This is article is by education writer Haley McLeod, and features various podcasts classroom educators should find valuable.

Teachers are well aware that learning is a life-long process. With the education world rapidly changing, educators must continually adapt their teaching styles to coincide with changing technology and education expectations. For podcasts in specific subject areas, please visit the Education Podcast Network, which provides links to education podcasts sorted by category. For now, here are several top podcasts that focus on general education improvement and current events.

ESL Teacher Talk: As the United States becomes more diverse, English as a second language teachers are in more demand than ever. ESL Teacher Talk is ideal for teachers who have students in their class who are learning English as a second language. The podcast discusses topics as classroom management, lesson plans, and job searches specifically for ESL Teachers. The podcast also includes links to supporting education materials, videos, and other downloads.

The Education Gadfly Show: The Education Gadfly show, run by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, examines current education issues such as school choice, teacher quality, and government legislation. In Ohio and around the country, The Fordham Institute advocates for more widespread education options and teacher accountability. Through 90-second mini-debates and “Rate that Reform,” the hosts educate the public about current events in the education world.

K-12 Greatest Hits: BAM! Radio, a prominent voice in the education community, compiles all of their most popular podcast segments into this podcast. Each episode is hosted by an Executive Directors of one of the many education associations in the United States. Through interviews with well-known educators and advocate groups, this podcast provides insights on the current issues of the education world.

NPR: Education Podcast: The National Public Radio podcast on education is a fantastic overall resource for educators, providing information on the science of learning, classroom dynamics, and other relevant topics. The podcast also covers current education news stories from around the world.

Teachers Teaching Teachers: Run by three working teachers in New York City, Paul Ellison, Susan Ettenheim, and Thomas Locke, this program provides a weekly podcast, skype conversation, and live webcast. This podcast is ideal for teachers struggling with implementing new technologies in the classroom. Together with fellow educators, they search for the most effective practices for studying, research, and technology; in addition, the podcast hosts review new media by testing it themselves.

The Teacher’s Podcast: The popular duo of Mark Gura and Dr. Kathy King explore recent news, research, and resources in the education world each week on The Teacher’s Podcast.  Together, Mark and Kathy are authors, professors, teachers, and education technology experts. The pair provides new and abundant resources for teachers and discusses methods of professional growth.

The Tenacious Teacher: Useful for all genres of teaching, The Tenacious Teacher is a podcast that provides strategies for everyday teaching and tools for managing responsibilities as an educator. This podcast is perfect for educators wanting to learn more about classroom dynamics and approaches for maintaining a productive classroom environment.

Teaching Tips by Teachtopia: Teaching Tips, by Teachtopia, serves teachers in grades K-12 and covers a variety of academic subjects, including science and math, language arts, social studies, and physical education. Each podcast focuses on a specific tip, either on a certain subject and or sometimes just on general teaching resources. Technology advice and help is also incorporated.

Teachers Connecting Podcast: Teachers Connecting Podcast focuses on providing new, unique lesson ideas, listening to fellow teachers’ stories, and exploring new technologies such as interactive whiteboards. One of their main focuses is the use of SMARTBoards and utilizing podcasts in teaching communities. This podcast has been rewarded honors such as Edublog Best Use of Audio 2007 and Microsoft Innovative Educators.

The Whole Child: The Whole Child is a podcast that recognizes the need for innovation and change in an education system rooted in the previous century. Technology has altered society rapidly, yet the education system remains the same. The Whole Child still recognizes the need to provide a solid foundation in the basic subjects (math, reading, writing, etc.), but also is pushing for a “whole child approach to teaching, learning, and community engagement.”

Haley McLeod is a guest blogger for My Dog Ate My Blog and a writer on online universities for Guide to Online Schools.

Photo Credit: Electric Images

This review is for the title Edible Schoolyard: A Universal Idea, by Alice Waters.

This book tells the story of how a garden transformed a middle school in crisis.

What started as a simple project blossomed into an elaborate legacy that has lasted for years. Through intense community, teacher and student involvement, along with Alice Waters’ commitment and vision, a middle school now has a food program that embraces students holistically throughout their entire careers at the school.

Others are taking this schoolyard’s lead and starting their own unique school gardens. I see this program as one that could also be used for therapeutic recreation purposes, or at the community level.

Check out Alice Waters’ book and be inspired.

Photo Credit: Chronicle Books.

A Teacher and Pupil in the Classroom

My first suggestion is to note what other teachers in your school and district wear daily. You’ll get a feel for what is appropriate within a couple visits.  The clothing I wear here in Florida may not be acceptable in more formal districts in other parts of the country or world. Though I can say I’ve taught overseas in areas where shorts were acceptable, so it all depends on your region. My second suggestion is ask questions about the appropriate attire if you aren’t certain.

I quickly noted that here in Florida  teachers dress casually. I also noted that schools have  casual Friday where most teachers and students wear school shirts and jeans, so on those days I dress more casually. These are all things that substitute teachers can take note of in their first few assignments.  Another issue in Florida is the heat and the fact that many of my clothing items are sleeveless and sleeveless items are not allowed. I found creative ways to work around this issue because I wanted to be both comfortable and budget conscious. A solution that worked for me was  to purchase two light, cropped, crocheted short sleeved sweaters that can be worn over sleeveless attire. Thinking outside the box allows you to wear clothing that you already own, rather than purchasing additional clothing just to substitute teach.

Comfort is key when subbing so I generally choose to wear pants. I have several that feel as comfortable as jeans and one pair that are actually beige denim.  For speed and simplicity  when preparing to sub I choose either beige or black pants as they reduce my worry about stains and they can be worn with pretty much everything. I try to pair them with colorful tops, shirts and sweaters that are cheery looking. I personally believe it helps our interaction with the students to arrive wearing something cheery and comfortable, if we are relaxed and comfortable the situation will be more comfortable.

Photo Credit: Ctd 2005 Flickr Creative Commons

After teaching in the classroom for twelve years and taking a several year break for career and  family reasons, I decided to try my hand at substitute teaching in Florida. When I made the decision to substitute I was nervous about handling groups of students I’d never met, but I quickly found strategies to keep me sane and keep the students on track.

Another effective strategy is to use my blackberry for music that is soothing during worktime. It’s unusual to most kids and they generally like it. I also try to figure out what reward system their teacher uses, ie cards, stickers, stamp. This way I can remind the students of the fact they will be rewarded if they have apporopriate behavior. If they chose to act out then they pull a card or don’t receive a positive stamp in their homework notebook at the end of the day.

I enjoy working with Middle School and do much of my subbing there. The most effective strategy I’ve found is to treat the students with respect. They are not children and the respond well to being treated like the young adults they are. Right up front I clearly state my expectations and the rewards they will receive for being respectful and productive. My best reward tip with Middle School is to offer them the use of their Ipod or music player when all work has been completed satisfactorily. Teens love music and this reward keeps them focused and also keeps things calm if there is extra time after the lesson.

If I do have a problem student, and occassionally I do, I nip it in the bud early. I never back them in a proverbial corner. If they are being unruly I give them options: you can sit down in your area and continue working quietly or if you need to you can move over here where it’s quieter.  if you can’t do either of those then I will have to send you to the grade level house. Here in my subsitute district each grade level has a grade level house (room) and students go there for discipine and issues. Most importantly, I follow through. If I give them a chance and they continue to mess it up then I have them escorted to the grade level house. Being clear, giving them options and following through are key with Middle School students. What I’ve found in most cases is nipping it in the bud makes everyone else realize you mean business and they step up and cooperate the rest of the period.

If you are a teacher looking to add some adventure and globe trotting experience to your resume then International Teacher Supply might be an option for you. International Teacher Supply is a member of ECIS and hires teachers to fill short and long term substitute positions in established international schools around the world. Positions can last from six weeks to several months. Host schools provide flights, health insurance and a teacher salary.

The International Teacher Supply website states, ” You will not lose money on an IST posting! You will be able to live well, travel and or save money! The international school will pay for transportation to and from the posting and may subsidise accommodation costs. Some schools also pay a cost of living allowance.” To apply for positions through International Teacher Supply applicants fill out an online application and pay a one time fee of 35 GBP, which is $54.19 according to the latest conversions. Applicants  are expected to have two years of full time teaching experience and go through a screening and interview process before being hired by IST.

As a former international teacher, I particularly like this short term teaching option  because it allows me the flexibility to work and travel overseas without committing to a typical one or two year teaching contract. It also allows me to explore countries and locations I’d like to visit but might not otherwise consider for a long term contract. This type of short term work would be ideal for teachers  who have a very flexible lifestyle,  those who work from home or who are global nomads looking to make some additional money while continuing their global adventures.

Related Readings: Teach to Travel, International Teaching Jobs, and Extreme Teaching: What’s in Your Bomb Bag?

Photo Credit: Isaf Media

Everywhere you see the students in your school texting on their cell phones or listening to their Ipods. Administrators are beginning to ask you how you use computers in your classroom. They have given you gadgets galore you have no idea how to use.

I hear educators daily express their concerns on how to achieve high test scores with the new technologies they are given with very little training on how to use them. This reason is probably the number one reason several educators fear technology and are even a bit angry at having to use technology. However, plenty of educators in the same situation have provided resources to help through various types of learning communities. Here are a few of my favorite learning communities! Joining any of these is free!

BLOGS

These provide innovative lesson plans for any technology. Educators can easily submit their email addresses to receive their favorite blogs through email. You can decide to follow blogs specific to one technology or you can choose to read a blog that deals with many different types of technology like Teacher Reboot Camp.

SOCIAL NETWORKS

Educators can now discover best practices for using any technology and even ask for help with technology nightmares by joining online educational groups. Do you want your class to interact with a class around the world? Just post a question in any of these forums.

• Nings: These are websites that host various tools for groups to interact with each other. Educators can post videos, join discussions, or share files! I recommend the Educator Professional Learning Network ning group.
• Twitter: Thousands of educators exchange links, answer questions, and debate educational issues daily on Twitter. You can easily follow a list of educators or follow ones specific to your field. This website will provide you with several resources to get you started.
• YouTube: Did you know you can subscribe to educational Youtube channels? If you subscribe to the Learn to Be the Difference channel, you will find video tutorials, inspiring educational videos, and more!

No need to fear the technology monster, because other educators are willing to exchange ideas, lesson plans, and support! This movement of educators establishing learning communities is exciting and will continue to flourish, because we are all stronger when we put our minds together.

Shelly Sanchez Terrell is a technology teacher trainer, English language teacher, and consultant for various language institutes, online schools, and educational institutes in Nepal, the US, Germany, and Italy. Explore her Teacher Reboot Camp blog for tips on professional development and integrating technology effectively into the classroom. She can be reached via Twitter: @shellterrell. Check out her articles on building a PLN with Twitter and a further explanation of social networks.

Photo Credit: Trek Hound

Fourteen years ago, a student at my college asked to use ‘the computer’. His next question stumped me. “How do you turn it on?” I failed in my attempts to help him. How was I to know the power button on the Apple Mac was on the keyboard? I was an EFL teacher! I made lessons for students in my neatest handwriting with my pencil. No need for technology.

Today, I am webmaster of six websites. I have two podcasts, RSS feeds, and a Twitter account. I blog, glog, ning, and create mp3 files, HTML and Flash exercises for class. I use Google docs, digital storytelling, voice threads, wikis and a whole lot more. No need for pencils.

My students love their laptops. They carry them around like Charlie Brown’s pal Linus clings to his blanket. It’s astonishing how many of my class come equipped with their computer and charger but totally forget their pencil and coursebook. Thankfully, the latter is the digital version so I can display it on my Smart Board. My students really get down to work when lessons are computer based. When pencil-equipped, they can get down to some serious doodling.

My students are not familiar with the term Web 2.0. To them, it is simply “stuff we do (all day) every day. They don’t see it as innovation nor experience any manifestation of “new technology” phobia. Ducks to water, pretty much. Same with my two small children (six and eight).

Now, some teachers I know have a reluctance to use these “new technologies”. This is rather peculiar. Laptop computers are two decades old. Smart boards have been around for a decade. We all use e-mail, visit blogs and make stuff on the computer. Web 2.0 is really no longer a term that describes innovation. It’s wholly mainstream. Neither is Web 2.0 stuff new technology – it’s simply ‘stuff’. The myriad of amazing new online things to use in class are just tools. Same as a pencil.

I understand the reticence of teachers who fear dipping their toe in and using these tools. My initial thought when trying another one is “here we go again”. I encounter a small obstacle in thinking it’s a pain to once again register, log in, and then figure out how it all works. Luckily, most of the Web 2.0 stuff out there today is more intuitive to use than my school’s Apple Mac was to turn on way back when.

What I have learned in my very interesting journey from pencil to digital tools is how great the rewards are of engaging students’ interest with computer-based and online materials. In addition, I fully understand that getting over the hurdle of spending a little time to get to grips with the latest tool is definitely worthwhile. I feel happier as a teacher being equipped with all the mainstream tools such as pencils, podcasts and even plurks.

Of course students still need their pencils and notebooks. A healthy balance of traditional tools (pens, pencils, paper) and mainstream tools (digital stuff) is required.

But innovation is now also mainstream, not something we expect future teachers will introduce into the classroom. We should use what the students use. In teaching ESL/EFL, we can easily incorporate new tools while helping students with digital and traditional literacy. They need to know the vocabulary of social media and Web 2.0 tools as much as they need ‘parts of the body’ vocab from Unit Three.

IMHO, there is more hands-on, authentic language and reality on all of the digital tools mentioned above than in coursebooks. Technology integration provides great language practice and motivation. It’s also collaborative, exciting, interesting, and mainstream.

Sean Banville is the webmaster for various ESL materials websites and has plans for many more. He has a Master’s degree in TEFL/TESL from Birmingham University, and spent thirteen years teaching in Japan before relocating to the UAE in 2006. He recently became an enthusiastic member of the Twitter community, and is gearing up to enter the world of blogging. His web-based projects include the following:

• Breaking News English (previously reviewed here on Lesson Mag)
• ESL Discussions
• Famous People Lessons
• ESL Holiday Lessons
• News English Lessons
• Listen a Minute

Photo Credit: Trek Hound

For most teachers, education doesn’t end when a degree is earned. The teaching profession demands continuing education, and in certain cases, advanced education. Fortunately, there are many online resources that can help teachers with professional development. Here are 20 resources for educators to explore:

NCATE – The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accredits schools, colleges and departments of education. The NCATE website is a good place to find lists of accredited institutions and scholarship resources.

NEA – The National Education Association (NEA) is an advocate for teachers and students. Members can access classroom management and professional development resources as well as web and print tools.

AFT – The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) is a teacher’s union that offers many interesting resources on their website. Teachers can view salary surveys, education news, and publications and reports on a wide range of topics.

ASCD – The ASCD is a non-profit organization with members in more than 100 countries. The organization offers an excellent professional development survey on their website as well as several other professional growth resources for teachers.

NBPTS – The National Board for Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is a non-profit organization that was formed to advance the quality of teaching in schools. NBPTS offers information about education standards on their website and provides numerous development tools for teachers.

RISE – RISE (Resources for Indispensible Schools and Educators) is a non-profit organization that dedicates itself to connecting teachers with low-income public schools. Teachers can use the RISE site to search and apply for jobs.

PBS TeacherLine – This PBS site is an online professional development resource for teachers. TeacherLine provides standards-based graduate-level courses for credit as well as a few free resources to encourage professional growth.

Thinkfinity – The National Verizon Thinkfinity Training Program provides many free training opportunities and resources for educators and after-school practitioners. Offerings include state-specific professional development, instructional videos, and free courses for graduate credit.

Learner.org – Learner.org offers many free professional development video courses to teachers. Courses cover a wide range of subjects and provide information on how to teach today’s standards-based curricula.

Teachers Network – The Teachers Network is an advocate for teacher leadership and student learning. The organization provides many free professional development resources for teachers, including articles, how-to’s, and lesson plans.

Teacher’s Domain – This online teacher library provides free digital media for the classroom and professional development. Teachers who register for a free account can store and share resources online.

TeachersFirst – TeachersFirst offers a series of free online education sessions for teachers. Known as OK2Ask, these sessions last approximately one hour and can be attended from any computer with an Internet connection.

The Teacher’s Podcast – The Teacher’s Podcast provides PD resources for teachers who are interested in integrating technology into the classroom.

We the Teachers – We the Teachers is a social network for teachers. It is a great place to meet other educators and discuss professional development opportunities.

The Apple – Created for current and future educators, this social network provides career advices, education resources, message boards, free job postings, and many other online resources.

Applebatch – This K-12 teacher community was created to help teachers advance their careers. Teachers can join groups in their profession, share resources, build their network, and apply for new jobs.

TeachAde – TeachAde is a social networking site for teachers and other education professionals. Members can network with other educators around the world, search for resources, and create resources of their own.

FolioSpaces – FolioSpaces is a unique social networking system that can be used to create free electronic portfolios.

Fund for Teachers – Fund for Teachers is a non-profit organization that provides teacher grants and other professional growth resources. New grants are awarded each year.

Scholarships and Grants for Teachers – This blog post provides information on a wide range of grants and scholarships for future and current teachers who are pursuing continuing education or degrees in education.

Guest post from education writer Karen Schweitzer. Karen is the About.com Guide to Business School. She also writes about online colleges for OnlineColleges.net.

Other articles from Karen:

Tuition-Free Education Courses for Teachers

25 Free Apps and Web Sites for Tech Loving Teachers

40 Places to Find Free Lesson Plans

Photo Credit: Trek Hound

The first year in the trenches can be overwhelming, to say the least. You come out feeling prepared only to realize very quickly there’s still lots to learn. You’re on your own now though, so leaning on your advisors and host teacher from your internship are no longer an option, particularly if you landed a gig teaching around the world from where you studied. Here are ten general tips I wish someone had given me my first time out of the gate.

Find a pal or two you can trust.

I don’t mean to sound like a pessimist, but reality is reality. Office politics is just as rampant in schools as it is in any other office setting. Fly under the radar for a while until you get a grasp on who’s trustworthy and who’s not. Then form a professional alliance to give yourselves a safe haven for venting and admitting weaknesses it might not be in your best interests to admit to an administrator or professional mentor. (More on that in a bit.) Suffice it to say, find some friends. If one of them happens to be on your grade level, even better.

Stay off the high maintenance bulletin board bandwagon.

There are plenty bulletin board designs that can go the entire year with only an occasional swap out of art work or title lettering. The key is using them in a way that is functional, so students don’t get bored. You also don’t want to look like a slacker if you’re trying to land a permanent gig, so putting up something lame and leaving it there to fade and look dated is out too. Cloth bulletin boards are a great way to go to resist fading and avoid excess staple holes. If you still want to change things up from time to time, there are numerous bulletin board ideas for older grades which can stretch for an entire quarter at least. Mixing and matching these with a few of the year-long boards will help keep your sanity. Leave the late night apple tracing to those who have no desire for a life. Even if you eventually decide you want to be included in that group, you’ll have plenty more to worry about in the first few years. Trust me.

Choose your mentor(s) carefully.

If you eventually decide you want to make classroom décor and high maintenance management systems your entire life, fine. But don’t let an ill chosen mentor who’s never managed to find a proper life – work balance make you feel bad if that’s not the lifestyle you’re choosing for yourself. Even if it is, you likely won’t be able to do so for the first few years. There’ll be way too much on your plate to tackle with regards to basic skills and experience.

Everyone wants the mentor who’s found balance between work at home, rocks the classroom without making it their life, and seems to have everything streamlined with extreme precision while not having a high maintenance professional routine. The problem? Most of those people know when enough is enough and aren’t necessarily going to be among those who sign up to mentor a first year teacher. It’s certainly not always the case, but a fair number of Betty Brown Nosers find their way onto the school district’s mentor list. Betty Brown Nosers whose constant sucking up to the powers that be over the years have provided them with a fair amount of weasel room and political clout. Fair? Maybe not. Accurate? Absolutely.

I’m not saying don’t ever trust your mentor. I’m not even saying there aren’t phenomenal people out there who will be willing to step up to the plate for you. You might even be lucky enough to have a mentor who also ends up being on your pal list eventually. But many school districts require you to have one for the first one or two years of your teaching career. While it’s true they are there to guide and support you, it’s also true that they are there at the school’s request and have earned enough of the administration’s trust to be selected for the job. It’s not much of a stretch to assume their loyalties will be divided at best, which means admitting certain weaknesses or professional difficulties could come back to haunt you at contract extension time. Choose carefully.

The secretary can be your ally. If you let her.

It can be very easy to get into a negative long term relationship with the downstairs secretary. Particularly if you’re the newbie and all the other teachers on staff have had years to develop a relationship where they feel comfortable asking favors. That being said, you may notice a fair number of educators treat the para-pros and support staff like second class citizens, or worse, non entities. I’ve had to work with a fair number of school secretaries in my career, and I can only honestly think of two that were nearly impossible to work with. The rest were people I grew to have fantastic relationships with through trust building and mutual respect. Sometimes a situation will present itself where you are able to develop a camaraderie right off the bat. If it does, take the opportunity. You likely won’t be sorry.

Document all chats with administrators.

Even if you have to take a legal pad to each meeting and start each conversation by quickly jotting down the date, time and attendee names, this can really be what saves your neck should anything arise later on where you have a different version of events than those in charge. If you can afford a voice recorder, great. Otherwise a pad and paper or some peel off Post-It notes you can stick in a file will do just fine. You can always collate and key them in later if the situation warrants it. In my entire teaching career, I’ve had to use this information less than five times. At least one of them was before I was wise enough to have been documenting. Like I said, these are tips I wish I had been given. We all wish it could be about student motivation and the coolest lessons ever all of the time. For those times when it isn’t, just have your protective ducks in a row.

Streamline your sub system.

Unless you’re a super hero, you will need a substitute teacher more than once each year. Having a few things streamlined and consistent will keep things easier for both of you. A binder or reference folder with critical information, check lists and procedures is a great place to start. So is a set of hanging files with any seat work handouts for each day of the week in day by day folders. Teachers editions should all be in an easy to find location, and a selection of time filler activities and always allowed classroom games is a nice gesture. Remember, you work in the same room every day. Even if you have a repeat sub, they are in different classrooms every day. They also may only get to your room once every two-three months, after which time you may have made changes. It’s very disorienting to be a substitute teacher. Making their job as seamless as possible just makes things easier while you’re gone, as well as when you return.

One main classroom helper a day is more than enough.

I’ve seen some amazingly difficult classroom duty systems over the years, folks. Systems that take an entire bulletin board of rotating wheels and clips to display, and a notebook to document. I don’t know whose bright idea it was to set the industry standard as different helpers for every single duty in the classroom and rotate them out every day, but I do know that it has never worked for me. I pick one helper a day, and if there’s something they can’t get to or need help with, they get to pick who helps them out. I start at the top of the classroom list, and work down every day to the next person. If they are absent, they miss their turn until it comes around again. Done. This is also easier for those students who have a hard enough time keeping the important rules and procedures straight, let alone a daily chore chart that’s too complicated for even the teacher to remember without a reference book.

Use your free periods with precision efficiency.

This one plays out differently, depending on where you work. You may only have one free period per week, or a couple a day. This is largely a result of the number of specialists your school district is able to hire for things such as art, music, PE and foreign languages. Whether or not you have aides or other support staff to shop for supplies or make copies also factors into the game. While there’s nothing wrong with taking a break occasionally, I like to use these blocks of time for basic classroom housekeeping such as paper grading, art framing, running off of homework copies and getting set up for a science lab or art project when the children return. Last period on Fridays is a particular gift, as it allows you to get completely organized for Monday morning and the rest of the following week without having to stay late or come in on the weekend. It can be extremely easy to get sucked into grade level or mentor meetings on your free periods. Fight hard to keep them open for things that benefit your classroom’s functioning directly. Sliding the other meetings until after school will help ensure they are kept as brief as possible

Enlist room parents early and often.

You’ll need to tread as carefully here as you do with a mentor for obvious political reasons. Aside from that, I’ve often found parents to be my staunchest allies against political mine fields I might otherwise have fallen prey to. Intense classroom projects and implementing new procedural systems are enormous projects even with paid aides, which I’ve rarely had. Involved parents can help you with overwhelming tasks, pitch supply ideas to the PTO and drum up volunteers for field trips you might not otherwise be able to take with only two chaperones. (Think water park, jungle hike or glass bottom submarine.)

Operate in bulk.

This can come in just as handy in a classroom as it can when stocking a pantry. Certain items will be needed throughout the school year, so it just makes sense to get a large enough supply to last a while. Construction paper, index cards, glue, dollar store craft supplies, various individualized math quiz sheets for on the fly review, classroom checklists, file folders, bandanas and more come to mind.

Got another great tip for a first year teacher? Are you a first year educator struggling to make your mark? Sound off in our comment section and join the conversation.

Photo Credit: Chicago 2016

Are you a school administrator? Feel like you’re herding cats on a regular basis? Do you appreciate and respect the independence of your staff, yet wonder how to balance that with needing them to fall in line when necessary? With the free-flow of creative energy comes at least a moderate need for the same thing you recommend your staff provide to their students: structure. Read on.

Being left to your own devices in the classroom can be both a blessing and a curse. Teachers have the autonomy to plan and schedule their day in a way that best meets the unique needs of their students. Or do they? Remember that while in your mind something may have been decided and dealt with hours ago, chances are there is a large percentage of your staff who remain unaware. So while as an oh-so-understanding admin you may feel they’ve had all morning to readjust their schedule accordingly, they may have only just found out that you need to pop in with the school nurse for just “fifteen minutes”.

You may also be the fourth or fifth person who has needed to interrupt them in the past ninety minutes. Add a couple of last minute assemblies into the mix, and is it really a great surprise to find every grade level chair in the building knocking on your door in a nearly nuclear state of irritation? Here are a few tips to at least help you grease the wheels of reciprocal understanding:

Screaming fast, wireless internet.

Throughout the building. Not only does this provide total flexibility and efficiency in the classroom, it also promotes the best possible use of specialist periods when teachers are left to float during art or foreign language blocks and yet still expected to be performing their duties to the best of their abilities. Having wireless internet access makes it easier to post online homework assignments, spelling lists, etc. It also allows for more streamlined parent communication via email correspondence. Bonus? If you put out a memo, you don’t have to wait until sixth period to give your teachers a shot at seeing it. Remember, just because you’ve disseminated the information doesn’t necessarily mean it has been received.

Acrylic sign holders.

There are many sizes available, but the 8 ½ x 11 size is the easiest one to design and print classroom signs for, in my humble opinion. It also saves on teacher sign wear and tear and laminating costs. Signs can be created for various themes, quotes, concepts and more to provide professional looking classroom atmosphere. It’s also a much more streamlined look to have all the signs the same size from the hallway, and in a similar position by the door of each room. If teachers want more than the standard one sign, consider having a few for each room. One for the teachers name, another for the class schedule and a final one for individuality. Having the basics done for them before they arrive at the end of the summer gives them more time to get cracking with academic planning and to be available for any meetings you need them for.

Inventory everything by room number.

Actually, this one’s for both teachers and admins. For schools where the staff rotates in and out with frequency (for example on the international teaching circuit) and various circumstances ( typhoons, earthquakes, war evacuations) cause the supplies and equipment to be thrown into chaos, having everything assigned to a pre-numbered room can be a real sanity saver. For that new teacher that is left to rummage through the pile in last year’s supply closet, knowing if she sees something with a particular number that it belongs to her room is a huge relief. Figuring out which three teachers’ names have been assigned to her same room over the past few years is an absolute pain in the neck. Do both parties a favor and inventory by room. Seriously.

Communication boards with attached writing utensils.

These things are fabulous to have on the outside of the door. If a teacher takes the kids outside for an on-the-fly science activity or next door for a shared academic movie with another class, support staff will be able to find them easily. Don’t forget the wipe off cloth and cleaning solution.

Respect their time.

Seriously, respect their time. I know every administrator out there thinks they already do this. News flash? It rarely feels that way from the position of the classroom instructor. Countless last minute assemblies, four separate interruptions during the last hour of school for individual handouts that could have been collated and handed out earlier with the rest of the home communication bulletins, three separate trips to the nurse’s office in one week and support services for students that run late and throw off other group activities are just a few shining examples that come immediately to mind. And don’t get me started on the old “surely you don’t mind me redirecting the time you’ve already donated by coming in early with an unexpected hallway meeting.” It becomes very difficult to be a good sport about every other school employee’s emergency or administrative scheduling conflict when they happen all the time. Particularly if the reciprocal support isn’t there for things like . . . oh, I don’t know . . . let’s go with extreme discipline issues. (Yes, that was sarcasm.)

Cumulative records and class list support.

Personally, in my entire career I’ve only had one school ever do this in a way that was helpful. At the beginning of each year when the class lists were received, they were broken down and coded according to the type of additional support services each child received. Also noted were eyesight and hearing issues, special meds, last year’s teacher placement and general reading levels. From this document it was a simple matter to do appropriate “close to the board” seating assignments, scheduling sessions with specialists, plan initial language assessments, etc. This saved numerous hours of preliminary cum folder research at an already crazy time of the school year. It also made it more difficult for the class placement balance to be thrown off inadvertently when the category totals were already there for the releasing grade level teachers to see at the end of the year when these decisions are handled. (Cum folders are a huge professional issue for me, so definitely look for some follow up articles on this subject in the future. )

Standard, basic issue, equipment kits.

With as much money as teachers end up spending on their own classroom, I personally think it’s more than fair to expect that some basic infrastructure be both provided and restocked when necessary. A few items on my list? Chalk, glue sticks, single and three hole punches, stapler with staples, teacher and student scissors, eraser, white board supplies if appropriate, widget, staple remover and PE supplies such as a playground ball, hula hoops and jump ropes.

Distribution boxes.

Attached to the wall, and somewhere close to the door on the inside of the classroom should be some sort of container to hold memos, book club forms and other home to school communication. It should also house a slot for communication the admin offices want returned to them and the admin staff should be the ones to both distribute and collect these communication bulletins. For those who are about to remind me of the teacher mailboxes, I have to jump in ahead of you with the following: I can count the number of times admin was finished handing out bulletins to me by my last trip to the teachers’ room on one hand. In my entire career. On one hand.

I know some schools are doing their part with online postings of school issues and parent email lists, but the reality is many districts are just not there yet. Additionally, the old run down to the classroom at the last minute to hand the teacher a separate piece of paper that you interrupt her class time to explain and then in turn ask her to explain to her class really doesn’t cut it Gilligan, I’m here to tell you. It’s a double interruption and highly annoying.

Seemingly simple ideas? Yes. But you’d be surprised how often schools fail to set up these systemic types of support systems, thereby increasing the classroom stress factor exponentially. Most every suggestion on this list can be incorporated very affordably. Consider it an investment in the overall occupational health of the professionals you lead. Additional ideas? Sound off in the comment section below.

Photo Credit: Kim Howarth