Cool Things to Display in Your Classroom

In this post, I will be posting some "cool" math posters/images that teachers can display in their math classrooms. Please feel free to share any posters/images you find as well.

Encouraging Words for New & Future Teachers

This first post will be dedicated to new and future teachers. I did some research and found a helpful list of things for first-year teachers to keep in mind.

The ABCs for First-Year Teachers:

• Admit your mistakes -- and learn from them.
• Be firm but flexible.
• Communicate with parents.
• Develop a homework policy -- and stick to it.
• Empower your students; don't just lecture to them.
• Find time to attend after-school events.
• Get to know all the teachers in your school and make friends with the cooks, custodians, aides, and secretaries.
• Have the courage to try something else if what you're doing isn't working.
• Institute a clear discipline policy -- and enforce it consistently.
• Just listen -- both to what the kids are saying and to what they're not saying.
• Keep a journal.
• Learn your school's policies and procedures.
• Model desired attitudes and behavior.
• Non carborundum ignorami. (Don't let the imbeciles wear you down.)
• Overplan.
• Prepare interesting lessons.
• Quit worrying and just do your best.
• Remember that you teach students first, then you teach whatever academic discipline you learned.
• Stay alert.
• Take pictures.
• Understand that the learning process involves everyone -- teachers, students, colleagues, and parents -- and get everyone involved.
• Volunteer to share projects and ideas, and don't be afraid to ask others to share their ideas with you.
• Work within your limits.
• Xpect the unexpected -- and plan for it!
• Yell if you need support.
• Zero in on your strengths, not your weaknesses. (Remember -- nobody's perfect!)

(Source: http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr152.shtml)

Now, I have a question for you. Based on your experiences, what is the best piece of advice you can give to new teachers before they enter the field of education?