With the Summer Holiday winding down, it is imperative that teachers do some extended reflection on the past academic year so that they can be ready to maximize on the new school year ahead. Like many teachers in Jamaica and the world over, back to school isn’t just about shopping, but also about creating systems that will work, as they seek replacements for systems that failed. On that note, here are some silly mistakes I made as a first year teacher in Jamaica – and how you can avoid making them as a teacher, whether or not its your first time in the classroom.
Let’s get to them right away…
First Year Teacher Mistake #1: Making Lesson Plans on Sundays
If you are seeking out ways to feel anxious, overwhelmed and hurried on Sundays, then go for it! If not, then you should consider using up the time at work to get work related matters done. Including Lesson Plans.
Looking back, I realize now that I dreaded Sundays even more than Mondays! (Says no one ever). Instead of waking up to an easy going day, preparing my meals and reclining or perhaps journaling – I found myself hurrying even through breakfast so I could go boot the computer and start making lesson plans for the work week ahead.
This was especially taxing, considering my workplace uses the method of common lesson planning (one teacher is assigned the role of coordinator for a subject and year group and each teacher is in charge of planning and sharing lessons with the other teachers who teach that year group and subject). It does make the work lighter, but sometimes, without much meeting and coordinating, each teacher may just go ahead, prepare a plan and then share it. Without the input of others (who may be busy creating other plans to share) this can be a challenge.
You’ll see it in a moment how this can be a first year teacher mistake
Back to the planning of lessons on Sunday. As I was saying, that’s more than a mistake. It’s a toxic habit that needs to be rid of.
Similarly, in the view of lesson planning, don’t wait until Sunday to start looking through the lesson plans shared with you by the teachers (in your department) who are responsible for a particular year group and subject that you teach too.
This can easily become overwhelming and you might not even be alert nor energetic enough to peruse the documents and offer feedback.
In the same vein, imagine if all the lesson coordinators are waiting until Sunday to prepare and share the lesson plans. Everybody’s Sunday mornings and afternoons look different. The time you decide or even become available to prepare and share lesson plans may just be when another teacher is off to bed!
That means they won’t see it until the next morning. Hopefully, that lesson won’t be for the first class. Believe me, it happens.
Resolution for First Year Teacher Mistake #1:
Meet with the members in your department and decide on days in the work week that is mutually convenient to plan and prepare lessons. That way, ideas can be shared, each teacher’s students and concerns can be considered and the lessons can be prepared right on spot!
Even if everyone isn’t available, what counts is that the majority show interest (however that may look) and the work gets done.
No use, letting the time designated for work drift away, only to find yourself piling up work at home. Your Sundays should be – easy like Sunday morning!
Related Post: 6 Things Jamaican Teachers Can do to Reclaim their Me-Time
First Year Teacher Mistake in Jamaica #2: Not having Enough Red Ink Pens
This one might sound really silly… but you better not let it happen to you.
I recall the very first term (Christmas Term) when end of term exams were administered and now ready to be marked. I ran out of red ink pens!
And as it turned out, plenty teachers didn’t have much to spare because they didn’t have enough for themselves either!
Teachers probably ensure they have a black ink pen for logging in their arrival and departure times and for their attendance register – but red ink pens, not so much! The irony. One or two red ink pens is not okay. Especially when the term is winding down and scripts abound.
Resolution for First Year Teacher Mistake #2:
Ensure you put a pack (or two) of red ink pens on your teacher back to school essentials list.
Monitor your pens regularly as you factor in lending, gifting or even loosing a few. Factor in those that you use to the very last drop as well.
A red ink pen is a simple tool, yet it is a major essential for teachers. Get used to having lots of them around and updating your inventory of red ink pens when necessary.
First Year Teacher Mistake #3: Assigning Graded Activities in Students’ Notebooks
It’s really good that I can laugh about this now. However, in the moment of this silly mistake I was consumed. To make up students’ termly averages and to be able to award prizes/awards, plenty schools administer a series of graded classwork/graded homework before the big test.
As a result, teachers are kept on their toes with the assignment of these tasks, the marking of the activities and the upload of the students’ grades.
Students need also to be constantly reviewing their lessons and completing these activities. For teachers in Jamaica, the size of a classroom (in a public school) is a maximum 40+ students! Imagine collecting 40+ notebooks from three different classes. That’s easily 120+ notebooks.
Certainly, the weight of these books is alarming. To add to that, the amount of space they take up on your desk is unsightly. Not only that, but the turn around time for marking them all, may not be conducive to the timing of the next class session with your students who will need their notebooks for class!
Resolution for First Year Teacher Mistake #3
Encourage parents to add folder paper to their list of back to school essentials for their children. Encourage the students to always take their folder papers to school.
Its a win win. When you collect even 120 folder papers, they aren’t half as heavy as if you were to collect books. Also, your space is more tidy since the folder papers won’t take up as much space. Roll the folders into a conical shape then use elastic bands to secure them.
Advise your students (and check while collecting the folder papers) to write their names on all the sheets used.
First Year Teacher Mistake #4: Having No Alternative to Information Communication Technologies (ICT)
Spare me the reminder – that we are in the era of technology. I already know that. However, the technologies in public schools in Jamaica may forget that sometimes.
When you plan your lessons to largely incorporate information communication technology (ICT), a whole lot can go wrong – and it usually does. Perhaps the internet connectivity is weak and that video you intended to show to your class keeps buffering.
Maybe there is a shortage of projectors, so even if you downloaded the video you still won’t be able to show it. Sometimes, the transporting and setting up of these devices take up a lot of the class time. No teacher wants to endure this, especially if its a crucial lesson before a break from school or even a graded activity.
Resolution to First Year Teacher Mistake #4:
Always encourage students to take along their textbooks so that guided learning can take place in the event technology fails.
If you are one of those teachers who don’t mind using your personal resources, then take along your own speakers, projectors and mobile data to school. Up to you!
Also, before class, extract the salient points from videos and other online resources you intend to share with your students. This way, if the technology fails – your class session doesn’t have to!
First Year Teacher Mistake #5: Slacking off on Attendance Record Keeping
Attendance keeping may seem like a mundane activity to do. Regardless, it has far reaching impacts.
It helps to advance students’ records as it reflects their punctuality. This is imperative for when they are seeking scholarships, job opportunities or even awards.
It acts as evidence as well. Showing the status (absent, present, late, sick etc.) of students. An excellent alibi.
All these benefits yet, on a day to day it becomes tedious. Who are the persons absent you may ask before scurrying to your next class. Only to find yourself jotting down the information on a piece of paper or relying on memory…Oops.
Resolution for First Year Teacher Mistake #5:
Diligently secure the attendance of your students. Incorporate it into your routine.Perhaps its the first thing you do upon entering your class. Maybe you decide to do so 15 minutes after to make allowance for those authorized to be outside.
Find the groove that works for you.
Avoid waiting until the next class to ask around who was absent or not. This can easily become a bad habit and put a spoke in your professional wheel so to speak.
And for those teachers who have to keep records on online data bases, try doing so each evening before you leave for home or in between your class sessions. You can easily feel like a superstar once these record keeping habits are up to par. Who wouldn’t want that?
Go, and Make not these First Year Teacher Mistakes
All the best on your first year of teaching. See also the recommended articles on being a teacher and the little tips to help you here and there.
Like your students, you too are on a journey and I’m rooting for your growth.
As you venture into your new role, be bold. Be brave and feel free to learn from whatever mistakes you may make. They truly help you to grow and put better systems in place.
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