100 Lessons I've Learned as a Walk-On Teacher

[angenoir]

I'm trying this - trying to post, like, tips and tricks and things I've learned as a teacher. For this, though, there needs to be a bit of background -

When I graduated from college, I had two degrees that were fairly useless: Creative Writing and Political Science. Eventually, I chose to go to graduate school, but when the classes part of my graduate schooling ended and the scholarship ran out, I needed something. At the exact same time, my mother, who worked at a private religious school, had been mentioning that they were looking for teachers. I decided to try, with no teaching certificate and no training beyond watching (and aiding) my mother as a teacher since I was in 3rd grade.

Now, the thing about religious schools (Muslims ones, at least) is that they pay crap. Like, easily less than half the starting salary for a teacher. But it was a salary, which was more than I had. They also accept almost anyone. (Almost.) So I got the job, and that was 3 years ago.

I love teaching, but I came in with nothing but what I watched my mom do, and what I call 'common sense.' I've gone to countless seminars on teaching, and in all of them they all seem to be just... reminders? Like, they're things we should already know and that make sense to do, but they're good reminders.

So, that being said, I'm going to try and compile a list of 100 things I've learned as someone who just, very literally, walked into teaching. This year, my goal will be to get my certification, and I hope by the time I have it, I'll have finished this list.

Comments

[ysse-writes.livejournal.com]

I'll be looking forward to reading all about your experiences. (I actually taught for a few years so it'll be interesting to compare notes.)