Let's Get Acquainted: New Teacher Advice!

Happy Sunday to everyone! :)

I'm linking up with Latoya for her weekly Let's Get Acquainted Linky! :)  This week, she wants us to give advice!  Ahh...advice giving...here's what I thought when I saw the topic...

Any teacher worth their salt will tell you...we weren't always as brilliant as we are now! :)

Some times, in order to grow...you've got to make mistakes and LEARN from them.

Growing older has made me a wee bit wiser...and mellow-er too...

So...without further ado...my advice...

BUY

A really good pencil sharpener.

I am in love with this one from Classroom Friendly Supplies! They give sharp points and the kids can do it themselves!  It was a miracle worker this year! :)  Love it! :)

Once the kids get the the hang of how to use it, they just go on 'automatic pilot' with it!

When I start the school year, I'll do a video on it so that you guys can see how cool it is.  I meant to do it before school let out...but you know how that goes!   I think the kids doing the demo is way cuter than me! :)

ALWAYS

Start every day...with every kid- FRESH!  Don't hold grudges...make sure that your kids know that you love them every day...no matter what.  For some of them...you're the most consistent thing they've got going in their lives, so...make sure that you leave the past in the past and turn a page on whatever they did yesterday.  No kid's behavior is ever going to get worse when confronted with unconditional love.  You may not reap the benefit of it in the school year that you have that student...but...the impact on your parents is immesurable!

NEVER

Complain about your kids out loud where other people or students can hear you.

Complaining about their behavior or their inadequacies never made students better...and it just makes you more frustrated.  What you are thinking about shapes the relationship that you have with that student...so, if you're constantly thinking the worst...it will come out...and honestly...just doesn't sound good.

FIND

Ya'll know that I co-plan with Daina from Sticky Notes and Glitter and it really made all the difference in my school year.  Some of the best ideas I had, were in those sessions that we sat down and talked about how to get our kids learning in a way that was lasting.  Over the years, I've made that connection with other teachers as well! It's nice to share ideas with someone who shares your thinking!  So super encouraging when you just need a pick-me-up too! :)

MAKE

I love a cute craft or sweet clip art on centers as much as the next person, but if its not aligned to something, I'm just not all that interested.  As a primary teacher, I have the awesome responsibilty of laying a foundation of learning in my students that someone else will be building on for the rest of their educational career.  I've got to get it right...there's no time to waste on things that are just frilly for the sake of frilly. I've got 180 days to make a difference...so, when we're having fun...I need to make sure that it's something that will help them to be a better learner, listener, or little person! :)

BE

This picture should really say...don't worry...be CONTENT.  I know that with everything that goes on I'll not always be happy, but happiness is a feeling that can come and go.  Contentment -- no matter my circumstances -- is grounded.  We are surrounded by tons of pressure in this profession.  Pressure to assess...pressure to perform to assessment...pressure to be good at everything...every day...but, no matter what happens...if we can be content in knowing that we chose the right job...that these kids are in OUR class for a reason...we will be okay! :)

Hope the advice helps! :)

Thanks for reading!

Love ya'll!