Whenever you enter a new school, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. You want to make the best impression possible. Your teaching will speak for itself, but how you interact in the school will impact the decision to have you back or not. Keep these few tips in mind, to help your day run smoothly.
Give yourself time to get familiar with the building and the important places (classroom, restrooms, staffroom). This also gives you time to review the notes and lesson plans left by the regular teacher and meet with other teachers or administrative staff who can offer support.
Schools have to be safe places for all staff and students. Identification in the form of an ID or visitor tag when on site is important to ensure safety. Every school operates a little differently so when in doubt, ask.
When you arrive for the day ask at the office if you can sign out keys. You might need them to access staff washrooms or in an emergency be able to lock your classroom door. It’s easier to ask at the beginning of the day than to try and scramble for them later.
In some situations, you do not have time to learn all the students' names, but do what you can as it will help you. It helps with multiple aspects of being in a school, including classroom management and forming relationships. Do your best, it takes time to commit this information to memory. Getting the students to introduce themselves using an adjective is a fun way to break the ice and help you learn their names (Example: funny Fred, bright Blakely, whimsical Willa).
Learning the names of people you are likely to interact with such as the administrative assistant, and teachers in adjacent classrooms is also important. You never know when you’ll be back at the school so make a note of these names on your phone to help you remember.
We’ve all been there. You ask the students to do something, and they reply with, 'But Ms. Greene does it like this.' Being adaptable can help the day run smoothly, but don’t forget that you’re the teacher and maintaining authority is important too.
You never know what is going to happen in a class, so have a few go-to activities in the back of your mind. Activities you can do with little to no preparation are a great way to fill
Here are a few ideas:
Read Aloud: Bring your favourite children’s book along.
Trivia: Who doesn’t love learning random facts? Try these!
Problem solving: Try Mashup Math for puzzles (no need to print, just use a projector)
Games: Classics like would you rather, GoNoodle & categories are always a hit
Being prepared is the first step towards making a good impression in a new school. Your ability to be flexible and handle an unfamiliar environment says a lot about you as a teacher so be sure to put your best face forward to leave a lasting impression.