Crunch time

Sometimes we get rushed, just roll with it. It's okay to move on and get the next answer, as long as you give students the chance to redeem themselves later in the day.

Take with a grain of salt - When a student is not doing well, it can sometimes be attributed to situations at home

Now I don't mean bad situations, but situations like the following:

• Language barrier
• Both parents work constantly
• Parents who have not gone to school (therefore cannot support their child with academic help)
• Unstable household

Running Records

It's best to sit down with each student individually and see how they read. Pay close attention and take detailed notes on the child's abilities to ensure that they get the proper instruction to build on their current level of reading.

Bulletin Boards

Bounce ideas off with friends and make it awesome - you always want to try your best at everything. Use the bulletin board space to showcase all your student's work!

Time Saving Tips

Structure. Structure. Structure.

• If you make the classroom structured, students will be able to be more independent within the classroom. The independence soon grows to having a sense of responsibility and as a stakeholder in the classroom. 

• Check to make sure all photocopies are made for the next day before the "next day" arrives.

• Have a variety of activities to lean back on for warm-ups - try to make these fun to start the school day off right.

Refrain from saying that too many things are "Easy"

While some things will most definitely be easier, keep this in mind:

• Emphasize that certain concepts/events build on another, so it is imperative to fully grasp idea #1 before starting #2.
• Although it may be "simpler", point out certain things that students commonly have trouble with while teaching. It makes the shy kid who doesn't want to ask questions more comfortable to know that he or she might not be the only one to not "get it"
• Encourage students to ask for help privately if they do not wish to raise their hand in class, but set guidelines so that the student is not having a private tutoring session each day.

Never ever imply that a student is stupid.

This includes:

• "You learned this stuff in Kindergarten, why don't you get it?"
• "What don't you understand?" (In a sassy, condescending tone)
• Don't ever even joke around about a student being dumb.
• Don't consistently praise the "smartest" person in the class