Top Five Things I Wish I Had Known As a New Teacher
(And it has nothing to do with Math or Reading)
5.) The kids will know if you’re faking
anything. They have an extra sense that works like an 11th toe. The
foundation of their trust in you depends on how firmly they can stand balanced
on your words so there are no secrets. Don’t like teaching Science? They’ll
know. They’ll hear the small wisp of a yawn that you sneak in behind the big,
bulky Houghton Mifflin when you are certain they’re reading page 114 with their
shoulder partner. Nope. They heard it. Even if you emerge from behind the book victoriously with a wide and toothy smile, too late. They know.
4.) They’re always watching. If you
feel eyes on you while you sneak a bite of the apple on your desk, tomorrow you’ll
have 12 more mystery apples waiting for you. Think they’re reading their books
independently? Nope. Softly drop a 3 ounce paperclip and watch who barrels
across the room over desks and bookshelves to pick it up for you.
3.) Build social skills into every day.
You think Tanner knows how to handle it when Emma finds his pencil on the floor
and then WRITES WITH IT? Nope. He doesn’t.
2.) They want to do hard things. They want
to know the big words. They don’t want it watered down for them so it can seep into
their brain like a secret, liquid formula that moves them onto the next grade
level. They want to feel the success of completing something difficult and then
look back and say Hey, look everyone. I did that. Trust them with the big stuff.
1.) They want to know that you’ll
forgive them. If they fail at something that’s hard for them, will you love
them anyways? If they have a bad day, will you put a calm
hand on their arm and tell them to take a quick bathroom break to cool down or
will you make their bad choice into a teachable moment with them standing
red-faced at the center of your improptu lesson? Whatever you choose in that moment will either build walls between you or build a foundation for them to grow on.
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