Like most other teachers, I find it impossible to completely be on vacation during the summer. I think about school. I think about what I could have done better last year, and I look ahead to the things that I know I can improve in the upcoming year. In doing some research, I found these three helpful documents stored away on my computer. They are from the DVD professional development kit that accompanies the First-Year Teacher's Survival Guide. I found them helpful in guiding my thinking about school and the ways that I can be a better teacher. Feel free to use them to inform your summertime school thoughts as well.
Teacher
Worksheet 7.6: How to Create a Useful Teacher Binder
Although a
teacher’s binder is a very personal set of documents, dependent on the needs of
the teacher and the types of courses and student that teacher has to manage;
there are some items that are almost indispensible in any teacher binder.
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Your professional goals
·
A to-do list for your professional life
·
A list of positive labels about students
·
Lists of activities to refer to energize your instruction
·
Copy of Bloom’s Taxonomy
·
List of Gardner’s multiple intelligences
·
Tips for teaching study skills
·
Grading reminders such as due dates or grading scales
·
A school year calendar
·
An outline of the instructional plan for the year, semester, or
grading period
·
Personally inspiring items such as uplifting quotations or notes
from students
·
Seating charts
·
List of classroom chores for students to manage
·
Ideas for integrating technology
·
Class rosters
·
Techniques for managing various classroom problems
·
Lists of Internet resources to explore
·
Stress management techniques
Teacher Self-Assessment
7.7: My Professional Goals This Year
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Goal
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Semester 1 Progress
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Semester 2 Progress
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Teacher Worksheet 7.8: A Teacher’s To-Do List
Phone Calls Concerning Students
Student:_______________________________________________________________________
Parent
or Guardian: Name and Number:_____________________________________________
Date and
Time:_________________________________________________________________
Reason:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Outcome:_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Other Phone Calls
_____________________________________________________________________________________Emails to Send
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Parent Conferences
Student:______________________________________________________________________________
Parent’s
Name and Number:______________________________________________________________
Date and Time:_________________________________________________________________________
Reason:______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Outcome:_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Other Meetings
_____________________________________________________________________________________
After-School/Extra Duty Responsibilities
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Items to Duplicate
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Lesson Plans or Projects to Complete
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Great Websites or Other Resources to Explore
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Notes/Reminders/Errands
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
