Summertime Thoughts about School

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.

·        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

Goal	Semester 1 Progress	Semester 2 Progress

 

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

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________