Well we all know I can be a bit long winded so my replacement would probably walk into an organized filing cabinet of advice but if I had to say just one thing, I would tell the replacement to be firm, fair, and friendly. I guess that is technically 3 things but they should all be rolled into one. You need to be firm or the kids will never respect you, you need to be fair or you will have to listen to unending complaints, and you need to be friendly because the kids need to see a smiling face every once and awhile.
I would also let my replacement know that there will be good days and bad days. I will get so frustrated one day but then will have the best day ever the next. It is like a roller coaster and you have to take the bad with the good.
Last word of advice (see I told you I would say more than one thing) is to keep it simple. Sometimes I try to do too much and the kids are just as happy with simple ways of doing things.
I agree with the good and the bad, but I think as time goes on there are more good and less bad..
ReplyDeleteI agree with this completely! I believe you have offered great advice. Sometimes students need someone to be firm with them to give them some guidence. We should always be fair with our class, and sometimes we are the only smiles our students see. You have given some wonderful advice!
ReplyDeleteI like your comments about keeping it simple. I have a tendency to add too much, then get bogged down in a lesson, then get behind on my planned schedule. Well defined, simple lessons always seem to work best. Keeping it simple also allows time for students to repeat work or share ideas.
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