At the office:
- Introduce yourself to the Principal and if needed, seek assistance in a professional manner.
- Be concise and positive in your conversation.
- Show appreciation for the efforts of the secretary and custodian.
- While you are checking out the school, the school is also looking at you.
- Greet the students at the door to quickly establish a rapport with the class.
- Have an entry activity ready.
- Be upbeat and confident.
- Briefly state your expectations regarding behaviour with some "Just for today" rules.
- Try to follow regular routines as much as possible.
- Be consistent in your enforcement of the rules with reasonable and appropriate consequences.
- Monitor student behaviour at all times.
- Manage misbehaviour immediately using strategies such as:
management);
Pausing in your comments;
Calling on a student who is not paying attention to
respond, however, call the name before asking the
question so as not to embarrass the student;
Making lessons participatory as much as possible; and
Employing effective and prolonged eye contact.
If you want to be called back, be sure to:
Teach what was outlined;
Follow established routines if possible;
Record what was accomplished;
Mark the day's assignments; and
Leave the room as you found it.
TIP: Wear comfortable shoes. A teacher on the move is most effective.
TIP: Record the neat ideas you encounter, such as bulletin boards, displays, discipline procedures etc.
TIP: Ask for an item from the student in exchange for an item borrowed.
