Tips for Terrific Teaching
A Practical Guide to Teaching
from a Mother to her Daughter
By Cathy L. Huber
Copyright 2012 Cathy L. Huber
Smashwords Edition
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Acknowledgements
Special Thanks to:
My tech savvy husband, Hubie, without whom this book would not exist.
All the many teachers whose conversations, though they may not realize it, have contributed to this book:
Eleanor McCullough
Jackie Whiting
Claudia Gutierrez
Isabelle Horn
Robin Mata
Cynthia Hill
All my students over the years (over 3,000) who have provided an endless source of material.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my daughter, Heather. You are the fifth generation teacher in our family. May you have as many rewarding experiences as the previous generations. Hopefully you will; it is in your blood.
Frances Hannah Gardiner McCaul (1867- 1945)
Genevieve Alice McCaul Layer (1890 – 1978)
Eleanor Mae McCaul McCullough (1926 - )
Cathy Lynn McCullough Huber (1961 - )
Heather Marie Huber (1989 - )
Chapter 1 – Relationships
Developing relationships is very important in becoming a successful teacher. Some of the following guidelines have been imperative in dealing with people.
Auxiliary staff plays an integral role in running the building. It will definitely behoove you to befriend the janitors and secretaries. Just being your pleasant, friendly self is a great way to start however, other little gestures will not go unnoticed.
Keep Your Room Neat and Tidy
This should be accomplished by teaching your students at the beginning of the year. About a minute before the bell rings say, “Clean up your area. Push in your chairs.” Then, walk around and instruct those who choose to not assist in cleaning up their area. If you use their names they will probably oblige, provided you have developed a relationship with that child. For example say, “Sue, could you throw away that wrapper for me, please?” Chances are the child will do it. By consistently advising your students from the very beginning this good behavior should become habit. This will be obvious to the janitor. It makes his job easier. He is aware that your room always looks better than the others and consequently he may come to fix your heat quicker than he fixes the heat of the teacher whose room is always a mess.
Be Prompt about Filling Out Paperwork from the Office
You may have to complete student count forms or requisitions. Get this done before the due date. The secretary knows who always completes requests on time. It saves her time in that she doesn’t have to chase down her outstanding forms, thus allowing her to get other work done. This will not go unnoticed by the secretary, either. She, in turn, may be able to find you some pencils when all of them have been used up for that year.
If You Find Yourself With a Little Extra Time, It Doesn’t Hurt to Offer Assistance
Secretaries are always overworked, but if you offer to assist them, it won’t be forgotten. Just stuffing envelopes for 10 minutes may really help to lighten their load. The same is true with janitors; if you help them, they may have time to find extra desks for you.
Don’t Forget Special Days
Give the auxiliary staff a card on Secretaries Day or some candy at Christmas. Take the time to pay them a compliment or lend a sympathetic ear. These are nice little gestures that help in developing your relationship with them.
Administrators, counselors and teachers are an essential part of the school system. It is best to keep them on your good side as well.
Be a Good Employee and Your Administrator Will Notice
Always arrive before contract time and don’t be the first one running out the door at the end of the day. Manage your own classroom by talking with the students and parents first. An administrator knows which teachers are always sending students to the office. Don’t be one of those teachers.
Counselors are a Very Integral Part of the Scheduling Process
As an elective teacher, you will probably be worried about having a full schedule the following school year. Try to help the counselors out whenever possible. If they need help with administering the ACT, be a volunteer. If you have a better rapport with a student and can talk to the student for them, do so. The effort you put in may pay off more than expected when the scheduling process begins.
It is Helpful to Have Good Working Relationships With Your Colleagues
Helping someone fix the machines in the copy room or delivering forms to the office for your neighbors is always a good gesture. Throughout my career, seven of my colleagues have eventually become my bosses. It pays to keep everyone on your good side.
Students are the whole reason we are at school. If you have problems relating to them, it can make for a miserable day, school year and career.
To Develop Good Relationships with Your Students, Get To Know Them Individually
Stand at your door when students are coming into class. Just talk to them as you would any other person. Learn if they play soccer, cheerlead or are in the band. The day after a student plays in a game, ask how their game was. Just show them that you are interested in their activities and care about them. Give them high fives or learn their new, weird handshakes. It can be really fun and at the same time you’re building a rapport with them. When students know you care, they’ll work for you and be nice to you. They may even pick up that wrapper on the floor. You never know when you will come across these students later in life. Two of my former students have become school board members. Essentially, they have gone on to become my bosses.
Always Treat Your Students with Respect
Students are people, too. Sometimes they are amazed that a teacher is not bossing them around but rather just talking to them and being polite. Always be polite when asking them to do something. Use please and thank-you. Remember if you give respect, you will get respect.
Cathy’s Classroom Capers: With inclusion becoming more and more prevalent, it is not always easy to have a balanced classroom. One year, when I was teaching the phrase “Feliz Navidad”, a student began singing that popular song. I had an autistic child in that class who just started screaming, “NO, IT’S NOT THANKSGIVING YET! YOU CAN’T SING “FELIZ NAVIDAD!” The class knew about his autism and didn’t really react. In fact, they were very quiet. The girl stopped singing and we moved on with little disruption. However, whenever anyone in that hour wanted to get my goat they would mouth the words “Feliz Navidad.” It became our little joke.