10 Things Teachers Need to Know

As the school year is coming to a close, I began to reflect on things that I think are important for teachers to know. 

1. Wet paper towels, band-aids, and time heal all most wounds. 

Teachers should have to minor in nursing. Kids always have complaints about something hurting. As a teacher, you have to determine when there really is something wrong with a child and when there's not. I can't tell you how many times I say "let's see how you feel in a little while" or  "just get a wet paper towel and put on it."

2. Multitasking and management are essential skills.

Along with minoring in nursing, teachers should also minor in business. You have to manage 20+ people daily. You have to be able to differentiate and accommodate while being sure to cover all of your objectives. Don't even get me started on all the paperwork you have to do. Then, you have to also handle parent emails (or phone calls or stopping by), hurt children (see #1), bullying issues, and drama. You have to keep up with who's done what, who was out of the room when you assigned something, and who still has to turn in an assignment. On top of that, your name is constantly being called. It's exhausting!

3. You will often understand a child better after you meet their parent(s).

A child is going to be most influenced by their home life. Sometimes this influence is good. Most of the time, the children who make better grades have parents who give them a lot of life experiences. They also work with their children and talk with them about things that are going on in the world. On the other hand, children who don't follow rules or are disrespectful are often allowed to act like that at home. 

4. "Winging it" and flexibility are essential skills.

No matter how many lesson plans they make you write out in explicit detail in college, you will still find yourself on some days staring at a blank plan book. Teachers have so many demands put on them that lesson planning is often not a priority. Often all you know is what you're supposed to be teaching and how to teach it comes to you as you're doing it. You are also working in a very unpredictable setting. You never know when your lesson will be interrupted or won't go as planned. 

5. No matter how many supplies you have, they have a way of disappearing.

I don't know what kids do-eat them, but supplies don't last long. You will spend a lot of your own money or a lot of time begging parents for more supplies.

6. If a kid is ____________, you must be _____________er.
You must always be one step ahead of them. Think back and remember what it was like to be in their shoes. What were you or your classmates doing behind the teacher's back? What are all the ways you could possibly cheat? What could you try and sneak in your desk to play with when the teacher's not looking? When could you pass a note? You must be alert and observant at all times. So, fill in the blanks, whatever a kid is-you must be more.

7. A look can say a lot.

This can be a good and bad thing. If you perfect your "you better stop right this second" look, you don't have to talk as much. On the other hand, teachers can often give looks to display their disgust with certain things and students will learn to read and interpret these looks. They often voice your thoughts for you.

8. Students love to be praised.

It's amazing how you can say "I love how Sally is reading her book quietly like I asked" and all of a sudden they're all looking at Sally and trying to mimic her. It can be so easy to criticize and say negative things, that it's important to remember to praise students as well.

9. Remember Pavlov's Dog you learned about in psychology? It can be applied to children. 

Music, bells, chimes, vocal commands-whatever signals you need to use, you can "train" your students to respond. It's really amazing to watch. I personally use music to signal various transitions and it makes things run a lot smoother.

10.  You want them to leave your classroom having learned more than just the required curriculum.
For about 10 months, you get to have a major influence on the lives of others. Many of your students don't have positive influences as home. Even for the ones who do, it's important that you teach them some life skills. These are the things your students will remember more than anything.