So You Want To Teach? http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com Providing HOPE for educators since 2007 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:46:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/sywtt2009.jpgSo You Want To Teach? logo Check-In: How Was Your First Week? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoYouWantToTeach/~3/p9QE4o07lr8/ http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/check-in-how-was-your-first-week/#comments Sat, 28 Aug 2010 05:25:36 +0000 Joel http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=3963 <img src="http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/icons/note.png" width="47" height="47" alt="" title="General" /><br/><p>So this week that just passed was my first week of the new school year. It was pretty much amazing. I have a new completely positive approach. I am a brand new Joel this year. There are two things that are paramount in my mind as I stand in front of the class every day. I want the band to have:</p> <ol> <li><strong>A culture of encouragement</strong></li> <li><strong>An expectation of excellence</strong></li> </ol> <p>If I can model those two things, I am convinced that I can ensure the rest of the students follow suit. We don&#8217;t criticize other students, we encourage them. We don&#8217;t laugh at mistakes, we learn from them. We don&#8217;t point out problems, we provide possible solutions. As...<br /></p>

1101338_lost_3So this week that just passed was my first week of the new school year. It was pretty much amazing. I have a new completely positive approach. I am a brand new Joel this year. There are two things that are paramount in my mind as I stand in front of the class every day. I want the band to have:

  1. A culture of encouragement
  2. An expectation of excellence

If I can model those two things, I am convinced that I can ensure the rest of the students follow suit. We don’t criticize other students, we encourage them. We don’t laugh at mistakes, we learn from them. We don’t point out problems, we provide possible solutions. As I’ve said before, when things settle down a little bit more, I will elaborate on this newly reborn philosophy much more in-depth. Right now though, I’m more interested in where you are.

Was this week the start of the best year ever? What were your biggest problems? What were some things you’ve done differently than in previous years? Comment below…

]]> http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/check-in-how-was-your-first-week/feed/ 2 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/check-in-how-was-your-first-week/ Super Powers http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoYouWantToTeach/~3/Q2vP8d5yFoo/ http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/super-powers/#comments Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:33:41 +0000 Joel http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=3952 <img src="http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/icons/note.png" width="47" height="47" alt="" title="General" /><br/><p>This totally has nothing to do with teaching, but it&#8217;s an interesting question. If you had one super power, what would it be? How would you use it?</p> <p>If you&#8217;re wondering where this question comes from, I was listening to the latest podcast of This American Life about Superpowers and it struck me as something interesting. I thought I&#8217;d see what my readers thought. Plus it&#8217;s a nice change of pace from the beginning of school and inservices and all of that stuff.</p> <p>Go check out more about the podcast here.</p> <p>So again I ask; if you had one super power, what would it be? How would you use it? Discuss in the comments&#8230;</p> <div id="wherego_related"><div style="width:250px; height:500px; "><strong><div style="width:125px; height:175px; margin:0; float:left; "> Why Do We</div></strong></div></div><p>...<br /></p>

151947_superman_imposter_1This totally has nothing to do with teaching, but it’s an interesting question. If you had one super power, what would it be? How would you use it?

If you’re wondering where this question comes from, I was listening to the latest podcast of This American Life about Superpowers and it struck me as something interesting. I thought I’d see what my readers thought. Plus it’s a nice change of pace from the beginning of school and inservices and all of that stuff.

Go check out more about the podcast here.

So again I ask; if you had one super power, what would it be? How would you use it? Discuss in the comments…

]]> http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/super-powers/feed/ 7 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/super-powers/ Planting Seeds of Belief http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoYouWantToTeach/~3/Z52gngdcbNA/ http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/planting-seeds-of-belief/#comments Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:00:50 +0000 Shelly Terrell http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=3946 <img src="http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/icons/new.png" width="47" height="47" alt="" title="New Teachers/Student Teachers" /><br/><p></p> <p>Shelly Sanchez Terrell is an English teacher living in Germany. She is also the co-organizer and co-creator of the educational projects, Edchat and The Reform Symposium Conference. Find more of her challenges on her education blog, Teacher Reboot Camp or in her free e-book, The 30 Goals Challenge. Find her on Twitter, @ShellTerrell.</p> <p> </p> <p>I remember having a lesson observed for my teacher certification. The lesson didn&#8217;t go well and my observer made it a point to let me know how miserably I failed. I have gotten critiques before, but this one was different. I felt like a failure. My observer had not liked one thing I did in my lesson. I felt as if I wasn&#8217;t a good teacher. No teacher likes that...<br /></p>

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Shelly Sanchez Terrell is an English teacher living in Germany. She is also the co-organizer and co-creator of the educational projects, Edchat and The Reform Symposium Conference. Find more of her challenges on her education blog, Teacher Reboot Camp or in her free e-book, The 30 Goals Challenge. Find her on Twitter, @ShellTerrell.

 

I remember having a lesson observed for my teacher certification. The lesson didn’t go well and my observer made it a point to let me know how miserably I failed. I have gotten critiques before, but this one was different. I felt like a failure. My observer had not liked one thing I did in my lesson. I felt as if I wasn’t a good teacher. No teacher likes that feeling. Actually, no one likes to feel like a failure.

I cried to a friend who is a principal. He has never seen me teach, but he told me, “Don’t think you’re not a good teacher. I know you’re a good teacher because you’re passionate and I rather have a passionate teacher because I can teach them the rest.” By the end of the conversation I managed to smile a little and have a little bit more faith in myself. My friend planted a seed of belief in me.

Are you surrounded by those who believe in you?
In the same way, this series is meant to plant a seed of belief in you. As an educator you will have many plant seeds of disbelief in you. Parents may blame you for their child’s failure. Administrators may say you’re not doing enough to raise your test scores. Students may disrespect you. The government may say they don’t have enough money in the budget for you. Even the President may say you deserve to be fired if you can’t get your students to pass standardized tests. All these are seeds of negativity and disbelief. I often see great teachers who have lost their belief in themselves. They teach without passion and without the belief that they can make a difference so they don’t inspire their students.

Time to tune out the negativity…
Instead, find friends, mentors, educators online, and friends who will plant seeds of faith in you and your abilities. When we remain passionate versus defeated we impact our students in a positive way. We come to classes motivated to give our all and this reflects in how we instruct and how we interact with our students. We show interest and excitement in our subject and students become curious why we are so passionate about our subjects.

How about the students?
From the Bible, I adopted the belief that having a mustard seed of faith could move mountains. I believe if I plant a mustard seed of faith into the mind of every student, then they will believe that they can achieve their dreams and goals. If students believe they can go to college, then they will strive to complete high school. If students believe they can have successful careers, then they might work towards earning the credentials for that career.

What is more powerful than belief is hopelessness. There are too many students who do not believe in themselves and they live in poverty, join gangs, commit crimes, or resort to addictions. Their children feel their hopelessness and often repeat the cycle.

Approaching the school year with a new attitude…
Everyday, we walk into the classroom we plant seeds in our students. When a student struggles we can choose to say, “Yes, I believe you can do this. I will help you.” We also can choose to ignore the student or believe the student is lazy and just does not want to learn. When students disappoint us we can believe in them enough to challenge them to do better or we can give up on them.

It is not easy believing in every student, but we must muster this for our students. Trust me, your worst behaved student is probably the one most teachers and people did not believe in. Therefore, your belief could be the one seed of faith ever planted in this student.

Challenge:
Show each of your students this year you believe in them.

]]> http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/planting-seeds-of-belief/feed/ 2 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/planting-seeds-of-belief/ Words http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoYouWantToTeach/~3/zCNAg6eU5zE/ http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/words/#comments Sun, 15 Aug 2010 23:38:36 +0000 Joel http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=3942 <img src="http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/icons/sun.png" width="47" height="47" alt="" title="Inspiration" /><br/><p>I just listened to a recent podcast of Radiolab entitled Words. They included a bonus video along with the podcast. Powerful images and sounds here. The video is below. If you haven&#8217;t listened to Radiolab, now is a great time to start.</p> <p>As I approach my ninth year of teaching, I have begun to wonder about the effectiveness of my classroom management plan.</p> <p><strong>A brief summary</strong><br />When I first started out, I allowed way too much stuff to go on. In the middle of my second year, I cracked down like nobody&#8217;s business and began what I might term my &#8220;dictator days&#8221;. Basically, I was a bully and made sure I was in charge of my classroom. I still wholeheartedly...<br /></p>

1038128_people_seriesI just listened to a recent podcast of Radiolab entitled Words. They included a bonus video along with the podcast. Powerful images and sounds here. The video is below. If you haven’t listened to Radiolab, now is a great time to start.

As I approach my ninth year of teaching, I have begun to wonder about the effectiveness of my classroom management plan.

A brief summary
When I first started out, I allowed way too much stuff to go on. In the middle of my second year, I cracked down like nobody’s business and began what I might term my “dictator days”. Basically, I was a bully and made sure I was in charge of my classroom. I still wholeheartedly believe there is a time and place for that exact thing. But I no longer feel so out of control that I need to fall back on that plan.

This year, I want to allow more liberty in my classroom. It will be a struggle for me at times, as it means that things are going to be slightly more chaotic at times. But it will result in making the students feel safer, which any educator or psychologist will tell you is a huge thing if we want people to thrive in a situation.

I’ll write more about this in the coming months and see how things play out with it and all. But my challenge for you is to be more mindful of the words that you say (as well as those left unsaid). Now watch the video.

]]> http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/words/feed/ 0 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/words/ How To Make This Year The Best of Your Career http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoYouWantToTeach/~3/fHwLWDae4L0/ http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/how-to-make-this-year-the-best-of-your-career/#comments Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:00:13 +0000 Atticus Parker http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=3937 <img src="http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/icons/new.png" width="47" height="47" alt="" title="New Teachers/Student Teachers" /><br/><p></p> <p>This guest post was written by Atticus from www.atticusparker.com/education</p> <p>I was chuffed earlier this month when Joel asked me to write guest post for his edublog SYWTT. I was however also nervous. Joel has created an enviable web presence with SYWTT through an obvious passion for teaching, hard work and obvious dedication. I didn’t want to let him down.</p> <p>The topic he suggested was &#8216;How To Make This Year The Best of Your Career&#8217;. Wow, I thought. A topic like that calls for an action plan. A list. So I have resorted to an old favourite of blog readers &#8211; the list article.</p> <p>Many blog articles today feature a list. Do Lists. Don’t lists. They are attractive because...<br /></p>

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This guest post was written by Atticus from www.atticusparker.com/education

I was chuffed earlier this month when Joel asked me to write guest post for his edublog SYWTT. I was however also nervous. Joel has created an enviable web presence with SYWTT through an obvious passion for teaching, hard work and obvious dedication. I didn’t want to let him down.

The topic he suggested was ‘How To Make This Year The Best of Your Career’. Wow, I thought. A topic like that calls for an action plan. A list. So I have resorted to an old favourite of blog readers – the list article.

Many blog articles today feature a list. Do Lists. Don’t lists. They are attractive because they are so definitive. I think they are popular not only because they are easy to read or scan but also because they offer a clear path towards our goals or a solution for our problems.

My list is a list with a twist. Think of it as a checklist or a reappraisal form. It is a list I am going to follow myself.

  1. Change of Subject or Consolidate
    I changed subjects this year from English to Multimedia. I was burnt out from heavy marking loads and bored with content I had spent a decade teaching. I needed a change. Multimedia provided that change without the need for me to quit teaching. Now I have a new teaching area, a new focal point for my energy and I am more motivated than ever. My year is shaping up nicely already. If you can’t change to another subject area perhaps changing to a different year level can switch things up enough to revitalise your teaching.

     

    But what if you are happy with your subject area? Consolidate. Bed down your units and re-resource them. Teach them better than ever. It is almost impossible to teach a unit very well the first time. Each time we teach a unit we get better at it. We tweak our lessons and consider them from new angles. Our teaching experiences and subsequent reflection make us better at what we do second time around.

  2. Put My Hand Up or Just Say No
    My school has a weekly session where we take a class of students for an activity. Most teachers sit back and wait to be told which activity they have to take. Then they complain about the activity and the behaviour of the students. This year I put up my hand and chose my own activity. I thought about it carefully and chose an activity that I liked. My interest was contagious and proved popular with students as well.

    On the other hand teachers get saddled with an inn-ordinate array of jobs, all in addition to their core teaching. Sometimes we just need to say no. Some of my colleagues are very good at this without being rude. It is amazing how saying no can empower us to do our job better than ever.

  3. Enrich my Personal Time or Just Chill
    I am a serial hobbyist. I always have a new interest on the go whether it be running, bonsai, or riding a motorcycle. These activities give me energy and a focus outside of my teaching. When I do go back to work I am refreshed and ready to tackle the day.

    My wife on the other hand needs chill time. Whether it is reading, watching TV, or hanging out with friends she needs ‘down time’ to just chill. This approach recharges her batteries for teaching.

  4. Integrate or Refocus Your ICTs
    ICTs are a great motivator in the classroom. Students respond to them very well and they can make your units more appealing. Even more importantly they help students learn and keep your teaching practice modern, relevant and up to date. I find ICTs reduce my workload and make my teaching more efficient. This saved time and energy can then be applied elsewhere in my job.

    On the other hand if you are anything like me you already apply ICTs throughout your units. Perhaps too much so? This year I plan on reducing the number of ICTs I employ and spending more time developing a chosen few. This year I plan to focus on and develop my classroom Wiki more. Perhaps deeper use of ICTs can be more beneficial to me and my students than a cursory knowledge of many ICTs.

These four strategies, or options are going to make this year the best year of my career. I will be a better and more motivated teacher for my students. My personal life will be all the better for it too. I hope yours will be too.

]]> http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/how-to-make-this-year-the-best-of-your-career/feed/ 3 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/how-to-make-this-year-the-best-of-your-career/ This Year Will Be The Best School Year Ever http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoYouWantToTeach/~3/m1H3LlXzV-Y/ http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/this-year-will-be-the-best-school-year-ever/#comments Tue, 03 Aug 2010 18:05:13 +0000 Pat Hensley http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=3933 <img src="http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/icons/new.png" width="47" height="47" alt="" title="New Teachers/Student Teachers" /><br/><p></p> <p>This is a guest post by Pat Hensley from the blog Successful Teaching. As we gear up for the upcoming school year, So You Want To Teach? is featuring articles about making this school year the best year ever.</p> <p>I have been teaching about 30 years now and I still love teaching! I have taught all grade levels including the university level and I still feel the same way. After teaching special education classes for 28 years in public schools, I now teach teachers getting their master’s degree in special education and write a blog called Successful Teaching. I really appreciate Joel for giving me the opportunity to be a guest writer on his blog.</p> <p>Of course, at the beginning of the...<br /></p>

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This is a guest post by Pat Hensley from the blog Successful Teaching. As we gear up for the upcoming school year, So You Want To Teach? is featuring articles about making this school year the best year ever.

I have been teaching about 30 years now and I still love teaching! I have taught all grade levels including the university level and I still feel the same way. After teaching special education classes for 28 years in public schools, I now teach teachers getting their master’s degree in special education and write a blog called Successful Teaching. I really appreciate Joel for giving me the opportunity to be a guest writer on his blog.

Of course, at the beginning of the year, I have butterflies in my stomach and I promise myself that “this will be the best school year ever!” I’m sure that you have hoped for the same but I thought I would share 10 tips that have helped me have a great year.

  1. Drink lots of water. Staying hydrated helps me keep the stressful pace that I know I will have every day. Sometimes I will even end up missing my lunch time because I am so busy but I will not skip drinking water.
  2. Use the bathroom when I need to and don’t put it off if I don’t have to. I can’t tell you how many kidney infection I suffered from when I was a new teacher.
  3. Stay ahead of the game. I tried to run off papers I needed at least 3 to 4 days in advance if at all possible. It never fails that when I wait until the last minute, the copy machine will break down and I’m ready to pull my hair out.
  4. Don’t take people for granted. Remember to thank people for the little things they do for me because they will remember that I appreciated their help. Then if I ever need help with something bigger, they will be there for me.
  5. Establish a rapport with my students’ parents/guardians. Life will be much easier for me in the long run. This means contacting them on a regular basis and finding things that their child does right. Positive words go a very long way.
  6. Don’t get behind in paperwork. If something is due in the future, I try to get it done as soon as possible so it isn’t hanging over my head. This also allows me to make changes if necessary before the deadline.
  7. Develop a support system with other educators. This can be people at my own school, district, state or even online. Knowing that I can talk to people who understand my worries, rants, or thrilling moments can really help me feel good about what I do.
  8. Keep a little memo pad and pen or voice recorder in my pocket. It is great for writing down things I don’t want to forget when I am nowhere near my computer or paper.
  9. Listen to those who offer advice. Many times they have made mistakes and are trying to help you from making the same mistakes. I need to be open to what they are suggesting and the possibility that they really know what they are talking about. This information may actually make my life easier.
  10. Trust my gut feeling. Even though I said I need to listen to experienced teachers, I need to also trust myself. If it doesn’t feel right or comfortable, I don’t need to do it just because they recommend it. This is the time to use critical thinking skills. I need to think about where this person is coming from because if they are angry and resentful about something, I may not want to do what they suggest. But if they suggest something that has worked successfully for them in the classroom, this may be something that I would be willing to try.

Our schools start back the second week in August so it is time to start gearing up. I hope my tips help you as much as they have helped me. It is time to plan on having the best school year ever!

]]> http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/this-year-will-be-the-best-school-year-ever/feed/ 1 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/this-year-will-be-the-best-school-year-ever/ Fun Back to School Activities http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoYouWantToTeach/~3/juG7GAoGTUA/ http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/fun-back-to-school-activities/#comments Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:11:08 +0000 Carol Brooke http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=3928 <img src="http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/icons/note.png" width="47" height="47" alt="" title="General" /><br/><p>Carol Brooke, M.S., M.Ed. has worked as a K-2nd grade teacher and middle school counselor. She is currently an editor with Teaching Resource Center, an on-line teacher store. Visit Teaching Resource Center for back-to-school teacher supplies, free classroom crafts, and teachers’ lesson plans.</p> <p>School is starting in just a few days. I’ve stocked up on teacher supplies at the teacher store, organized my classroom and planned my curriculum. Well, as much as I possibly can. As I look at my lesson plan book, I stop on the first day. What should I do on the first day of school?</p> <p>Good news! The fun back-to-school activities below require little preparation.</p> <p>Teachers, get ready to hit print on your browser. You’ll want to make copies of the free printables....<br /></p>

Carol Brooke, M.S., M.Ed. has worked as a K-2nd grade teacher and middle school counselor. She is currently an editor with Teaching Resource Center, an on-line teacher store. Visit Teaching Resource Center for back-to-school teacher supplies, free classroom crafts, and teachers’ lesson plans.

443254_first_day_of_kindergarden_3School is starting in just a few days. I’ve stocked up on teacher supplies at the teacher store, organized my classroom and planned my curriculum. Well, as much as I possibly can. As I look at my lesson plan book, I stop on the first day. What should I do on the first day of school?

Good news! The fun back-to-school activities below require little preparation.

Teachers, get ready to hit print on your browser. You’ll want to make copies of the free printables.

Star Students
Your students will understand that academic knowledge is important. However, a combination of academic knowledge, healthy self-esteem and good character lead us towards true wisdom.

Here’s the star student activity, which will remind your students how important they are.
Materials

Instructions

Back-to-School News
Students will enjoy sharing their summer experiences. The students’ completed work can be displayed on a classroom bulletin board.

Materials

Instructions

  1. Make one copy for each student.
  2. Students complete the Back-to-School News.
  3. Post the on the bulletin board in your classroom.
  4. Keep for Classroom Memory Books.

My Favorite Name Game
 This back-to-school game is ideal for directing nervous energy in a positive way.

Materials

  • Ball or Stuffed Animal

Instructions

  1. The teacher and students sit in a circle.
  2. The teacher starts by stating his name and a favorite summertime activity.
  3. The teacher passes the ball to a student.
  4. The student says the teacher’s name, her own name and her favorite summertime activity.
  5. Continue until everyone has had a turn.

Classroom Rules
We all know how important it is to begin the school year with classroom rules. Many teachers involve students in the process.

Materials

Instructions

  1. Write the following basic rules on your classroom white board:
    “Be Safe. Be Kind. Be Respectful.”
  2. As a team, develop your classroom rules together, using the three basic rules as a guide.
  3. Write the rules on the white board.
  4. Discuss reasons for the rules.
  5. Discuss rewards and consequences.
  6. Write the final version on poster board or construction paper.
  7. Permanently post the rules in your classroom for the entire school year.

Teachers, You Affect Eternity
Our time, energy and devotion will last a lifetime in the hearts of our students. Here’s a quote to help you remember how important you are.

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”

Henry Adams

]]> http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/fun-back-to-school-activities/feed/ 0 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/fun-back-to-school-activities/ Five Ways To Survive the First Day of School http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoYouWantToTeach/~3/Q7fnWSN0I1c/ http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/five-ways-to-survive-the-first-day-of-school/#comments Sun, 01 Aug 2010 12:00:17 +0000 Kelly Wilson http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=2664 <img src="http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/icons/note.png" width="47" height="47" alt="" title="General" /><br/><p></p> <p>This is a guest post by Kelly Wilson, an editor for Teaching Resource Center. Teaching Resource Center has quality teaching materials at discount prices. </p><p> </p> <p>The first day of school for me traditionally starts with decaffeinated coffee. Not my first choice, but I don’t need any extra stimulation. I usually haven’t slept the night before due to anticipation and excitement, but because of the adrenaline pumping through my veins, I feel pretty jazzed up.</p> <p>Over the years, I’ve learned to control my stress level by being prepared.</p> <p><strong>Fuel Up</strong><br /> My school starts around 7:45, and I find that I’m starving by 9:00 on the first day. All of the excitement takes a toll on our appetites. Pack a...<br /></p>

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This is a guest post by Kelly Wilson, an editor for Teaching Resource Center. Teaching Resource Center has quality teaching materials at discount prices.

 

The first day of school for me traditionally starts with decaffeinated coffee. Not my first choice, but I don’t need any extra stimulation. I usually haven’t slept the night before due to anticipation and excitement, but because of the adrenaline pumping through my veins, I feel pretty jazzed up.

Over the years, I’ve learned to control my stress level by being prepared.

Fuel Up
My school starts around 7:45, and I find that I’m starving by 9:00 on the first day. All of the excitement takes a toll on our appetites. Pack a variety of high-protein, healthy snacks that you can shove down in a couple of minutes. My favorites are string cheese, peanut butter on part of a bagel, low-fat yogurt, and cottage cheese. Pair any of these with fruit to take the edge off until lunch. Don’t forget to pack snacks for the late afternoon lull as well!

A System of Organization
It’s the first day of school, and the sound of backpack zippers fills your classroom. Bright, shining faces dig out markers, crayons and glue sticks. Classroom supplies can take over every available space if you don’t have a system set up to deal with them.

Repeated questions like, “Where do you want this?” or “Where do I put this?” drive me insane, so I make sure that there are totes and boxes with signs taped to them, telling students what supplies go into each one. Collect whatever you don’t want lost or destroyed, like watercolor paint sets, glue, highlighters, post-its, and especially pencils. By the time March rolls around, pencils will be like gold in your classroom.

Over-Plan
Lesson plans for the first week of school are a bit loose. If you’re more of a structured person like me, this can drive you a little crazy.

I like to have more activities and lessons planned than I need. Instead of one get-to-know-you game, I have three planned. Make a few extra photocopies of each sheet just to make sure you have enough, and plan extra activities. If you don’t get through everything on the first day, consider sprinkling the rest of the first week of school with these activities.

Set Three Goals
Now that you’re over-planned, focus on three main goals for the first day. My first goal was getting the kids interacting with each other and me. The second goal was setting up classroom rules and expectations, which took a good chunk of time because it was a whole-group activity. The third was an initial art project, such as a self-portrait, to take us through the afternoon.

Don’t forget that both you and the students will have low tolerance for sitting and paying attention. Setting goals for the first day will help keep everyone focused, which is important after weeks of summer fun.

Don’t Forget Dinner
It’s vital during September that you never have to ask, “What’s for dinner?” Going out every night is expensive, so if you have a freezer, now is the time to take advantage of it. I’m not an enthusiastic cook, but I have teacher-friends who will cook meals in advance and store them in the freezer specifically for the month of September.

I like to take a more convenient route and stock up at Costco and other grocery stores about two weeks before school starts. I make sure we have frozen meals appropriate for dinner, as well as smaller ones to grab for lunches during the week. I also buy extra milk, eggs, bread and cheese; this way, fruits and vegetables can be the focus of any weekly shopping, which is quick and easy.

Take some time to prepare for the first day of school, and hopefully get some sleep the night before!

]]> http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/five-ways-to-survive-the-first-day-of-school/feed/ 3 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/five-ways-to-survive-the-first-day-of-school/ Texas Bandmasters Association 2010: Miscellaneous Thoughts Day 2 & 3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoYouWantToTeach/~3/loXQNo7HF6s/ http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/texas-bandmasters-association-2010-miscellaneous-thoughts-day-2-3/#comments Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:16:42 +0000 Joel http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=3921 <img src="http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/icons/music.png" width="47" height="47" alt="" title="Music Education" /><br/><p>This week, I went to San Antonio for the Texas Bandmasters Association convention. I attended some really good sessions and took a few notes on my iPhone. Without spending a lot of time to expand on these notes right now, I thought I would post them so maybe someone else can benefit from them. After the convention, I’ll sit down later and flesh them out a bit more. Here are the notes from Days 2 and 3.</p> <ul> <li>Meet with parents prior to testing 5th graders</li> <li>Parent orientation at beginning of year 4-6 weeks into school year</li> <li>Take a class period to discuss procedures</li> <li>Teach basic reading skills and introduce counting system early (8th notes asap)</li> <li>Open cases on</li></ul><p>...<br /></p>

1173710__3This week, I went to San Antonio for the Texas Bandmasters Association convention. I attended some really good sessions and took a few notes on my iPhone. Without spending a lot of time to expand on these notes right now, I thought I would post them so maybe someone else can benefit from them. After the convention, I’ll sit down later and flesh them out a bit more. Here are the notes from Days 2 and 3.

  • Meet with parents prior to testing 5th graders
  • Parent orientation at beginning of year 4-6 weeks into school year
  • Take a class period to discuss procedures
  • Teach basic reading skills and introduce counting system early (8th notes asap)
  • Open cases on the floor – Respect the instrument
  • Take up headjoints and mouthpieces early. Ziplock bag with name, give it back after a couple of weeks when they know hand position
  • Thumb touches the flute at 3-4 o’clock between fingers 4&5
  • Thumb is perpendicular to flute
  • Flute thumbnail is toward the ceiling
  • Clarinet thumbnail pointing toward chin
  • First finger (LH) is the key to playing the clarinet
  • Clarinet LH thumb at 45 degree angle. Teach three positions.
    1. Hole only
    2. Hole and register key
    3. Register key only
  • If they can’t talk with their embouchure, there’s too much bottom lip in their mouth
  • Take in as much mouthpiece as you can without spreading the sound
  • Flute gymnastics
  • Suspend the flute, don’t hold it
  • Flute vibrato // steady air, faster than steady air
  • Saxophone vibrato with jaw // steady air, slower than steady
  • Brass teach hand position second
  • Don’t squeeze brass embouchure. If they get air only on mouthpiece, it’s okay. The key is that lips touch teeth
  • “do not let the bottom lip get wet from the top lip”
  • “make sure the bottom lip is standing tall”
  • Wait on articulation until they can all produce characteristic sounds. Start with saying it. Then say it into mouthpiece. Then blow air without mouthpiece. Then blow air with mouthpiece. Finally add horns
  • Have them tap shoulder instead of clapping. They feel it more, less coordination issues, can hear counting better
  • Count in your head while you play
  • Fingers in the air – show your brain
  • Basic priorities for beginning band
    1. Characteristic tone
    2. Proper hand position
    3. Music reading skills
    4. Good work habits
    5. Good concentration skills
  • If wrong notes/rhythms/articulations are enough reason to stop a band, so are tone quality problems
  • Breathing: “HOW” (in) “TO” (out)
  • Listen to individuals more. Even for short passages.
  • That’s a good concert F, but I want a high definition version. Try again…
]]> http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/texas-bandmasters-association-2010-miscellaneous-thoughts-day-2-3/feed/ 0 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/texas-bandmasters-association-2010-miscellaneous-thoughts-day-2-3/ Texas Bandmasters Association 2010: Miscellaneous Thoughts Day 1 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoYouWantToTeach/~3/ySsU33zmEAE/ http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/texas-bandmasters-association-2010-miscellaneous-thoughts-day-1/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:47:43 +0000 Joel http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=3917 <img src="http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/icons/music.png" width="47" height="47" alt="" title="Music Education" /><br/><p>This week, I am in San Antonio for the Texas Bandmasters Association convention. I attended some really good sessions and took a few notes on my iPhone. Without spending a lot of time to expand on these notes right now, I thought I would post them so maybe someone else can benefit from them. After the convention, I&#8217;ll sit down later and flesh them out a bit more. Here&#8217;s Day 1.</p> <ul> <li>Raise your level of absurdity. If something doesn&#8217;t sound stupid, you won&#8217;t address it.</li> <li>Come up with a warmup rotation. Same concepts per day of week. Lip flexibility, scales, tone production, articulations, intervals/listening</li> <li>Same with journals. Music appreciation, rhythmic dictation, music/rhythm copying, free writing, theory exercises</li> <li>All</li></ul><p>...<br /></p>

1170441_remember_the_alamo_4This week, I am in San Antonio for the Texas Bandmasters Association convention. I attended some really good sessions and took a few notes on my iPhone. Without spending a lot of time to expand on these notes right now, I thought I would post them so maybe someone else can benefit from them. After the convention, I’ll sit down later and flesh them out a bit more. Here’s Day 1.

  • Raise your level of absurdity. If something doesn’t sound stupid, you won’t address it.
  • Come up with a warmup rotation. Same concepts per day of week. Lip flexibility, scales, tone production, articulations, intervals/listening
  • Same with journals. Music appreciation, rhythmic dictation, music/rhythm copying, free writing, theory exercises
  • All bad behavior is fear-based. Fear creates bad behavior. Cultivate self-respect
  • Make binder organization part of the lesson. Manage whatever is turned in or expected. Teach the value of why we expect these things.
  • Shut up and teach. Don’t turn a 2-minute bullet point into a 20 minute lecture
  • Public speaking from time to time. Introduce yourself in front of the class the first week of school. And provide the opportunity throughout the year.
  • Practicing – 1. Students must learn to use the information they have. 2. Teach the value associated with practicing. 3. Play songs/pieces/etudes.
  • Posture is the gateway to the breath and uninstructed air.
  • Teach posture standing up. “Swan neck” vs. “Turkey neck”
  • Every day is posture day!!!
  • Your hands should look beautiful // remember band is a fine art
  • The air falls out of the body the same way water flows over Niagara Falls
  • “Let more air out of the body” not “blow more/faster air”
  • Most articulation problems are corner placement problems
  • “The process is developmental and must be monitored arduously”
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