(Reprinted with thanks from a document prepared by Southcentral Minnesota Uniserv)

Best teaching advice I received

• Be patient and assume nothing.
• It is not the quantity of material you cover; it is the quality with which you cover the material that matters.
• Respect and being “buddies” do not go together in a teacher/student relationship.
• The children are responsible for learning – all I can do is my best at teaching.
• Get to know the custodians, cafeteria, and office staff – they are the backbone of a school.
• Teaching rewards aren’t monetary.
• Don’t try to do everything. Our job never ends – yet we have to set limitations with our time.
• People who experience the most difficulty their first year often turn out to be the finest teachers. (This was most encouraging to a struggling first-year teacher.)
• “We’re here for the kids.”
• “Relax.”
• “No kid is perfect…even the really good ones can have a bad day”
• “It will all come and go.” (Don’t let stress get the best of you -- life is too short.)
• If you don’t have good discipline in your classroom, learning will not take place.
• Show children that you care about them and make them realize it is their responsibility to learn.
• Be prepared and always expect the unexpected.
• Be human; care about all students.
• Don’t take it home with you.
• You can’t please everybody!

Time-saving advice

• Be prepared, be consistent, be yourself, build on your strengths and improve your weaknesses.
• Make daily and weekly “to do” lists and earmark priorities. Cross off tasks when completed. You’ll feel like something has been accomplished on those difficult days.
• Keep a list of things needing to be picked up, taken, etc. so you only make one trip.
• Correct papers on school time. Don’t take work home if you can help it.
• Start early! Don’t race the clock.
• It’s OK to let kids correct some or much of their own work. It’s immediate feedback.
• Always make a prioritized list to follow each day. Keep a sense of humor – this too shall pass! 
• Be organized! Plan more than you think you will have time for. The first few years you will have more than you think.
• Use the laminating machine to preserve classroom materials.
• Don’t get too shook – there’s always tomorrow!

When all else fails, try this

• With some students I stop what I’m doing and have the disruptive student take my place, while I assume his/her role. I’ve done it twice with long-term, positive results.
• Just take a quick break – read from the class book or play a quick game of Pictionary.
• Leave the place of stress. (Do not leave students unsupervised!)
• Take a rest and come back refreshed.
• Stay calm – think of your next day off!
• Take a class, read an inspirational book about teaching, call on a trusted teacher or a friend to help you see things in a new light.
• Pray.
• Have a variety of activities! Reading, games, videos, puzzles, worksheets, discussion, etc. When one method bombs, you’ll have another one handy.
• From the very beginning, never single out the child and scold for disruptive behavior in front of the whole class. Take the student out in the hall and talk with him/her privately.
• Find someplace quiet; read a book. Make sure you get private time – a half hour to an hour a day.
• Stop! Start over with something new. Come back and pick up the pieces later.

My favorite teacher, and why

• The way she/he motivated me, classroom management, nice person.
• There were clearly defined times for “getting down to business” as well as relaxed moments for fun activities. We knew what behavior was expected of us.
• Sense of humor – his puns – his funny stories that always tied into the topic. We laughed and learned.
• She treated me like I was somebody special!
• Her personality and soft-spoken voice – firm, but fair.
• He worked with me.
• A real person first, a teacher second. Humorous, generous with time, and of course, friendly.
• She viewed each person as an individual, became interested in her students’ feelings and needs, and gave extra of herself to meet those needs.
• She truly cared about me as an individual.
• She/he didn’t get “uptight.”
• She/he had a sense of humor.
• She/he was relaxed.
• She had strict discipline so the room was quiet and she motivated us to take the responsibility to learn.
• Her discipline and her compassion and concern.
• Loving, caring, sharing attitude.
• She listened!

Other comments

• It’s wise and important to be able to say, “I don’t know, but I’ll try to find out for you.”
• Teaching is the greatest profession in the world!
• I have been most impressed with the new teachers I’ve met recently. In working with a new teacher, one realizes how overwhelming it really must be for them. So much was on-the-job training for us, and it’s amazing the wealth of skills and knowledge we’ve acquired. We have much to share.
• Try to remember what it was like being a kid. If you can’t remember – or won’t remember – it will be hard to relate to them!
• Experience will be your best teacher! You just keep learning better ways to teach!