, when I think about my first year of teaching, I kinda hope no one remembers my name, I think I might have been the only one learning that year. But boy did I learn a ton.”
Dr. Sherri Martinie (Secondary Math) — “I remember doing a lot of great projects, including skits and songs. It was a ton of work, but so much fun!”
Kaylee Myers (Elementary Education) — “How much I learned and grew from my kindergartners. Everyday they had something clever or cute that one of them told me. I should’ve written all of those down then!”
Dr. Tom Vontz (Secondary Social Studies) — “Watching students turn in their final exam on the last day of the semester. The final exam was one essay question, yet most of the students used the entire 90 minutes to write out their answer. I was proud of what we accomplished and how much they had learned – not just about history, but about hard work, study skills, organization of ideas, historical thinking, and a host of other things.”
Dr. Vicki Sherbert (Secondary English/Language Arts, Speech/Theatre, Journalism) — “During Parent/Teacher Conferences in October, a parent told me that her daughter loved my class. She said that she and her husband were always excited when their children were placed in a first-year teacher’s classroom because what new teachers may lack in experience, they make up for with fresh ideas and enthusiasm. Her words encouraged and gave me confidence.”
Dr. Tonnie Martinez (Secondary English/Language Arts) — “I was 21 and they were 18—I dressed like an old woman and stayed behind my podium.”
Dr. Phillip Payne (Music Education) — “I would say the resilience of my band as we returned home from Indianapolis after 1/3 of the band got food poisoning. This tested a lot of what I had learned in school. Seeing the connection between parents, community, and administration was invaluable and really allowed me to see the profession from beyond the walls of my classroom.”
We asked some of your favorite faculty members what their favorite things about starting a new school year are. Here are a few of their responses:
What an exciting time! Next month, we’ll offer you some more tips for being successful. Plus we’ll feature more of your COE colleagues out in the classroom. Be sure to read next month’s newsletter for:
