OTAN News

Helping New Teachers Be Successful

Image by Jared Soto from Pixabay

It’s likely that you have some new teaching staff on board at the start of the school year, either new to your school site or new to the profession. One of the challenges then is to support those new staff members to ensure that they are successful throughout the year and remain on staff to lessen turnover.

A number of fellow educators have some ideas on how to support these new staff, starting with writer and teacher Matt Miller via his Ditch That Textbook blog. In his article Dear New Teacher: Tips and advice for beginning educators, Matt includes a recent Twitter chat with advice for new teachers from other teachers across the country on lesson planning, classroom management, using technology, and personal well-being. Additionally, you can read a recent OTAN news item, focusing on lesson planning. There are also some resources that you can access mentioned in the Twitter chat.

Matt also links to a variety of resources for more information and ideas for new teachers, including:

• 7 ideas on getting started with technology in the classroom as a new teacher, including adding a little technology at a time and making sure to teach students how to use the technology

• 10 more ideas on getting started with technology, especially ideas where the teacher is using technology to connect with students and fellow educators

• A new teacher checklist from Jennifer Gonzalez at Cult of Pedagogy, with tips on how to get and stay organized in a variety of school areas (download once you sign up on the website)

• What I Wish I’d Known as a New Teacher from Elena Aguilar at Edutopia

• Also consider podcasts like the new one Make It 'Til Friday from Nate and Angie Ridgeway

Another article to explore is Helping New Teachers Thrive by Emily Boudreau at Usable Knowledge.

There is a lot of anxiety and nervous energy among students and teachers new to your school at the start of a school year, so take the time to extend support to the teachers who you hope to be a part of your organization for many years to come.

Article: Dear New Teacher: Tips and advice for beginning educators by Matt Miller at Ditch That Textbook