Survival Tips for New Student Teachers

The first year I became a substitute teacher I really wish I had some great survival tips on how to handle the classroom, kids and everything else that goes along with teaching. Substitute teachers, student teachers are basically on the same level because they are not in the classroom all the time and their time in the classroom is very limited when it comes to setting up a goal on getting the children to respect you. I have some great advice that I now pass on down to substitutes and new student teachers under me. Here are ten great tips for you if you are in the same boat.

Tip 1
Stay Strong
I am not going to lie to you, but children are just like animals. They can sense that you are scared and they will feed off of that. Before you set foot into any classroom make sure you remind yourself that you are the adult and they are the kids. You have teachers and other school officials all throughout the school that will back you up in case they over take you!

Tip 2
Stay Calm
You can not allow yourself to get nervous, nor can you allow yourself to get to out of control with being upset. Once you feel like you are getting this way, turn the lights off in the classroom. Allow the children to lay their heads down for five minutes and then you will take this time to do relaxing breathing techniques to bring you back to the surface of things.

Tip 3
Hello
Learn all children's names. Make sure while you are in the classroom you use their names as many times as you can and greet them as they walk in and out of the classroom. This will help the children to understand that you are nurturing and not just always strict.

Tip 4
One Hug
If you allow the children to do so (in lower grade levels) to start hugging on you, then they will all want to start doing so, and they hug line can keep going on for hours. Allow all kids to give you one hug and tell them no more after that. If you spend all your time loving on the children then you educational time will just diminish.

Tip 5
Stay Stern
Please, never let the kids make themselves the boss. If you give a child five inches they will take it five miles. Always remain in control and this means handing out silent lunch time, no recess and maybe writing sentences to punish them, then so be it so the children know you mean business.

Tip 6
Bring Yourself Down To Their Level
Do this only to an extent. If you are teaching elementary school children, make sure you cut up with them on their level and make silly faces and act a little goofy at times. If you are in middle or high school then do your research and find out what is popular at that time in the media. During down time chit chat with them on what is going on in the world of pop stars.

Tip 7
Communication
It is so important to have open and smooth communication lines between you and the other faculty members at the school you are working at. This is always a necessity when it comes time to dealing with situations that you may not think you can handle.

Tip 8
Reflection
At the end of the day take time to reflect on each child you had taught that day. Keep a journal. Write down the child's name and what excellent characteristic did they display today. Also under their name write down what you would like to work with for that child.

Tip9
Stay Healthy
If you do not watch yourself, you will soon fall victim to the first year sickness. If you have never been around children all day, their runny noses and coughs will soon make you sick and keep your sick. Keep alot of vitamin C in your system!

Tip 10
Have Fun
Remember this is a job you wanted to do. Do not get frustrated with the results if they are not going as planned. Always ask for help to make things easier, but also remember to have fun and keep a positive outlook on things.