Abigail- Everything a new elementary school teacher really needs to know

Everything a new elementary school teacher really needs to know (but didn’t learn in college)

The book I reviewed was called “everything a new elementary school teacher really needs to know (but didn’t learn in college)” by Otis Kriegel.  This was a very practical book full of many suggestions and tips to ease the life of a new teacher.  Knowing and being prepared for these things could help alleviate many problematic situations.  The book was divided into 4 categories:

Before the school year

During the school year

Your students’ families

Life as a teacher

Each category had many subsections, which I will summarize and highlight.  I will not cover every suggestion, but some key ones that stood out to me.

BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR:

Teacher’s Desk: The topic of the teacher’s desk was covered, with a suggestion being made that it is not as necessary as we are led to believe.  One suggestion was from a teacher who wore overalls and carried supplies on her body.  Another teacher had file folders on the wall where things were stored.  Bottom line is that a desk can be a useful item, but there may be other ways more suitable and if a desk isn’t utilized it can be a waste of valuable floor space.  

Spare Clothing: A good and useful suggestion mentioned was for the teacher to have a spare set or two of clothing for accidents.  Working with young children can create many messes: dirt, vomit, glue, water, etc. For a teacher to walk around all day covered in these messes would be very unpleasant, so the suggestion to have a spare set for these cases is a very useful and practical one.  

Rain and Snow: Wet weather outside can create for some uncomfortable footwear messes in the classroom.  A suggestion was to have spare towels in the classroom for the footwear so children can take their wet footwear off and be comfortable in class.  As well this will help to keep the classroom clean.  

Communication: Communication is key with parents.  The book suggested a good idea is to send home a welcome note with the students to introduce yourself, as well as have some forms for families to fill out and send back.  It was also mentioned to find a form of communication you are comfortable with and inform the parents of your preferred method, should they need to contact you. 

Independent Work: A suggestion was made to assign independent work in the morning so that children have a quiet activity to work on while others are arriving.  It helps them get their minds on learning, as well it is nice for parents to arrive and see other children at work.

Preparing for new students: The book mentioned it is a good idea to have a stash of extra supplies handy, as well as extra copies of welcome notes and forms for new students to make the transition more comfortable for the new student. 

DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR:

Getting Attention: The book suggests establishing a call and response early on in the year to capture the children`s attention.  One cute suggestion was `chocolate chip cookies`….`with milk`.  The book also said that there will be times when it is difficult to get the classes attention, and that is ok, don`t take it personally.  

Conflict Corner: A suggestion I liked was to have a conflict corner for students in an argument.  A pre-written script encourages the students to communicate how they feel in a conflict, and working through their feelings and emotions is a life skill.  It also provides a quiet and effective way to work through problems in the class.

Working with the Principal: In the book it spoke about the principal and how he or she is a valuable resource to tap in to.  However this resource should be used respectfully, and only when needed.  It was emphasized to explore all other options to resolve issues before involving the principal. 

YOUR STUDENT’S FAMILIES:

Parent-Teacher Conferences: The parent teacher conference is something quite intimidating to new teachers.  The book suggested to keep it simple: show parents that you are positive and care about their children.  Having a short assignment, such as writing a note for their child to find the next day, would keep parents comfortable while they are waiting.

Weekly Note Home: As a way of communicating and keeping parents in the loop, a suggestion was to send home a weekly note.  This note should cover what the class has done recently and what is scheduled for the coming weeks, so parents are aware.  Accomplishments should also be shared in this letter.  Another way of communicating that was suggested was to have a class website or Facebook page to keep parents in the loop. 

Sharing Bad News: The book had a very wise suggestion regarding sharing bad news with parents- never do it alone.  This is a wise suggestion as emotions can escalate and it is a good idea to have someone else to calm the parents, as well it is always smart to have a witness for future reference should something arise.

LIFE AS A TEACHER:

Planning Ahead: I had always thought it would be a smart idea to plan months in advance.  However the book warns against this, as much can change in that time.  It is best only to plan a week or two in advance.  

Personal Life: One suggestion made was to let a bit of your personal life show through.  If you have a hobby or something you are interested in, don`t be afraid to let the students see some of that.

CRITIQUE

It is very difficult to critique this book, as it somewhat covers areas around what has been covered in class.  This book has a many tips for the practical aspect of teaching, whereas the course covered more of the actual curriculum and engaging students.  So making a complete critique when the topics are quite different isn’t exactly accurate, as some main topics we covered in class such as the environment and cross-cultural curriculum.  That being said, there are some similarities with the material covered in class, and I will touch on those.  

Student Input: The book talks about having student input with regards to rules and consequences in the classroom, as opposed to having a pre-written set of rules.  Having the students work together to create rules and consequences gives them a sense of ownership and they are more inclined as a class to follow these rules if they have a say in them.  This corresponds with an article we read in class about a school where children work together and have a say in the curriculum and policies.  The article spoke about having student led meetings in the school, which gives the students a chance to input ideas.  The book spoke of a similar concept of holding a class meeting at the beginning of the school year to have the student’s input.  

Homework:  In the class we discussed homework and its importance.  The verdict in class appeared to have been that homework does not necessarily have the value we assume it does.  We spoke about how families are quite busy and assigning hours of homework takes away from valuable family time.  The book however stressed the reasons to assign homework and some strategies to handle homework, a slight contradiction from topics discussed in class, but chances are it may be an expectation of the school, and the book does give some practical solutions to stay on top of homework. 

Balancing Life: One discussion we have had a number of times in class involved how to have a balanced life.  We discussed aspects of leading a balanced life, such as the five points of a balanced life: connecting, taking notice, being active, keep learning and giving.  If we lead a balanced life, we will be more effective as educators.  An unbalanced life can lead to stress and burn out, and ineffective teaching.  The book acknowledges the importance of leading a balanced life and covers ways to accomplish this.  Some suggestions were to leave work at school.  Bringing work home can take away from family time, which can be essential to positive well being.  Delegating responsibilities can be another strategy to help reduce burn out.  

Building a Classroom Community: Some of the chapters we read in class covered how to create a sense of togetherness in the classroom, so each child feels he or she belongs.  Otis Kriegel`s book briefly covered this subject.  The classroom input, as suggested above, is one strategy to community building.  Another suggestion I liked was that of encouraging students to express their emotions by anonymously writing down their feelings (in itself therapeutic) and discussing a few (again anonymously) with the class to encourage empathy.  Children are also encouraged to share in a truth circle, both positive and a challenge.  Obviously guidelines need to be in place (no teasing) but these exercises can help students relate to each other.

Final Verdict: This book is a very helpful and practical resource for a new teacher, providing many tips to make the transitions in the first year a smooth experience.  It is a short and simple read, and is essential for any new teacher. I often worry what my first year teaching will be like, I often pressure myself to not make mistakes.  This book is reassuring that I will make mistakes and many mistakes, but it is ok.  It is all a part of learning.  It does however give many good tips to avoid common mistakes and make it easier in the first year.  I will definitely keep this resource and rely on it in years to come!