Advice to New Teachers

My best advice to new teachers comes from my own experiences this year: Learn to understand how students gain knowledge and do NOT think for a minute that because you (the teacher) have so much background knowledge that your students will! Being in my field for ?? years, I know my subject matter. However, I never realized the theories and philosophies behind how and what students learn and retain. The more tools that teachers can put in their toolboxes when it comes to strategies and learning, the more successful their students will be. My advice is to keep an open mind and be willing to adapt and change your teaching style. Be reflective in your own teaching experiences and cognitively aware of what works and what doesn't--don't be afraid to try new things.