Hello! I’m a first year teacher who is starting on the 15th. I will be teaching 6th & 7th grade ELA. Does anyone have any advice for a first year teacher starting in the middle of the school year?

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Be yourself. I would start by sharing some things about yourself and then asking them to share through writing. That way you can learn about them and assess their skills at the same time. Set a routine and teach them what you expect from day 1. Have an attention getting hand sign or sound. Use proximity to help prevent behavior issues - not yelling in reaction. Make discipline an individual conversation, not in front of the class. Have fun! Get to know the kids and don’t be afraid to laugh with them and at yourself.

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I agree, I would add a fun warm-up, I tossing a small nerf ball around the room with questions on it for them to answer, this is a good ice breaker.

Have your class norms up and running. Explain daily procedures and get help and support from your colleagues in the same grade level.

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Set stiff boundaries and loosen as you go. Don't go in being the "cool" teacher.

You'll have your work cut out for you, particularly if the class was covered by subs for a while (it'll likely be a bit easier if your first day is the day after the departing teacher's last, or, even better, if there are a few overlapping days for the hand-off). Don't do content at first. Teach your procedures and expections, and don't assume anything. Kids are likely to test you to see what they can get away with, and it's easier to ease off on your behavioral expecations later on than it is to tighten up. But try to build relationships. Learn names ASAP. Make sure they're in seating charts, and any time you've got them working, quiz yourself against the chart until you've got the names down.

Teach everything: Fire drills, where trash goes, where bookbags go, where names go on their assignments, seating charts etc. Go over your discipline plan with your admin and mentor teacher. Teach the students exactly what will happen. Repeat often. Follow through. Spend as long as you think you can. At the beginning of the year (which is where you are) many teachers don't start easing into the curriculum until the third or fourth day. Your mentor will help you figure out how things work at your school.

Go over procedures first so they will know how the class should operate from your prospective. Be consistent and firm. It's easier to loosen up towards the end of the year. Go over nonverbal cues so you don't have to raise your voice. Once you begin teaching the skills think of how those skills are intertwine cross curricula. Some kids see the light bulb and appreciate how the skill connections help them in other classes. Vocabulary is essential. Show them your passion. Get to know them with inventories and questions. They care when they see you care. Remember to reflect each day and week to go forward confidently.

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