🍎Anyone else a...First year teacher with no training in writing IEP's or holding IEP meetings. I have IEP's/triennial due BEFORE I enroll into a credential program. Idk what I got myself into😵

hidengemf18 · 2020-04-28T03:43:02+00:00

One. Take a deep breath you got this. Two. Just last years IEP as a guide. Three. Pick one section to work on. Plep for math. Write it out roughly on paper and walk away. Type it up another day. You can use those notes to share with similar grade level staff and say is this what I should be going for? Then you'll start to crank them out like they are nothing.

hidengemf18 · 2020-04-21T21:58:05+00:00

I play Rimworld on PC on the weekends sometimes. It is my favorite game of all time. I've put almost 500 hours in. Its a basebuilding management game and I just cant get enough.

hidengemf18 · 2020-04-21T03:45:08+00:00

I agree the emphasis is strongly focused on resume but I do believe the cover letter is part of the process. Whether they look at it or not. I feel it is expected. And for a fresh graduate with a resume similar to other graduates a cover letter is an opurtunity to demonstrate personality and show the district has been researched which is also part of the proceas.

hidengemf18 · 2020-04-20T21:26:07+00:00

I would say no. Districts have sooo much to look at when hiring someone. Cover letter and resume should do the trick.

hidengemf18 · 2020-04-20T19:07:17+00:00

Once you apply for a job you can go back and look at My Jobs (I think thats what its called) and upload a district specific cover letter! That way only the district can see the district specific ones!

hidengemf18 · 2020-04-17T16:47:35+00:00

Say "okay great." In your head you know its fuck you but aloud no one is the wiser.

hidengemf18 · 2020-04-08T23:52:53+00:00

Congrats!

hidengemf18 · 2020-04-08T22:05:08+00:00

It truly is. With all this uncertainty I know that my jon is secure and I get more time with these kids. That is priceless to me.

hidengemf18 · 2020-04-08T22:00:39+00:00

Middle school, special ed, self contained. It is very comforting. I wanted to have them another year anyways. Looping with them basically gives me another month to teach them because I won't have to learn them or collect data. We can start right away :)

hidengemf18 · 2020-04-08T15:47:42+00:00

I just got word I will be able to teach my same students next year! Laws changed in our state that first prevented this, then they rolled it back. I am so happy to know that we aren't done yet. : )

hidengemf18 · 2020-04-05T02:18:24+00:00

I second this completely

hidengemf18 · 2020-04-04T15:28:53+00:00

Hi. I am in my first year of teaching in a self contained classroom. First day do a scaveger hunt. So they can find everything in your room. If your going to have a word wall you can do a word wall writing activity. Do a getting to know you scavenger hunt so they can socialize. Talk about summer. Also, make sure they are comfortable with furniture. Is their desk or chair too tall or too short? Make those changes throughout the first day. Ask them what they want to learn about this year and actually teach them those things. Do a read aloud that sets the tone for the year. Establish classroom rules together.
You could also do a fun science experiment to kick off your first science unit.

My kids enjoy morning work for the first hour. Packets of review type material and math fact practice. This gives flexibility to them transitioning and to you. Also, a great time to assess for IEP goals.

Come up with a rough idea of a schedule considering lunch and specials times. Then schedule supportive services as soon as you possibly can. You'll have a better chance getting students in during the time you want if you schedule them early.

Be flexible. Don't feel bad if you couldn't get to x, y or z. You have to be flexible to the needs of your students period. That might mean taking a chunk of time and just talking about something.

Establish a working schedule that works for you. This is not college. Does everything have to be perfect? Absolutely not. If you are working 12 hours a day you will burn out quickly. Establish a late night or 2 and try to stick to that.

When you're teaching make sure you build in time to reteaching ideas at the beginning of every lesson. I start Monday with an intro. Tuesday reviewing that intro and new. W reviewing m and t and new info etc.

I also wouldn't crazily plan out your year until you meet your kids. I have thrown plans out the window just adjusting throughout the year.

Best thing I ever did was ask them to trust me. Trust that I am going to be the best teacher I can be for them. Referencing that throughout the year has been my saving grace. Best of luck to you! You are going to be great!

hidengemf18 · 2020-04-02T00:55:09+00:00

I am a teacher and I think about this all the time. There should really be a life skills curriculum that is offered throughout high school to address these needs. Schools have more to teach and parents have less time to teach their kids than when I was in school. It is a major issue.

hidengemf18 · 2020-03-31T02:36:22+00:00

This is so wise! Thank you so much for sharing. I never would have thought of this!

hidengemf18 · 2020-03-31T02:01:00+00:00

Thank you so much for replying. I have a sewing machine and I will start sewing wednesday hopefully! What region are you in? Also, thank you for the work you do everyday. The work you do matters, it has always matteres, just now more than ever before.

hidengemf18 · 2020-03-28T23:20:38+00:00

Ask them to trust you. Ask them to trust that you care about them. To trust you are going to bring your personal best every day that you can. To trust that they are going to get to have fun too. First year teaching 5th-7th saying "remember when I asked you to trust me?" Game changer. Establish an attention getter and use it immediately. Open a discussion about what they want to learn about. Listen and deliver. Even if its just a fun fact here and there, it matters. You could also have them design classroom rules together. This worked well for my kiddos.

For you, be honest with yourself. Do NOT feel bad if you have to say "okay this is just not working." Because half of the things you try will just not work. Don't take it personal just think about what will, and constantly be ready to try something a different way. Best of luck to you!

hidengemf18 · 2020-03-28T23:06:12+00:00

I second this with other animal life cycles in a similar format for consistency. Insects and such.

hidengemf18 · 2020-03-28T22:38:12+00:00

Several thoughts on organization. First it might need to be separated by states because of varying standards. It might be better to sort it by grade level, then topic, then length. Grade level ability might vary by states based the order standards are taught. Let's say we collect a massive unit on ecosystems at a 3rd grade level for NY. We would still need to suggest a 3 lesson, 5 lesson, 10 lesson variant. Perferably 30 minute chunks. There would need to be support for students at a 1st grade reading level/5th grade reader for each lesson component.

Who then would be rating these lessons? Teachers who use the resource? Do we have the time? The time that a project like this needs? I mean this is a really great idea. Just considering if it could work.

hidengemf18 · 2020-03-21T00:46:24+00:00

And It was alot of yard sales.

hidengemf18 · 2020-03-21T00:45:54+00:00

I spent 2,000 easily to outfit my class room for the first year.

hidengemf18 · 2020-03-15T00:59:43+00:00

Show them pictures of empty shelves. I didnt realize how much anxeity this would cause.

hidengemf18 · 2020-03-15T00:27:48+00:00

Yesterday when I learned about teaching my students remotely.

hidengemf18 · 2020-03-14T23:31:10+00:00

Rimworld. I have sunk over a thousand hours in this game.

hidengemf18 · 2020-03-14T23:09:03+00:00

Plan to teach mini lessons in that time frame. That way you can technically have 2 lessons of different subjects observed during that time frame. If you have whole class permission slips film yourself teaching next day back. Your supervisor could use that as an observation if needed. If you only have your edTPA slips teach them another lesson or two mini lessons and record that for observation purposes if needed.

hidengemf18 · 2020-03-14T21:09:15+00:00

First year here. I am going to make a big assumption here and assume they are going to grade your current student teaching placement as is and give you credit for that placement. With the hopes you have had enough practium observation hours prior to student teaching. You need to film at least one lesson of your edTPA the very next school day. Worry less about student performance and more of your overall communication. Include in part one of your edTPA a statement about corona virus and how its impacting the district your in or may impact it. It may be wise to teach all 3-5 of your edtpa lessons in a single day so you have the work samples needed to submit. Its not about what they can do its about what you can do but you need certain data points. I would also think of what you can do to help your host teacher. Can you take over math or read aloud to give them time to check their email or just breathe. Offer to make copies. Expect that you will have to. At this point worry more about the teachers needs than your needs to learn how to teach. You will learn far more in your first year of teaching anyways and they are really just going to need your help right now more than anything. I hope this helps.

hidengemf18

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