Sharing Good Practice
Start Strong:
Begin the school year right
By Betina Fuentes
4. Rejuvenate yourself. Jet lag from
summer travels can leave you less than
your best. Make sure you leave enough
time to rest, rehydrate and recuperate
before the academic year begins.
Missing the beginning of school can
result in a rocky start for everyone
involved.
5. Choose a theme for the year.
Make your classroom a place where
students feel at home. Giving them
a theme helps them identify and
engage with the classroom on a daily
basis. Even Cycle 2 and 3 students
appreciate a little effort put into
making an attractive, productive,
welcoming space.
Bonus Newbie Tips:
1. Make sure all your paperwork is
complete. Take as many trips to your
head office or headquarters as you
need in order to finish all steps. Lack of
documents equal lack of salary in many
cases.
2. Get to know your peers. Take the
time to introduce yourself and have a
few words with as many co-workers as
possible. This will make it easy for you
to ask for help if you need it later.
W
elcome back to another
school year of inspiring
and innovating! Before you
greet your students with a
smile and a positive attitude, make sure
you’re on track for the best year ever
with the following tips for teachers and
a bonus five for newbies to the UAE.
1. Plan for success. Lesson planning
is the key to less stress, more effective
use of class time, and ensuring goals
are met. Take some time to review your
School Improvement Plan (SIP). Each
school sets goals based on data and
previous inspection reports, and the
more correlated your classroom is with
these goals, the better. If your SIP is not
readily available, ask an administrator
for a copy and explain why.
2. Do an inventory. Check around
for resources you can use in your
classroom. Many books, manipulatives
and other supplies play a game of
hide and seek over the school year,
and should be rounded up for easy
access by all teachers who need them.
Also, check storage areas for any extra
tables or desks that can be used for
centers or workstations in your room.
3. Get inspired. Watch one or two
of your favourite “teacher movies”
or read books or blogs by famous
teachers. Mine are “Freedom Writers”
with Hilary Swank, and the short novel
"The Water Is Wide" by Pat Conroy
and of course, Teach Middle East
Magazine. Borrow some ideas from
these teaching masters!
3. Learn your students’ names! Use
tricks like seating charts or desk tents
to help you. You can even turn it into
a game and quiz yourself with the
students’ help.
4. Take time to unwind. Enjoy your
new adventure. Ask for advice on
restaurants and sights to visit in your
time off.
5. Communicate with your team.
They will be your biggest support at
school. Making time to share a cup of
coffee and discuss strategies, or even
getting to know one another, will help
ease the stress.
I hope that everyone is off to a
fantastic start and that these tips will
give you the edge when preparing
and continuing the new school year.
Have a great semester!
Class Time
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Sep - Oct 2016
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