You’ve graduated from college with a degree in education, found a great job in a fabulous district, and are excited and ready to go. So now is the time to think through a few things before the start-of-school chaos begins. Here is some advice for new educators to make your first year even more successful.
Know What Works in Your Content Area/Grade Level
You can’t effectively teach others if you don’t know your subject area content. So spend some time this summer looking at what the latest research says is the best way to teach key topics. Use your favorite Artificial Intelligence chatbot and ask it to summarize the research. Be sure to provide it with the standard you are trying to address. The prompt might look like this: “What is the most effective way to teach fifth grade students mastery of this standard: generate questions about text before, during, and after reading to deepen understanding and gain information?” Once you’ve seen the answer, follow the prompt up with a second question: “What research is this based on?” to make sure that its answers are based on the latest information abut how students learn.
Another way to find the best research on a specific instructional strategy is to use the free version of Elicit, an AI tool. Elicit is an assistant that summarizes more than 125 million research papers for you. It will provide a summary of the top four research papers, as well as links to those and others. It can save you a ton of time and make sure the strategies you are using are the most effective.
If you need additional help with instructional strategies, be sure to read the TCEA blog. We look at the research and share the best ways to teach key concepts in every grade level and subject area. You might also consider taking the online Brain-Based Learning course. Throughout the course, you will gain strategies to apply what you have learned to your own teaching practices.
Remember That You Are Not Alone
Your first year won’t be easy. So it’s important to remember that you are not alone as you begin this journey. All of us have been in your shoes and remember what it was like. Experienced educators in your building, along with your campus administrators and instructional coaches, want you to be successful and are there to help you. But in order to be there for you, you must be willing to open up to them and share when you need assistance.
Check to see if it would be possible for you to observe other teachers’ classrooms during your off period once a week. Your principal can help you decide who to watch and what key strategy you will be looking at. Afterwards, your instructional coach can discuss what you saw and help you apply it to your own teaching practice.
Finally, know that TCEA is here to help you. If you have a question, you can feel free to email it to me at lgracey@tcea.org any time. I may not know the answer, but I guarantee that I know other educators who do and who will be happy to share with you.
I know that you will be amazing this year and that you will make a tremendous difference in the lives of the students you teach!