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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

The College of Education and Human Sciences

Strengthening the lives of individuals, families, schools and communities

The Beginning Teacher Newsletter

Congratulations on your first teaching position! We know you're excited about starting this first year. Look to this site for teaching tips and guidance.

Quick Tips:
*Use your planning time to visit a colleague's class. You'll get great ideas and feel recharged.

*Keep a "praise file" of compliments and positive feedback; Read it on a day when you're stressed.

*Plan to keep notes on your lesson plans with phrases like "great," "boring," "kids loved it," "leave out question two."

*Question why you do things certain ways; Don't be afriad to make changes.

*Before grading essay tests, write a model answer yourself; Include major points to be covered.

*Think about how you greet students; Have informal chats as they arrive.

*Rules beg to be broken; Introduce students to class procedures instead.

*Tell the students about your own reading; Let a student borrow one of your favorite books.