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Dear Arizona
Promising Practices Subscriber, THIS ISSUE: Common
Teaching Mistakes Dear Arizona
Promising Practices Subscriber, Welcome to another
online addition of the Arizona Promising Practices forum. For those
new to this service, you will receive periodic updates focusing on: (1) Recommended
National Education websites; and (2) One
promising practice article in condensed form. We welcome your
recommendations for improvement to this forum or suggestions on
future topics (these will be wide ranging so if nothing in this
update interests you, hold on for future editions!) The Arizona Promising
Practices Forum and website, www.azpromisingpractices.com
is a FREE resource of the Arizona Department of Education. In this issue of the
Promising Practices Forum we have been asked to provide a refresher
on back to school issues as districts begin a new year. This Top 10
list provides valuable insight on strategies of great classrooms and
teachers. National Website of Importance: If you are looking for additional online resources about Autism, check out the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center website at http://www.autismcenter.org . Promising Practice Research and Tips Top 10 Common Teaching Mistakes For Teachers To Avoid People
enter the teaching profession because they want to make a
positive difference in
society. 1.
Aiming To Be Buddies With Their Students ~~Inexperienced teachers often fall into the trap of wanting their
students to like them above all else. ---àInstead,
focus on earning your students' respect, admiration, and
appreciation. 2.
Being Too Easy On Discipline ~~For various reasons, teachers often start out the year with a lax
discipline plan or, even worse, no plan at all! ---àStart
out tough because you can always relax your rules as time
progresses. 3.
Not Setting Up
Proper Organization From The Start ~~Until you've completed a full year of teaching, you are unable to
comprehend how much paper accumulates in an elementary school
classroom. ---àYou
can avoid some of these paper-induced headaches by setting up a
sensible organization system from day one and, most importantly,
using it every day! 4.
Minimizing
Parental Communication and Involvement ~~You might be tempted to "fly under the radar" with parents,
in order to avoid confrontations and questions—it can feel
intimidating. ---àCommunicate
clearly with these parents from the start and you'll have a band of
allies to make your entire school year flow more smoothly. 5.
Getting Involved
In Campus Politics ~~If you agree to listen to gossip, you'll be taking sides and immersing
yourself in between warring factions--the political fallout can be
brutal. ---àBetter
to just keep your interactions friendly and neutral, while focusing
intently on the work with your students--avoid politics at all costs
and your teaching career will thrive! 6.
Remaining
Isolated From The School Community ~~You'll want to avoid campus politics, but not at the expense of being
insulated and alone in the world of your classroom. ---àAttend
social events, eat lunch in the staff room, say hello in the halls,
help colleagues when you can, and reach out to the teachers around
you. 7.
Working Too Hard
And Burning Out ~~If you keep burning the candles at both ends, the next teacher to quit
might be you. ---àWork
smart, be effective, take care of your responsibilities, but go home
at a decent hour. 8.
Not Asking For Help ~~Teachers can be a proud bunch--the job requires superhuman skills, so
teachers strive to appear as superheroes who can handle any problem
that comes their way. ---àDon't
be afraid to appear vulnerable, admit mistakes, and ask your
colleagues or administrators for assistance. . 9.
Being Overly Optimistic And Too Easily Crushed ~~New teachers often join the profession because they are idealistic,
optimistic, and ready to change the world. ---àRecognize
that there will be tough days, know that the tough times will pass,
and there will be teaching joys. 10.
Being Too Hard On Yourself ~~Teaching is hard enough without the additional challenge of mental
anguish over slip-ups, mistakes, and imperfections. ---àForgive
yourself for the day's mistakes, erase the slate, and gather your
mental strength for the next time it's needed. |