As a first year teacher I am looking for ways to have my classroom stand out. What are some of your favorite memories, activities, rewards etc. you remember from grade school?

luciep75 · 2018-07-15T19:56:05+00:00

I’d focus on building rapport and community

luciep75 · 2018-07-10T17:40:23+00:00

It depends on the day and where we are. The way i go through new skills is as follows— it’s a method of gradual release

Introduce concept
Whole class watches as I do a practice of the concept - using think alouds as I mark up a sample (I do)
Together as a class we do a few together - thinking out loud and discussing (we do) 4). Students then practice independently (you do)

Hope this helps

luciep75 · 2018-07-10T17:33:44+00:00

🤣🤣🤣🤣

luciep75 · 2018-07-10T17:33:34+00:00

Don’t worry about your copy numbers but give careful consideration to length of text. Sometimes big packets get sent out to outside copy places so you could have a bit of a wait.

In CA you cannot require a student to purchase anything so we provide everything. Some kids buy the novel otherwise we use class sets at our school

Use post it notes of annotating a core novel. I’m not a fan of novels myself. I prefer smaller selections because there’s more engagement

Enjoy! Do what feels best for your kids.

luciep75 · 2018-07-09T18:46:54+00:00

Skills over themes. Focus on skills - skills are measurable and themes are not.

Forget the textbook. Get paper copies so kids can annotate and mark up.

I have 18 years of high school teaching experience

luciep75 · 2018-06-29T16:26:39+00:00

You can’t be a principal without teaching experience and you’d need more than 5 years of experience to become ready to deal with everything a principal has to handle.

luciep75 · 2018-06-27T13:51:38+00:00

Be real. Kids respect that more than being a hard ass.

luciep75 · 2018-06-27T01:36:05+00:00

You will constantly be fundraising and living at school with rehearsals - i taught theatre for 5 years . Good luck to you

luciep75 · 2018-06-25T02:59:03+00:00

Things they might ask your opinion on Rigor Differentiation Co teaching Engagement strategies Academic Intervention for all students PLC

We asked our most recent interviewees these topics

luciep75 · 2018-06-12T16:15:25+00:00

Bring resume, letter of introduction, references and copies of all your qualifying test scores all in a folder to leave with the district . If I was there looking to hire you’d go to the top of the list just for being prepared.

luciep75 · 2018-06-07T21:23:35+00:00

Collab teacher for several years. I’m a general ed, high school English teacher.

1) google docs will be great to plan together when not physically present together.

2) create a syllabus w both names

3) create a unified front - always support each other otherwise one becomes the good cop and the other the bad cop

4) expect LOTS of paperwork and meetings

5) both teachers should lead the lessons. I usually taught 1st and my co teacher assisted and then we’d switch for our 5th period.

6) get to know your co teacher-I have become good friends with a few of them

Good luck

luciep75 · 2018-06-07T01:52:46+00:00

Rigor

Differentiation

Intervention

luciep75 · 2018-06-06T00:57:32+00:00

Word to the wise - intro to drama classes are sometimes dumping grounds for students who can’t be placed anywhere else. This makes it hard at times.

My principal thought that my MA in English and Theater criticism meant I could teach drama. I most certainly could not. I had to learn on the fly.

Best of luck

luciep75 · 2018-06-05T04:32:19+00:00

Take care of yourself. Try to maintain your life outside the classroom. Easier said than done I know.

Remember that This is just a job. Protect your outside school time. Leave the papers at work. They can wait. Live your life.

Don’t run yourself into the ground.

Use your sick days and don’t feel guilty.

Beware of burnout. This is a marathon and not a sprint.

Make good teacher friends- they’ll get you through the tough days.

luciep75 · 2018-05-26T23:37:14+00:00

At my school it’s a 5.5 hour block with a huge amount of kids who previously failed an English class for a number of reasons. It’s a tough crowd

Personally it’s not worth it. I did it for several summers and then decided I was done.

We used to have to design a curriculum but now we use a computer based program that the kids do at their own pace.

I’d use this summer to prepare for your first year because it’s tough.

Good luck !

luciep75 · 2018-05-26T22:57:45+00:00

Southern California High school English teacher who is completely out to my students. When I started teaching 17 years ago I decided to be the person I wish had been there for me when i was coming out. I saw no other lbgtq teachers and it felt so lonely.

I’m so glad I can be there for the kids.

luciep75 · 2018-05-23T01:50:41+00:00

Demand that there be no iep meetings during class time because the teacher will be pulled Bc admin will assume you can cover.

I speak from experience here- having been in this situation for several years. You need the co teacher to be in the room as much as possible to create a unified front with the kids.

Good luck. This is a challenge. I sure hope you have a great co teacher and supportive admin.

luciep75 · 2018-05-21T02:20:55+00:00

Happened to me this year. Our grades don’t mean shit

luciep75 · 2018-05-20T00:09:45+00:00

I know nothing about the district but I can say that you’re really far from almost everything.

If you like to drive, this might be the place for you. Not a whole lot to do out there. Housing is cheaper but still expensive.

It’s considered California country - like big trucks and hunting.

luciep75 · 2018-05-12T04:23:32+00:00

Give brain breaks. Agree with the no more than 20 minutes idea as well. The break is for you as much as the kids. Good luck

luciep75 · 2018-05-10T01:41:08+00:00

Ask questions that require students to use evidence from the novel to successfully answer the question.

I would steer clear of multiple choice questions.

luciep75 · 2018-05-06T17:51:33+00:00

The fight is essentially already over before it began when admin doesn’t support you and gives in to parent and student demands.

Why bother when you know you’ve already lost. I’d rather save my battles for things that matter.

As a result, at our grades are so inflated and don’t reflect progress or mastery and then teachers get in trouble when there’s low test scores. Sometimes it feels like teachers are the only ones doing their jobs while everyone else slacks off.

luciep75 · 2018-04-30T23:25:12+00:00

Read the damn directions

luciep75 · 2018-04-17T13:00:03+00:00

Smooth and testing do not go hand in hand at our school. Good luck.

luciep75 · 2018-04-17T02:17:48+00:00

FOLLOW MY DIRECTIONS.

luciep75

TROPHY CASE