This past Saturday I spoke with the pre-service science teachers in Connecticut's Alternate Route to Certification program about new teacher tips, urban schools issues, and technology resources.
Here is the handout I gave them as we chatted.
ARC-A-Palooza 2012
David Andrade, M.S. Ed
New teacher stuff
- ask for help
- lots of resources online - lesson plans, classroom management, activities, new teacher help
- remember what you have learned here
- be organized!!! (Evernote, Google Docs, Google Calendar)
- take advantage of professional development opportunities and find some outside of district
- join a professional society (NSTA, AAPT, etc)
- use Projects in your classroom
- Have a backup plan and be creative
Resources, Links and Articles to read:
- (my blog and website listed up top) - free stuff, educational ideas and resources,
- new teacher advice http://goo.gl/kkIqR and http://www.techlearning.com/blogs/17362
- Article from 2010 ARC-A-Palooza: http://www.techlearning.com/blogs/22478
- http://www.techlearning.com/ Tech&Learning Magazine - great resource
- http://www.edutopia.org/ - Edutopia - George Lucas Educational Foundation - great info and resources
- http://www.pbs.org/teachers/classroom/9-12/ Lots of free stuff!
- http://discoveryeducation.com/survival/ - Great info, resources and advice for new teachers
- Create a Personal Learning Network (starting with your ARC colleagues): http://goo.gl/SBxe
- Differentiation http://goo.gl/xEFWF
Urban/low income schools
Student issues
| not all students think school is important | no support at home (hmwk, etc) |
| no parents, too many kids, no parental involvement | poverty, drugs, violence (HS kids work to pay bills) |
| work part time jobs to help pay bills | no ride to school |
| issues at home - absences, tardy | take care of siblings |
| no computer/internet at home | cultural beliefs are different |
| high turnover of students (pregnancy, crime, drugs) | move a lot - change schools |
| English as Second Language | Reading comprehension |
School Issues:
| high teacher/admin turnover and burnout | large classes |
| limited funds and resources | hard to change things due to lack of resources |
| lots of new teachers | lots of new initiatives to fix (don't work) |
Things to do to help and support urban students:
| give students time to do work in school | make your classroom available after school |
| create a safe haven in your classroom | be sensitive to issues they face |
| remember cultural/socio-economic issues | connect learning to THEIR lives and experiences |
| look for grants (www.donorschoose.org) | create a PLN for ideas and resources (see below) |
| connect with business, colleges, and other schools | Enthusiasm is contagious! Engage & Excite them. |
| translation (Google translate) | differentiate and individualize |
What advice do you have for new teachers, teachers going to urban districts?
Related:
Great resources for New Teachers - advice, support, and training - resources, articles, links and more. One-stop-shopping for new teacher resources.
