My Advice to You

I am linking up with Ms. Fultz's Corner to give some advice.  

This is my 25th year of teaching so I have LOTS, but I'll only give you a few...haha

1)  Don't worry so much about worksheets!  I have found through the years that when I do a ton of worksheets, it only ADDS to my workload (think grading).  Instead I like to use a lot of write/wipe off boards (which also really helps with my limited number of copies I'm allowed monthly). Whether I'm in small group or whole group, it's very easy for me to assess which student's are having trouble with a skill.  Then, I can pull the students into a small needs-based group and work with them while other students are in centers.  How much easier is that than waiting for students to finish a worksheet, then taking them home to grade, and then try to find time in tomorrow's busy schedule to work with those students?

2)  Play lots of games!  Who DOESN'T love playing a game?  What better way to help your students learn than through play.  It doesn't matter what level you teach... all students, ALL ages enjoy playing games.  Play games to learn and games to review.  Students will take away a lot of learning without even realizing that it was "work."

3)  Be a good co-worker!  Share.  Even when people don't reciprocate, always try to include your co-workers by sharing your thoughts and ideas.  By bouncing ideas off of each other, those thoughts and ideas become even better.  Your co-workers will appreciate that you are reaching out.   Working as a team makes life so much better!

4)  Count Your BLESSINGS!  Teaching is your heart's desire and you are getting a paycheck for doing what you love!  Chill out, relax, enjoy this opportunity that God has placed in your life.  Remember to be thankful for it even on the days when the students are wild and you want to pull out your hair!  ;-)

5)  Give words of encouragement to your students EVERY day!  Our grade changes students for reading and math.  When my students leave homeroom at 8:15, I don't see them again until 12:40.  I stand at the door every morning and tell them things such as, "Have a good day!"  "Work Hard"  "Get smarter" "Learn something new to tell me about later" etc.  Then I wait for my reading students to come in the room and I tell them "Good Morning" "I'm so glad we get to learn together again" etc.

As ALL of my students leave my room for the day, I make sure to hug those that want to hug and tell each and everyone of them "I love you!"  After all, doesn't a kind word go a long way to making YOUR day better?