New Teacher Needs Advice

Yes, you will. Remain focused on why you entered the field! Never settle with mediocrity, even if others around you do. Examine your students abilities and needs; focus on their strengths while developing goals for both gifted and challenged kids. WE need teachers who care about teaching in a diverse classroom. After all, don’t we LIVE in a diverse world?

Your question isn’t exactly clear but I take my students who have great cognitive strengths and direct their learning along their lines. I suggest books for them to read that challenge their reading and their thinking. I sometimes sit and have lunch to discuss the concepts in the books they’ve read. I write thoughtful, no easy answer questions on the board and any student can come during the week and discuss their thoughts as to the answer.

Why is New Year’s Jan. 1 and not March 1?
Why did King Canute command the waves to stop rolling?
What’s a better way to do_______________________?
Is there only one way to ________________________?

That list can go on forever.

If their strengths are in math, you can easily buy math teaser/brain buster books at any good bookstore and xerox pages out of it. If their strength is in social studies, current events can make excellent discussions.

I’m a mom not a teacher in the school sense of the word, but my suggestion is; present the ideas and things you are teaching in as many different media forms as you can. We all learn differently and maybe it will help your students who struggle in that particular area. You know a visual, an audio, something handson etc. One other thing, comunicate with all of your parents. Don’t be shy about asking them questions or telling them what you are seeing. We would love to be flies on the wall! I know that what I hear at home is often not the same as what has gone on at school. (Kind of like that game “telephone”!) Good Luck and Enjoy!

Sara, I loved these questions… can you give me more. I know you said the list is endless…but unfortunately my brain has a limited capacity. Give me more…please. My gifted-ld kids would love these. Thanks Marie

Don’t ever be a mediocre teacher and never teach at a level of mediocrity. Think of all of your students as gifted, just that some of them need more help expressing it. If you look, you can usually find a gift in each child.

For academic challenge: Use bonus questions on tests that require extra critical thinking or creativity. Use projects that allow students to express their mastery of the material through art, music, drama, computer-generated art and presentations as well as written assessments and reports. Let your more advanced students teach a lesson on something you weren’t going to teach per se that is related to your lesson. Get a contest going for the most books read or a math olympics with worksheets the students choose to do and include all levels of material.

For the non-academic challenge: Get a service squad going and have students help out with the younger students or help teachers. Get a community service/action program to help the elderly or the poor. Have students design and build a garden. Start clubs like cooking or arts and crafts for special Friday treats and let gifted students lead one.

Enjoy each child for who he or she is and what he or she brings to the classroom.