Kansas State University

Lori Goodson, Editor
Mary Hammel, Technical Editor

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We asked a few of your favorite professors why their specific content is so important in schools today. Here are some of their responses:

Dr. Brad Burenheide (Secondary Social Studies)—“It is the backbone of the mission of schools and the core subject matter of education for the past 2500 years in the western world.”

Dr. Sherri Martinie (Secondary Math)—“Math is applied in science courses, business course and the real world. Math is important to making sense of the world around us.”

Dr. Vicki Sherbert (Secondary English/Language Arts, Speech/Theatre, Journalism)—“Reading and writing are essential in order for our students to function as literate members of our society. They need to possess literacy skills in order to gain knowledge in other subject areas and to express their learning and understanding.”

Dr. Phillip Payne (Music Education)—“Music provides insight into one’s self more profoundly than any other subject. Music allows for self expression and also connects us to our school, our community, and our state (among others). Providing students with the cognitive keys necessary to access who they are as a person is one of the most influential acts we can do as music educators.”

Don’t look now, but your calendar has shifted to April. And, if you look just a few pages beyond today, you’ll see that your first-ever year as a classroom teacher is about to wind down!

As you were reminded during your KSU education classes, you always need a strong finish, so here are some ideas on how to accomplish that:

• Reflect! Even if you started off on the wrong foot with a student or two, make sure you don’t repeat that as the year comes to an end. Stay connected in a positive way to each of your students and their families.
• Students will be eager for summer, just as we adults are (go ahead, admit it!); they’re just a little more obvious about it! Help them stay focused by having activities that will take them “bell to bell,” to avoid any classroom management issues.
• Review your classroom rules. Your students are going to need reminders so all of you have a happy ending to your school year.
• Stay ahead of grading and other paperwork, such as lesson plans; it’s easy to let up a little at the end of the year, but that will mean some very hectic last days of school for you!

While the school calendar may be slipping away, you still have plenty to accomplish in your first year of teaching. Consider these points before you make your summer plans!

• Look at your yearlong curriculum map. How much content do you still need to cover? Are you behind schedule? If so, revise your April and May lesson plans and calendars, making sure you address all of the critical content you need to cover. Prioritize! And, if you need help determining what must be covered, visit with your mentor or a colleague or administrator to get their input.
• Review your gradebook. Are there any issues? Missing assignments? Do any of your students need a little more time with you (after school, at lunch, before school) to address some academic areas of concern? You still have a few weeks left in the school year to help them succeed.
• In the last few weeks, do you have any “wish we had time” assignments? Something that you’d love to work into the schedule? Is there a way to fit them in?
• Are there items or projects or papers that need to be sent home? Use these last few weeks of the school year to review and reorganize! You may need to create folders or envelops for each student to organize materials that need to go home.
• Spend a few minutes composing some brief notes to each student’s family, addressing some of the major accomplishments their children have made through the year. It’s great to remind parents and guardians of the steps their children have taken, but it’s also good for YOU to remember those as your year comes to an end. Try to make one more personal contact with each child’s family before the end of the school year. We have a tendency to focus on the issues a student may have in class, but we need to celebrate the positives. Share, share, share!
• Create an end-of-the-year to-do list for you AND your students. It might be something as simple (and extremely meaningful) as sending a note home or it might be following up on overdue library books or money for their lunch accounts.

Afton Gnadt
Preschool Teacher, Chapman School District, and her students on Pajama Day.

One more month, and you will have completed your first year of teaching! Congratulations! Be sure to read next month’s newsletter for:

• Professors Share Favorite First-Year Teaching Memories
• Saying Goodbye to Your First Class
• Keeping an Eye on August: Summer Suggestions

Do you have a question about classroom procedures? Or 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 mailing list? Or, if you’re in your first year of teaching, send us a photo of you at work in your classroom! We’d love to hear from you, so please email us at lagoodson@k-state.edu.

Go, COE Cats!