Welcome to your new school year! This is an amazing time–in a lot of different ways, and we are excited to continue with you on this journey!
We realize it’s an historic time–not just for your career, but as our schools–including KSU’s COE–navigate new rules regarding COVID-19. We know you’re implementing social distancing requirements, whether you’re teaching science, kindergarten, or marching band. It can be overwhelming, but we know you’re ready for it!
You’ve worked a long time to get to this point in your career, and you’re not going to let a pandemic keep you from doing what you love–and what you’ve trained for over the past several years.
For many of you, 2020-21 is your first school year as a teacher, and that makes this August just a little more significant than all those others that have come before it. For others, you’re beginning your second or third or fourth year with your own classroom—wanting to build upon what you accomplished last year…and maybe avoid a few of those bumps you experienced. How do I know about the bumps? Well, we’re a little hesitant to admit to it, but we’ve all been there. Every teacher experiences those through the year. (And each year we work to get better. We’re still a work in progress.)
And we also want you to know we’re here for you (in a virtual sort of way)! Kansas State University’s College of Education is here to help. This newsletter is designed to give you specific and practical tips to help you successfully navigate through your early years of teaching. Look for topics that address the various issues as the school year moves along—from setting up your classroom to preparing for conferences with parents to wrapping up the room for the summer. Likewise, we’re hoping to remind you early-career teachers of a few things and provide some new ideas, as well, to help you continue to be successful. (OK, so my first year of teaching, I dismissed a class at the 5-minute warning bell and had to round a giggling group of eighth graders back up! It happens!)
We’ll also include some information about new programs we’re putting into place—just for new teachers. Dean Debbie Mercer has made it a priority to help you out as much as possible, so look for several opportunities where we can lend our support. And if you’re not seeing what you need, just email me…lagoodson@k-state.edu…and we’ll do our very best to address your specific concerns and questions. Even if you don’t have questions or concerns, I’d love to hear from you!
We hope you’ll enjoy our ideas and suggestions and keep in touch with us as you move through lesson plans, lunch counts, and assessments. It’s our way of reminding you that you’re not alone…and that the COE is here to support you in any way possible.
Whether it’s your first year or beyond, you’ve begun an amazing journey. The great thing about teaching is that every August your journey begins again, only you’ll have more practical wisdom to make it even more successful! Thanks for letting us be a part of it! Stay purple!