Before you walk out your classroom door (virtually or otherwise!) for a well-deserved winter break, spend a few extra minutes preparing for the new semester that will be here sooner than you think. By taking care of some of these before break, it’ll be a much more welcoming environment when you return.
After the students are gone from the building, tidy your room. (I know – I sound like a parent, don’t I?) Collect stray papers and materials. Get your students’ texts and other resources neatly stacked under their desks on on a book shelf or wherever is appropriate.
Now clean up your desk. File any extra papers. Make your work area as uncluttered as possible.
Now – pull out a few resources you’ll need to start the next semester (textbooks, handouts, etc.).
Make a list of tasks to do once you return from break – no matter how minute they may seem, so you’ll be more prepared when you return.
Want to try a different room arrangement? Need to streamline the students’ path to some materials? Now is a good time to experiment.
Take a few minutes to write a brief note or two or verbally thank some people for their support during your first semester. A librarian who signed you up for the computer lab when you forgot? A custodian who cleaned up that spilled coffee for you without even grumbling? An office person who chose not to scold you when you messed up your third purchase order form? (OK–that one is based on personal experience…I’m not sure I EVER filled out a purchase order correctly during my entire teaching career.) Be sure to let them know you appreciate their help.
Before you close that classroom door and lock up for several days, take one more glance around your room. You’ve made it through the semester! Congrats!
Now…walk out that door, lock it, and enjoy a rejuvenating break taking care of yourself, spending time with family and friends, and (hopefully!) not grading a single assignment!
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!
And thanks to all of those who have emailed! We love the updates!
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 @ksuedcats for teaching tips and to stay in touch with the COE! Check out the website at coe.k-state.edu/forever-edcats.
If school were a football game, you’d be at halftime! Be sure to check out our January issue when we offer ways to prepare for your second semester. Look for the following newsy items to keep you on track:
EdCAT Shelby Carpenter is thriving in her first year as a first-grade teacher at Jackson Heights Elementary in Holton, KS.
Name: Shelby Carpenter
Location: Jackson Heights Elementary, North Jackson USD 335, Holton, KS
Class/content area taught: First grade
What are you most excited about with your new career? I am most excited for the opportunities to build my students up and help them become the best versions of themselves. I deeply value relationships and believe the connections I foster with my students will help them grow into outstanding, well-rounded, and wholesome members of their community.
What do you enjoy most about teaching? I truly enjoy the moments when my students understand their own potential. That “aha!” moment when the lightbulb comes on in their little brains and they realize their capabilities. I know they can do anything they put their minds to, but watching my students make that connection for themselves is heartwarming.
What are some specific things your school district has done to support you? From the moment I accepted a position at Jackson Heights Elementary, I have received nothing but genuine support and care from individuals throughout the district. They have connected me with other first-year educators in the district, sent me to workshops to prepare for this upcoming school year, and above all else have taken sincere initiative to build a relationship with me. I am grateful to be a part of a community that believes in me as an educator and motivates me to strive for greatness.
What are some specific things you believe KSU especially helped prepare you for your new career? Whenever anyone asks me where I went to college, I am always excited to share about K-State. The College of Education prepared me in a myriad of ways to become a teacher. But, the one thing I think made all the difference was how soon I got into classrooms. From a very early point, I was enrolled in education courses allowing me to volunteer in classrooms, tutor students in after school programs, co-teach with my peers, and much more. These courses provided opportunities to apply the knowledge I gained in class; I was able to begin growing into the type of educator I wanted to be. I am thankful for these real-life, learn-by-doing experiences that shaped a strong foundation for my career.
Are there specifics about your background that make teaching the perfect fit for you? My decision to pursue a career in education was greatly influenced by my mother, Tammi, who has worked in Special Education for nearly 20 years. Her love of serving others and giving so much of herself for the sake of her students was an inspiring influence on my life. If one day I am half as wonderful of a teacher as my mom, I will consider myself incredibly lucky.
Suggestions/encouragement for new teachers: A lot of fantastic educators have given me advice as I venture into my first year. Tips, tricks, and everything in between to keep my classroom—and sanity—in tact. But, to be honest, the best piece of advice I have received was simply this: trust yourself. Many people will have an opinion on how you should do things, what worked well for them, etc. You are in this profession for a reason and have overcome obstacles and challenges to get to where you are at the end of the day. Take a deep breath and remember why you’re here. You’ve got this.
I want to extend the best of luck to all educators, whether it’s your first year or otherwise…! It may look a bit different, but we can do it!
Bonus question, thanks to the Pandemic: How has the Pandemic shaped your classroom—the environment, safety precautions, etc.? How has it affected you as a new teacher? As COVID-19 continues to drastically shape our world, I find myself thinking about my students’ safety at a much more concentrated level. Above all else, I want my students to be safe, and now I cannot even begin to brainstorm an activity transition without thinking of their health and well-being. Will I have enough time to sanitize the materials? Can we still engage in this Kagan structure while maintaining proper physical distancing? How soon will we be washing our hands again?
Our world has changed significantly since the spring, and while COVID-19 presents its fair share of challenges, I am confident in myself and fellow educators to continue to do right by our students while still providing the best possible educational experience.
Don’t look now, but it’s almost time to flip your calendar to 2021! That’s right – for all of you first-year teachers, you’ve almost made it through half a year as a teacher! Congratulations!
As we move toward winter break, keep in mind that, while we may consider this the holiday season, that definition can vary from person to person. Among the celebrations are Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.
Remember that, while one holiday may be celebrated by the majority of your students, we all need lessons about other cultures, celebrations and traditions. Be sure to consider the diverse group of students you have in your classroom before saturating your room with decorations or items from one culture.
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 @ksuedcats for teaching tips and to stay in touch with the COE! Check out the website at coe.k-state.edu/forever-edcats.
A few of your favorite faculty members provided tips on how to manage the workload (grading papers, etc.) without sacrificing quality.
Dr. Vicki Sherbert (Secondary English/Language Arts, Speech/Theatre, Journalism)—“I learned early on to not ‘over grade’ everything. If I made a writing assignment, learned to share with students what I would be grading this time (conventions, word choice, ideas & content). I learned to focus on one or two goals or objectives.”
Dr. Brad Burenheide (Secondary Social Studies)—“Little tricks to make it more efficient when grading (a separate answer sheet so you are only dealing with one piece of paper), answering emails in bunches.”
Dr. Todd Goodson (Secondary English, Speech/Theatre, Journalism)—“During your meetings before the beginning of the year, speakers called your attention to lots of important documents that you needed to know inside and out. You probably haven’t looked at them yet. They will be online, and after you have taught a few months, they might begin to make sense to you. Take some time to look back at things like the student and faculty handbooks, the district’s negotiated agreement with teachers, and any other policy document on the district web site. Bookmark them and drop in on them now and then. The longer you teach, the more they will speak to you.”
Before you walk out your classroom door (virtually or otherwise!) for a well-deserved winter break, spend a few extra minutes preparing for the new semester that will be here sooner than you think. By taking care of some of these before break, it’ll be a much more welcoming environment when you return.
