Tips Archive » Relationships » Professional

• Respect for the Profession (2 tips)
• Self-improvement (2 tips)
• New Teachers (19 tips)
• Collaboration (2 tips)
• Student Teachers (5 tips)

Respect for the Profession

Teachers are People Too

From Bruce Denney, a social studies teacher at Seymour High School in Seymour, Missouri:

"We all have those students in our rooms that make it their mission in life to disrupt the teaching and learning process. I believe they do this because they see us as teachers, not individuals. When the year begins, I identify them quickly and purposely seek them out for casual conversations. Mostly, this is at sporting events, lunchtime, in the hall and when I see them in the community. They begin to see me as an individual who is interested in their lives, not just a teacher. I rarely need to send students to the principal and the teaching and learning process can continue without interruption."

Displaying Credentials

From Tom Walters, a teacher at Camel's Hump Middle School and Mount Mansfield Union High School in Jericho, Vermont:

"Lawyers do it. Doctors do it. Educators should do it! No, I'm not talking about making a lot of money! I'm talking about prominently displaying educational degrees and professional certificates. Displaying one's credentials will help you appear professional and legitimate. It's very impressive and reinforces to the public the amount of effort it takes to become a teacher and to maintain certification."

Self-improvement

Reflections on the Quarter Past

From Susan Nichols, a science teacher at Russell Middle School in Russell, Kentucky:

"When report card time approaches, I ask my students, without submitting their names, to reflect and write short notes on what to change, delete and add to the class. Sometimes students have insight that teachers forget to consider. Their comments help me improve my lessons and teaching techniques as well as see myself through their eyes. This gives my students ownership and gives me some grounding."

Diversity Reading List

From Brenda Carney, in Atlanta, Georgia:

"I have several suggestions for reading material that addresses diversity in the classroom. My professors in the Education Department at Georgia State University placed a lot of emphasis on helping us to be aware of these issues. Carl Upchurch wrote a biography called Convicted in the Womb; he gives insight to growing up in a difficult part of town and to his experiences with gangs. Mr. Upchurch is also an excellent speaker on the state of urban affairs. Jonathan Kozol is the author of several books that address diversity; one particularly relevant book is called Savage Inequalities. And Dream Keepers, by Gloria Ladson-Billings, is also a great read for a teacher working with a diverse population. Good luck!"

New Teachers

Sharing Works4Me

From Janet Kane, a second grade teacher at Worcester Elementary in Worcester, Pennsylvania:

"Mentor teachers should be sure to share the NEA Works4me web site with their new teachers. They will be happy to have this great source of workable ideas. I'll be sharing it with mine!"

Lunch with New Teachers

From Mary Gibbs-Lowe, a second grade teacher at Fleetwood Elementary in Mt. Laure, New Jersey:

"I ask new teachers to have lunch with me so we can share ideas and discuss any situations they are going through. The most important tip I can offer is to share ideas with new teachers when they ask for help. I have found new teachers to be quite creative and have ideas to share as well."

Teacher Yearbooks

From Alice Kuether, a teacher at Horace Mann and John Muir Middle Schools in Wausau, Wisconsin:

"To make new teachers feel welcome, we photocopy the teacher pages of the previous year's annual and give it to each new person. Under the pictures, we add first names and nicknames. This really helps new teachers get to know the names of the other staff members quickly and they tell us it gives them much more confidence their first few days in a school full of strangers."

Local Association Coffee Break

From Marjorie Rios, a Spanish teacher at Livingston Academy in Livingston, Tennessee:

"To welcome new teachers into our system, the officers of our local association provide snacks during one of the inservice breaks. New teachers are welcomed, introduced to the Association Representatives and our UniServ person, and are given bags with items new teachers might need. Members of the association speak to them individually and encourage them to join."

Mentors Not Evaluators

From Wendy Paser, a teacher trainer from Clearwater, Florida:

"Our mentors used to evaluate new teachers but now their job has changed. Our mentors are trained to help new teachers become comfortable enough to ask for help in an area they may find difficult or overwhelming. Mentors do not report to administrators. The administrator's job is to simply introduce the new teacher to his/her mentor and assure the new teacher that the mentor is there for help not for evaluation. All of our mentors give the new teachers directories of school personnel and a description of where they can get the things they need."

Blooming Students

From Pam Shetler, a fifth grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School in San Bernardino, California:

"I am a mentor teacher who works with a number of new teachers every year. On the first day of school, I bring a small vase of flowers for each new teacher and say, I know your students will bloom this year."

Welcoming Phone Calls

From Jeannie Hinyard, a teacher at Welder Elementary in Sinton, Texas:

"I ask my principal to give me the names and home phone numbers of our new teachers and give them a call before school starts to welcome them to our building. I give them information about our school and people who might be especially helpful. I hang a note on the new teachers' classroom doors that say, 'Welcome, we're glad to have you with us' and sign it from the entire grade level. It helps to know you already have a friend before you arrive on the first day."

Passes and Hugs

From Mellanay Auman, an eighth grade GATE and language arts teacher at Townsend Middle School in Tucson, Arizona:

"I prepare packets for new teachers that contain six passes to visit my classroom to observe me during their preparation periods. I also advise them to make themselves a hug file. This is a folder where I put all my nice letters from students and parents. Whenever I've had a rough day, I go to my hug file and read some positive thoughts. This always makes me feel better."

The First Days of School

From anonymous:

"I give the new teachers in my school a copy of The First Days of School by Wong&Wong. This book has so much great stuff in it that they won't put it down and might not have enough time for their own preparation. I also make an extra copy of good stuff I know they might want and put it in their mailbox to toss or keep. I try to share whatever I can from my own files if it applies to their grade level. Other veteran teachers were so generous to me and it' s only right to pass it on!"

Idea Box

From Janis Highley, a first and second grade teacher from Battle Ground, Washington:

"We put a box beside our copy machine for student and new teachers and put extra copies of things we've made into it. Many ideas are shared around the copy machine. I also make it a point to ask new teachers what they've learned on related topics so that I can keep current. It makes them feel like a part of the action and teaches me some new things at the same time."

Former Graduate Teachers

From Valerie Washeck, an English teacher at Rossford High School in Rossford, Ohio:

"Some of our new teachers are former graduates of our high school and know me as their teacher. I try to make them feel more comfortable by telling them to call me by my first name. This helps to ease the first day jitters as it did for me when I started teaching."

New Teacher Survival Bag

From Helen Faul, a first grade teacher at Tierra Vista School in Oxnard, California:

"I pack a survival bag for new teachers. I paste sunflowers on a white bag and stuff it with joke items they might need to survive the first week of school. I put in a nail file for the broken nails they might have after putting up bulletin boards, a packet of tissues for sniffling noses, a package of Lifesavers for a dry throat, some homemade chocolate chip cookies for mid-morning hunger pains, a bar of soap to prevent germs form spreading, a small pad for quick notes, some sticky notes to jot down things they might forget, a pencil and an eraser. The most important thing I put into the survival bag is my name, room number and a telephone number with a note to call anytime they need something."

Ways to Welcome New Teachers

From a mentor teacher at Fallbrook Union Elementary in Fallbrook, California:

"I put a coffee cup or small basket filled with goodies such as tea bags, coffee, candy bars, cookies and a note in each new teacher's mailbox. In the note, I welcome them and tell them where I can be located for help. If they don't show up, I seek them out and fill them in on important places, procedures and events that go on in our school. For the very shy new teachers, I get a composition book and correspond with them leaving the book in their mailboxes. One year, I put a small vase of flowers on each new teacher's desk. I helped one of our new teachers set up her classroom and she told me ten years later that act of kindness was the most important thing I ever did for her! I make a positive, non-threatening contact in some way to let new teachers know that I care and want to help."

Cozy Old and New Teachers

From Carol Aten, from Belle Vernon Area Schools:

"I am often in school before we're required to be so I meet the new people as they move in and offer to assist them with their move. I make a point of seeing them daily to inquire about their day or answer any questions. I also sit with the new teachers at lunch and during meetings. Last year, we had a teacher who was new to the area so we went out to dinner and did social things together to get her accustomed to the town."

Greeting Cards

From Jan Rhodus, a fourth and fifth grade GATE teacher in Redlands, California:

"I place a card in the new teachers' mailboxes on their first day of school to wish them a good day and a good first year. It makes their first day a little brighter and lets them know that someone is thinking of them."

Assisting New Teachers

From anonymous:

"I give our new teachers a tour of the building and explain the school procedures. I review their contract with them and show them our new teacher handbook that was created by teachers in our district. I also provide them with any extra materials that I can spare and offer them assistance with anything from keeping track of grades to contacting parents."

Association Members Welcome New Teachers

From a member of The Otter Valley Teachers' Association in Brandon, Vermont:

"Our local teachers' association invites new hires to a meeting at the superintendent's office. We answer all kinds of questions about our district, do a building tour, introduce the staff and explain the machines and forms. At the end of the morning, we have a lunch with the board members and the administrators. The new teachers get the opportunity to place names with faces and ask lots of questions."

Bagels and Fruit

From Barbara Walton-Faria, a science teacher at Thompson Middle School in Newport, Rhode Island:

"We begin the year with 'Bagels in the Basement'. Bagels and coffee are set up each morning in the teacher's lounge, which is in the basement, giving everyone a chance to meet the new faculty members. Our veteran teachers are encouraged to participate in a 'Pineapple Welcome'. They hang a pineapple sign on their door, which indicates they welcome new teachers to come in and observe their class in session. This enables the new teachers to see some excellent teaching and pick up pointers."

New Teachers Luncheon

From Pat Terrell, a special eduation (special day class, learning handicapped) teacher at Montclair High School in Montclair, California:

"A colleague and I host a luncheon for new teachers on our first report-to-school day. Our teachers' association supports this by reimbursing the cost. We invite veteran teachers and second year teachers as well. Each new teacher gets a packet of the forms used by our district and a short list of survival hints for the first week. We make the luncheon very friendly and encourage new teachers to ask all questions they have. The veterans and second year teachers offer an idea to get the new teachers off to a good start. Before leaving, we make sure each new teacher has a buddy who will check in with her/him each day of the first week of school."

Collaboration

Education Association Members' Concerns

From Jo James, president of the Johnston County (North Carolina) Education Association:

"I work to improve my work with adults, just as I do with students. I feel it is important that I give our association building reps a chance to share issues that are important to them. At the beginning of our monthly meeting I have a 10 minute time slot for member concerns. When 10 minutes are over we continue with the agenda. I think this has helped our reps stay on task and not get sidetracked by less important issues. We also have a "parking lot" where we post celebrations and member concerns, but don't disrupt our meeting to discuss those items until later. We provide all reps with sticky notes to use and they do. This way all reps can summit anything they feel needs to be addressed and also gives us items to celebrate in our monthly newsletter."

Teaching Recipes

From Tara Bigner, a student teacher at Beavis Elementary in Cincinnati, Ohio:

"As a way of keeping track of all the great ideas I see and read about, I have a recipe box labeled with the different aspects of teaching. The labels include bulletin boards, management, organization, educational web sites, etc. Whenever I have a good idea, I write it on an index card and file it in the appropriate place. The possibilities are endless and I am accumulating quite a few great ideas."

Student Teachers

Student Teacher Shower

From Janis Highley, a first and second grade teacher in Battle Ground, Washington:

"My class throws a shower for our student teacher at the end of the term. I secretly invite the parents to contribute anything the student teacher might be able to use. I send home a suggestion list that includes a range of ideas from stickers to books. I like to give a book of poetry. One parent will usually offer to serve cake and ice cream and the kids present the student teacher with the gifts. The shower is a great ending to a year of learning."

Class Autobiographies

From Claudia Pitchford, an education student at the University of Illinois and the Illinois Education Association Student Program Public Relations Coordinator in Springfield, Illinois:

"This tip is something I saw done for a fellow student teacher. The host teacher put together a class autobiographical notebook to give to the student teacher on her first day. The notebook contained a picture of the teacher that was glued to a letter welcoming the student teacher to her classroom and a little about herself. The teacher had all of the students do the same. This helped the student teacher quickly put faces and names together. Her first day was a little easier since she felt like she already knew something about each of the students and their teacher before she started."

Student Teacher Library Tour

From Gretchen Baldauf, a library media specialist in Ken-Ton School District in Tonawanda, New York:

"I give all new student teachers a tour of the library media center and particularly point out our professional collection as a source for ideas and inspiration. I also give them a letter that describes the kinds of services they can expect from the library and its staff."

Student Teacher of the Week

From Linda Whittemore, a first and second grade teacher at Greenwood School in La Grande, Oregon:

"Every week we honor a child for 'Student of the Week'. Honored students bring in favorite pictures, collections, a favorite book, a pet and anything that will help us learn more about them. This is their week to shine. When I have a student teacher, I always have him/her initiate our 'Student of the Week' program by being the first to be in the spotlight. We get to know our student teacher quickly and the program is modeled for the younger students."

Student Teachers Send-Off

From Debbie Bohn, a fifth grade teacher at Aldrin School in Schaumburg, Illinois:

"When our student teachers complete their time with us, we fill a bag full of goodies: stickers, e-z grader, bulletin board stuff, etc. We each give a teaching tip that is fun, easy and appropriate for just about any age. It is a great send-off for student teachers and allows them to spend their precious few dollars for real teaching materials."