How to Become a Successful Teacher in Your First Years

How to Become a Successful Teacher in Your First Years

The excitement of your first years as a teacher may be overshadowed by concerns about establishing your professional credibility and effectiveness as an educator. One of the main indicators of your success is how well you help students learn. Develop relationships with every child to identify the best way to help them grasp concepts and succeed academically. Successful teachers make learning relevant to their students to keep them engaged. Maintain a positive attitude and a sense of humor and be flexible.Treat your students fairly, consistently and with compassion so they can begin to share your love of learning.

Step 1

Develop and implement effective classroom management policies, adapted as needed to each age group. For young children, incorporate tools to track daily behavior, such as a color-coded chart, and clearly labeled desks, cubbies and folders. Early elementary teachers also need to establish signals so children know when to be quiet, when to line up and when it's free time -- rhythmic clapping sequences are often effective. With older students, establish weekly take-home folders, daily and weekly schedules and a clear system of rewards and consequences for homework or behavioral infractions. With all age groups, be sure both the students and their families understand your expectations and policies from the very beginning, and be consistent in your implementation.

Step 2

Get organized before school starts and keep your classroom organized throughout the year. Use colorful bins for school supplies and outdoor toys in early elementary classrooms. Set up centers for art, reading and computers and keep all related supplies at those centers. With older children, use an inbox-outbox system for papers that need to be turned in. Create a return bin for library books. Hang office or bathroom passes by the door.

Step 3

Create a welcoming classroom environment that is conducive to learning. Younger students enjoy colorful posters and pictures on the walls showing concepts such as shapes, letters and numbers. A bright rug, a kid-sized bookshelf and some small beanbag chairs create a cozy corner for quiet reading time. Experiment with small groupings of desks and chairs to identify the best traffic flow for the students to move safely among centers and remain within your line of sight. Bring in a portable music system so students can enjoy music on special occasions.

Step 4

Develop strong networks with other staff members. Observe veteran teachers and ask them for their recommendations on successful techniques for dealing with classroom situations and working with individual students. Take advantage of professional training opportunities and workshops to stay current on education issues; supplement these by reading professional journals. Find a trusted, experienced colleague to serve as a mentor.

Step 5

Establish effective communication with your students' families, creating a partnership with the children's parents or guardians. Host a family night or parent orientation at the beginning of each school year so parents can see their children's classroom and experience a bit of their daily routine. Encourage parents and guardians to contact you with concerns or questions or to inform you of issues at home that might affect a student's classroom performance. Provide opportunities for parents to help in the classroom or with special activities. For elementary students, consider a "Friday folder" -- this is sent home every Friday containing the week's papers; parents sign the folder and return it with their students on Mondays. This routine improves the chances that parents remain engaged in their children's education.