1. 131 Tips
for New Teachers
Advice from the readers of
Free Technology for Teachers

2. Communicate with parents and don't overplan.
gracelutheranschool.wordpress.com
Don’t forget to be yourself and show them your personality.
Kids and parents see right through the dog and pony
show...so just be you take a deep breath and relax.
No name submitted

3. My best advice for new teachers is to always have a backup
plan.
Twitter.com/lauratech
Be consistent, firm and fair. When the bell rings come out
teaching!
My New Teachers page will help you:
http://cybraryman.com/newteachers.html

4. Ask lots of questions and make lots of mistakes.
Riptide
If you do not know..ask!
It IS about the kids.
The parents are important.
Stay organised.
Enjoy your job, it is the best in the world.
no name submitted

5. Don't try to be perfect. Remember you know more than the
students do. Try to sit in on other teacher's classes and
see what you can learn. Finally, you will get better. Don't
panic.
Robert Courtemanche - teachj.wordpress.com
Curriculum can wait. Spend time building community and
relationships in your classroom. Once you do that, and
establish norms and routines, you can fly through the
curriculum.
Ben K., @learnteachtech, htttp://learnteachtech.com

6. Get enough sleep!
Strive for conceptual understanding, not just coverage. Be
subversive if you have to!
Ask your school librarian for help. That's their job!
your friendly neighborhood school librarian
Take control of your distance education and/or traditional
courses by having an intimate knowledge of your LMS. Take
responsibility, break down that LMS barrier to learning and
KNOW your LMS. Learn it, love it, use it.
beebo_wallace

7. Be prepared. Have a plan for discipline infractions from
DAY 1. Follow it to the letter for the first two weeks. Kids
will get the message that you mean what you say and say
what you mean. Call parents during the first week to
introduce yourself and you will get a feel for how supportive
and responsive your parents will be. Also, try to make time
to call for good things. That way when a negative phone call
must be made, you already have a rapport with the parent.
Miss E

8. Your first year will be a throw away. Or seek help from
teachers who can teach you how to teach (and do what they
say). Your college classes were pointless when it comes to
implementation.
Oh and you know nothing about teaching. Not one bit. Come
back to me in two-four years. Then you can be confident.
jwrussell

9. Create an "absent box" where you place papers for absent
students (with their name written on the top). Teach
students to visit this box immediately upon return to class.
No Name Submitted
Connect with your students, that's the most important
thing. Get to know them.
Find a mentor. Someone you can learn with/from, someone
you can talk to.
Develop your PLN.
Greta Sandler

10. Know your stuff, especially if you teach teenagers. They can
spot a fake a mile away. Love what you teach. If you love
your subject area, that love will inevitably rub off on your
students.
http://www.nicksenger.com
My best advice: be consistent, be respectful of them (it's a
2-way street), be ready to listen when they want to talk to
you, be ready to share yourself with them, start off by
building a community where students can take risks and feel
safe, start an igoogle page set up with a google reader (or
other) and develop a PLN. Lots more but this is enough to
start!
Debra, @teacherdebra, www.learning-spaces.wikispaces.com

11. Pick one content area that you want to teach exceptionally
well. Tread water with the others, do them well, but don't
try and teach them all like an expert. The next year, add
another. If you try and teach everything expertly, you'll
quickly be a candidate for burn out.
yourkidsteacher
Don't be afraid to ask!!! Ask anything you're unsure about
to other teachers. Asking questions IS NOT a sign of
inability or incompetence.
cecilialcoelho

12. Read Diane Ravitch's book, The Death and Life of the Great
American School System.
Art
Be humble.Take advise and listen to those that have been
there before you.Reach out to the parents and keep them
informed. Be careful of the politics of your new school and
don't chose a side in haste.Try not to gossip. Be kind. Be
helpful. Don't take on too much. Keep a journal of each day,
note the good and the conflicts. Keep this record private in
case you need it. Do not visit with the principal about
certain things without representation. Be positive, work
hard, and be a continuous learner.
marilynwinter1189

13. I am going into year seven. The PLN in where it is at. Educators
new (and old) need to connect themselves. I have learned over the
past year and a half the importance of being connected through
Twitter, RSS, and reading the work of edubloggers like yourself. In
addition, write. Begin a blog yourself and write about your
thoughts, ideas, and questions. There is a tremendous community
out there ready to help and guide.
Mike Meechin, @innovateed, www.innovateedu.org
You know that look your mother could give you across a
crowded room (or from up in the church choir) that could
immediately squelch any thought of misbehavior? Go home
and practice that in the mirror. You'll need it, and your
voice gets so tired sometimes!
No Name Submitted

14. Get to know your librarian. They have great ideas and
resources.
Jennifer Smith - readjunkee
get your sleep...a first year can be physically and mentally
draining.
Mr.G
Don't take it personal.
No Name Sumbitted

15. Create a Google Doc (use Google Forms for this) survey to
learn about your students strengths, weaknesses, interests,
likes. dislikes, family, etc. This will help you to differentiate
instruction, and to get to know your kids much better!
mrmuzzdog
Get to know two people in your school as soon as possible:
the secretary and the custodian. These two support staff
often work behind the scenes to keep everything running
smoothly and can be your most valuable resource.
nshuman78

16. Now more than ever, allow yourself to learn from your
students and give them the opportunity to teach their
peers.
Helen
When you hear "this is how we do things" don't be afraid to
ask "why?"
Peter Lane, mrlane, mrlane.edublogs.org
Best tip for new teachers is to remember you are their
teacher!!! You are not a friend!
No name submitted

17. Find the best teachers in your building and respectfully
request that you sit in their classes. Take notes, ask
questions, watch their techniques. Get a feel for their
classroom culture and apply it to your own classroom
practice.
Don't get sucked into the myth that somehow you're a
martyr for accepting a teaching position. This isn't the
army and you weren't drafted. There will be poisonous
personalities in your building. Avoid them at all costs.
Focus on the children at all times. Always do what you feel
is best for them.
No Name Submitted

18. Classroom management should be your top priority. After
that everything else seems easy. Students like routine and
knowing what to expect.
Ecarboni
If you are teaching at the Elementary or Middle School
level, send home a weekly communication (email, etc.) to
your students and parents. They will love the updates and
the feeling of being connected to school. It will also allow
you to get out important reminders and class news all in
one shot!
mrsbadman13

19. Stay Calm!
Choose Your Battles!
Always Have A Backup Plan!
brynspence
Find someone in your building that you can ask for help.
And then ask for help when you need it! Keep in mind, it will
get better!
Ms. Kappler
Build relationships . . . with your students, parents,
colleagues and administrators.
SuzanneWhisler

20. Doing something for yourself every day after school that
makes you happy. Learning when to put an end to your
school day and realize you have a life outside of school.
Don't live or count down for your summers off because
having the summer off isn't the reason why you became a
teacher. Enjoy your students!
Amy Boylen
1 - Ask veteran teachers how things work at your school.
2 - Ask veteran teachers how they handle classroom
management, parents, and admin.
3 - Do not sweat the small stuff.
Mr. Thompson / New Mexico

21. Get to know ALL of your kids! We have a tendency to pay
the most attention to our best and worst students, leaving
the "middle" kids in the shadows. Take care to make a
connection with every student - it will definitely pay off
for you, and them!
sbell91
It's ok to NOT know every answer. (Help students see
how you find answers and solve problems.)
gardenglen

22. Be very, very, very patient!
Everything is changing and everybody is lost, so you need
patience to deal with your students and their parents.
Maria
Be sure to take into account your students' different
learning styles. To do so, try questionnaires for that
purpose. You'll find them on the net. Then you could plan
your lessons in a way to cater for the mosaic of learning
styles you have in the classroom.
Arbi

23. Think twice before being a teacher. It's very tiresome and
frustrating. It's becoming very hard to work as a teacher,
so think twice before starting!
Sandra
Always have a alternate lesson plan in mind, because what
works with one group of kids one day may not work with
another group of kids.
No Name Submitted

24. Give parents the following assignment @ orientation or on
the 1st day of school: "In a million words or less....describe
your child." This is a very effective way for parents to have
an opportunity to give you both the positives & negatives
about their child's personality, learning styles, ect.
Students LOVE the fact that their parents have an
assignment on the first day. Parents usually respond with a
minimum of 3 paragraphs. This assignment helped me learn
names faster, as well as gain a perspective about each child
in a short amount of time. Can work with all grade levels; I
did it at the middle school level.
headen_cj

25. It's okay to not know everything. In fact, it's sometimes
better: I've found that Socratic irony (where the teacher
professes to be [and, in some cases, actually is] ignorant)
leads to authentic and rigorous inquiry in ways that
students guessing what the teacher already knows never
could.
mr_blackstone
Ask if you need help. Don't be shy. We've all been there.
Most teachers are very helpful to new teachers...besides we
want to learn from you too!
http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/

26. I have more than one tip: Be firm, fair, and consistent. Don't try
to become friends with your students. Learn about your incoming
students from their past teachers, but keep an open mind because
very year should be a fresh start. Don't hang around the
complainers and whiners. Instead, find a veteran teacher who most
closely resembles the kind of teacher you want to become and
learn from them. Get involved in your school community, but
remember to take time for yourself to avoid burn out. Spend the
first few weeks modeling and practicing your expectations and
procedures(and follow-through). It pays off in the end. Above all,
remember that you're entering one of the most challenging, yet
rewarding careers a person can have. It won't be easy, but imagine
the lives you will touch:)
Tricia @ http://differentiate-with-technology.wikispaces.com

27. Get organized and stay organized. Train your students
(any age!) to put things away correctly. This will save you
so much time!
Set aside time at the end of each day to de-clutter your
desk and put materials in their proper place. When you
walk in the next morning, you will be able to focus and
move forward.
No Name Submitted
Stay calm!
http://pintman.blogspot.com

28. Have back up work ready in case any of your lesson fail.
That way you can regroup but the students are kept busy
(I use to make vocabulary word searches, crossword
puzzles, textbook scavenger hunts, etc.)
www.sciencenotebooking.blogspot.com
Overplan. It is better to have too much and have to leave
something for the next day then not to have enough to
keep student's engaged. It's good classroom management
as well because if/when students are engaged in a lesson,
they can't be getting into trouble.
http://powerlibrarian.blogspot.com/

29. Cultivate a sense of humour, be kind to your students and
yourself, and make time to reflect.
Margot Lavelle
Seek answers from experienced teachers and your
administration, they are not the enemy but wish to see
every teachers succeed. It doesn't matter what you
teach, it only matters what students learn.
gormang usd344supt.blogspot.com

30. Find a friend in another teacher and share
experiences/ask for help. But avoid the teachers' lounge -
the bitchers and moaners hang out there, and you'll get
nothing to support you there.
francesblo
Ask colleagues for advice with planning. There is a wealth
of proven ideas in all schools. You don't have to reinvent
the wheel. A sense of ownership is important but so is your
social life.
No Name submitted

31. Assign Seats.
No Name Submitted
Organization...color code everything, use one paper
calendar and one electronic calendar (phone or computer)
to keep track of deadlines and meetings, file things right
away.
Rae Downen
Make friends with the custodial and secretarial staffs.
They will be very important, and vital, resources!
No Name Submitted

32. Be organized. A place for everything and everything in it's
place.
No name submitted
Do not take the closest parking spots to the door. Those
should be kept open for those teachers w/ seniority or
physical issues.
No name submitted

33. Take time to build community along with kicking off your
first unit of study.
sapereaude
Make sure to have a behaviour management plan
(something that is reasonable, with natural consequences)
and be willing to follow through with it. Allowing the
students to have input into the plan will ensure their
understanding, co-operation and ownership.
No name submitted

34. Make sure that the students know that you are in charge. I
work in a big urban district, and if the students can see
that you are unsure of yourself, you will have a LONG year.
Once you get that out of the way, things will become a heck
of a lot easier!!
Matt F.

35. On the first day of school, avoid going over the syllabus.
Give your students a taste of what it will be like to be in
your class. There will be plenty of time to review your
policies. It's very important to set the tone from day 1 of
what your class will be like. Since I teach Spanish, I will
converse with the students about what they like and don't
like to do. I believe in personalizing my class and getting
to know them that first week, which always results in
better behaved students. And, when we do get around to
the syllabus, I make them take turns reading it to one
another, rather than me reading it to them.
catherineleon71

36. If you don't understand, ASK!
If you do understand,PASS IT ON!
teechabc
When students want to argue with you (and some will),
calmly tell them, "I am not going to argue with you," and
walk away. Don't let student get you to battle.
Carol

37. First comes the person, then the pupil/student.
sguilana
Everything is 'urgent'.
Ask for help to identify what is actually important & just
do those things.
(courtesy of my line manager, years ago when I returned
to teaching - I still operate like this.) Thanks Dawn <3
Deb

38. Don't be afraid to ask questions! Your teaching peers,
understand the school system, the calendar, the grading
system, professional contact, the curriculum, classroom
management, because they have been through it before.
It's not a weakness to admit you don't know something!
http://007technotidbits.blogspot.com
Be prepared to spend more time when you integrating
technology in teaching and learning. Always have Plan B and
C; computers don't work as we want them to sometimes.
All the best!
Yoon Sook Jhee

39. Leave your ego at the door. I think I lost my temper at
least once a day before I somehow learned not to take
student remarks and actions personally and to actually be
more mature than the kids I taught. Man, this was really
hard. Prepare to be dissed. I comes with the job. Nine
more here:
http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2008/1

40. Arrive early and leave on time. Don't stay until it is finished. You
will work more efficiently.
Gail Braddock
Using technology at this phase of your career may seem hopelessly
overwhelming. You may ask yourself over and over, "Where do I
even start? There is so much stuff out there." The short answer is
jump on the train 'somewhere'. Get your feet wet, get your hands
dirty, and most importantly, don't be afraid to fail. Teachers,
especially those trying to integrate technology will tell you that
things don't always go as planned, so having the humility to fail and
try again are key to becoming a great educator. Kids always
appreciate teachers who admit they are human...
http://trendingeducation.com trendingedtech

41. Don't be afraid to try out new things such as Web 2.0
tools. Just remember that pedagogy and learning outcome
come first. It's alright if the response is poor or impact is
minimal as there is always chance to improve the teaching
and use of tools.
tucksoon
If a lesson bombs, don't self destruct.The sun WILL rise
tomorrow morning, and the birds will sing again.You will
always have another chance to make it a good lesson or
activity.
Joe

42. Remember MOE from the Three Stooges: Make learning
Meaningful, Organized, and Elaborated upon.
Move your feet before your mouth. So many potential
problems can be eliminated by proximity in the classroom.
Aretha Franklin advocates working toward RESPECT not
love from your students; find love somewhere else.
Sara Davis, blogs.cofc.edu/adehhp

43. By keeping your desk free of clutter you will be reducing
the likelihood that you will catch an illness. When
students come to my desk for help they seem to always
fiddle with things on my desk and seldom do they wash
their hands after sneezing/coughing.
Scott Witkowsky
http://71sliderules.blogspot.com/

44. Make use of the experience of your fellow teachers - ask
for help and advice, it will make for a stronger team. They
in turn may ask you for tips and tricks that you learned at
college.
As far as the students - remember that every student has a
strength but sometimes it takes a bit of searching. Take
time to really get to know them. When you have conflict, it
is much better to talk 1-1 to the student(s) involved, rather
than a public confrontation. Good luck!
No Name Submitted

45. "Ask someone" I have found many new teachers think that
they should come into it day one with all of the answers.
Veteran teachers have seen it, heard it and done it all.
Save yourself time and energy. Ask one of your peers.
They love to help, that is why they became teachers!
No Name Submitted

46. Quote from Martin Heidegger (in Being and Time): ‘Teaching is even more
difficult than learning. We know that; but we rarely think about it. And why
is teaching more difficult than learning? Not because the teacher must have
a larger store of information, and have it always ready. Teaching is more
difficult than learning because what teaching calls for is this: to let learn.
The real teacher, in fact lets nothing else be learned than—learning. His
conduct, therefore, often produces the impression that we properly learn
nothing from him, if by “learning” we now suddenly understand merely the
procurement of useful information. The teacher is ahead of his apprentices
in this alone, that he has still far more to learn than they—he has to learn to
let them learn. The teacher must be capable of being more teachable than
the apprentices. The teacher is far less assured of his ground than those
who learn are of theirs. If the relation between the teacher and the taught
is genuine, therefore, there is never a place in it for the authority of the
know-it-all or the authoritative sway of the official’ (15). This pretty much
says it all...
radney

47.
Talk to a professional financial planner very early on in your
career. Often it is cheaper to buy years of service after
your 1st year than in your last 5years. Early investing is the
key to secure financial future, if there is such a thing?
No Name Submitted

48.
Use a countdownclock when you are planning. Set the clock
on 30 minutes for example and try to plan as good as it gets
within this time. Otherwise you will overdo the planning and
eventually become tired.
http://enperfektlektion.blogspot.com/

49.
Be organized! Teach your studets to THINK!
jasonhbuck
Limit the amount of work that you take home. I try to take
work home on 2-3 days a week and never on weekends.
No Name Submitted

50.
Remember to do it your way not the way your students want
when it truly matters! My first year the seniors wanted to
play kickball each Friday in our government class. They said
"Last year's teacher let the seniors play every Friday." I
always responded, "I'm not that teacher and in our
classroom we will do it this way, you'll be ok."
Lacey

51. comfy shoes in a drawer or cabinet! Some days
Keep
require more running than others and straps snap or laces
break. :)
No Name Submitted
take advantage of everything your librarian has to offer :-)
No Name Submitted
manage your class, everything else will follow
No Name Submitted

52.
Teaching your students classroom procedures and checking
daily to make sure they are followed, makes a classroom run
smoothly all year.
Kim Munoz
http://techmunoz.edublogs.org
Don't make classroom rules you won't enforce.
Jeanette

53.
Hopefully your school district will support you with an
instructional coach or mentor. If not, find yourself someone
that you believe you can learn from and ask that person if
he/she is willing to work with you. Observe that classroom
and have that teacher observe yours, then spend time in
reflection.
Tricia617

54.
The best advice I ever received as a new teacher was to go
home. I loved my students and my job, but was exhausted. I
was at school 2-3 hours late every night. The lesson learned
was that going home didn't make me a bad teacher, it meant
I was taking care of myself. I hold true to that as often as
I can.
teresabender

55.
Students have a strict sense of justice. Avoid getting
caught in this trap by being consistent! Making a special
exception for a "good kid" seems benign in the moment but
will come back to haunt you.
senorg

56. Take time for yourself. It's easy to devote every waking
minute to school your first year. Decide on a "quitting
time" before you tackle the pile of papers, and stick to it!
There's always tomorrow.
www.mrsbakerbsd.com
Join, develop, or create a personal learning network of
educators that are innovative, personable, and put students
first.
mrmillersblog.com

57.
This might sound negative but it was the best advise I was
ever given - there is only so much time in the day - do all
you can to best of ability - but remember their is more to
life than school - and that needs time too.
mrhnz
listen to those with experience, seek their advice, decide
what works for you, Try something new, take time for
yourself, and smile. Works wonders!
Greg

58.
Integrate technology to open your classroom door to the
world.
http://jenverschoor.wordpress.com/
Read Teaching with Love and Logic. It changed my
professional life.
No Name Submitted

59. Best advice for new teachers:
1. Be organized.
2. Ask for help
3. Use the curriculum as a guide, but be creative.
4. Ask for help
5. create a PLN
6. Ask for help.
More advice:
http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.com/search/label/ne

60. Choose quality, not quantity - or, to put it another way,
more isn't always better, sometimes it's just more.
Don't try to do everything - you'll never survive. Just
concentrate on learning one or two things really well, and
show your kids how much fun it is to learn something new.
No Name Submitted
Always take the time to clean off your desk before you
leave every afternoon. When you arrive the next morning,
your desk is free of clutter and you can begin a fresh new
day. :O)
emroo92

61.
Be creative, try new things, don't be afraid to fail, be as
organized as you can!
Renee DeBlock
@rdeblock
http://mrsdeblock.blogspot.com/
Try your best to stay organized.
No Name Submitted

62.
Be flexible! You need to adapt some to your new
environment, but always do what is in the best interest of
your students :)
No Name Given
Schmooze the secretaries, custodians, and librarians!
No Name Given

63.
Tune into the students. They are your partners. If you earn
their trust, they will guide you, tell you when you can pick up
the pace and when you need to slow down. Empower them as
masters of their own learning journeys.
Kelly M, Windsor, ON

64.
Try to leave it at school. When you go home, it shouldn't
have to follow you.
No Name Given
Don't be afraid to be yourself in the classroom. Your
students *want* to know who you are. Don't lose your
humanity in an attempt to create a mask of
"professionalism".
spirobolos

65.
Realize that it takes a whole year to learn the routine and
calendar in any new job...especially teaching. Do your best
but don't burn out the first year.
Use your resources...watch, listen, try, fail, succeed and
learn.
If you are a mom, then you have 3 full-time jobs...Teacher,
Mother, and Mother to your husband (He is like having
another kid!)
No Name Given

66.
Don't be afraid to ask for help, resources, ideas from your
colleagues; in other words, ask them for their best
(handout, activities, places to shop for posters and supplies,
teacher websites) and then make it your own. You don't
have to invent a wheel everyday.
Debra Breunig

67.
Always have a back up lesson for any main lesson that
includes technology (or anything you have to plug in, for
that matter).
Cheryl Higginbotham
Have a sense of humor.
cjgermano

68.
Do not befriend students or have perceived favourites. No
nicknames either.
Skier 10
Start using Google Reader and subscribe to Free
Technology for Teachers!
Katherine Maloney, 1katty,
http://katherinemaloney.blogspot.com/

69.
Seek to create something that does not exist. Don't lose
sight of why you are there...students first.
No Name Given
Don't be afraid to ask for help.
peasandqs

70.
Create a safe and fun learning community. Start with
introduction icebreaker activities and establishing class
norms.
desertjul
Put your name on your stuff.
Go with the flow.
The sun doesn't shine on the same dog's ass every day.
(Meaning: you will not always be in the lime light!)
Carol L.

71.
Find someone who has been in teaching for a while that is
still excited as you are about teaching. Stay away from
those who are not.
Angie
Befriend your school librarian. She/he can be an invaluable
partner in planning creative lessons, finding appropriate
resources, and introducing new technologies.
sassy_librarian

72.
never loose the ability to laugh at yourself
feistylibrarian
Use the power of your LMS. Don't buy, borrow. Don't
search on your own, ask for help.
No Name Given

73.
Communicate carefully with parents. Check your tone,
grammar, and style in any electronic messages - I've
received email from a young English teacher with the IM-
like use of "u" for "you" in an email. Think of great ways to
utilize technology in the classroom. Read blogs like this one,
connect with other teachers, use resources outside the
classroom.
No Name Given

74.
Work hard, put in a lot of hours, be proactive with your
communication to parents, and ask questions. There is no
easy way to success as a new teacher, but it will pay off in
a few years!
http://musiced-technology.blogspot.com/
Don't forget your bunny slippers!
SimpleK12

75.
Remember the difference between being friendly and being
friends. The students want someone who is fair and
consistent.
Also remember that there is a difference between truly
incorporating technology and just using technology.
No Name Given

76.
Be honest and make sure you work harder than everyone
else around you. No one can ever fault you for this. Oh, and
keep your head just slightly below the radar!
bradmcdiarmid

77. For more ideas about using technology
in your classroom, please consider
joining more than 38,000 others in
subscribing to
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