In an attempt to track the changes in my perceptions of the art and science of teaching, I am planning to periodically update my 10 Tips to reflect my (hopefully) increasing knowledge and skill in the area. I am quite sure that my current naive pre-pre-service teacher state will not yield particularly insightful truth nuggets, but at least it will provide a canvas of brevity to express my supposed thoughts of importance.
Attempt #1 – 10 Tips for New Teachers
1. Expect the unexpected.
2. Be willing and prepared to adapt to a dynamic situation.
3. Disasters are necessary for learning.
4. Feedback is your friend!
5. Collaboration is vital to surviving teaching – especially in the early days.
6. Listen to what your students want/need.
7. Always keep pedagogical reasoning in mind (NB – honestly, I am not sure I fully understand the importance of this yet, but I am hoping that I will soon!)
8. Uni can only teach you so much – be prepared for real world surprises.
9. Remember that creativity can come in many forms.
10. Don’t be afraid to use technology – you can’t break it (as Meg says)!
– For Science
Synergistic Bonding in the Classroom! 