Coping strategies for young teachers
Nov 13, 2005
MOST student teachers have resumed studies after a stint at teaching practice. Colleges and universities train students to become teachers and the few weeks of school practice give the teacher-in- the-making some experience.
MOST student teachers have resumed studies after a stint at teaching practice. Colleges and universities train students to become teachers and the few weeks of school practice give the teacher-in- the-making some experience.
However, learning to teach and how to cope with the challenges of teaching really starts when one gets the first posting.
When I started teaching, I did not see anything wrong with students calling me by my first name. An older teacher told me why it was not proper.
A young teacher expects a lot of respect from students but sometimes may get the opposite. A young lady was teased by her students. She broke down and cried in class!
Another one had better luck – she was teased but cried later at home. Some young male teachers complain about the behaviour of young girls which seems to be meant to attract them.
Boys too tease some young ladies and it can get out of hand if the lady’s dressing and body language suggest she is looking for attention.
Students in some schools tease new teachers to see if they are sure of their material.
How, then, does a young teacher cope? Here are some tips:
Accept that teasing may take place initially.
The way you present yourself matters. Make sure you give a good first impression. Dress smartly and decently. There is no need to overdress. Ladies need to avoid dangling earrings. These distract students.
Be friendly to the students but do not let them get too familiar.
Some students are bound to annoy you. Control your temper. Correct them when they are in the wrong. They are in their formative years and there are very few, if any, who are beyond repair.
Someone once said about his teacher, “I cannot do that for Mr. So and So. He saw us doing wrong when still students and did not correct us. We could have got expelled.â€
Show them that you can handle your subject well. Build confidence by:
-Ensuring that you know your subject well. Learn from various sources like books, colleagues and newspapers.
-Preparing for each lesson effectively.
-Working through the practical work before the lesson.
Learn the school system. Be mindful of the school’s vision, mission statement and normal routine. It is you to fit into the system. Represent the school well wherever you go.
Co-operate with the school administration and colleagues. Observe confidentiality and collective responsibility.
Get involved in co-curricula activities. These enable you to know your students well.
Be courteous when dealing with parents, visitors to the school and all other stakeholders.
Study the instruments that give you the guidelines to follow in executing your duties. These include the White Paper, teachers’ code of conduct, minimum standards, etc.
Lastly, do not neglect what concerns you personally. Fill in all forms at the right time - for appointment, registration and confirmation.
Keep an eye on your salary to make sure you are being paid properly. Fill appraisal forms annually. Keep on updating your file. Take advantage of in-service opportunities. These make life easier when you want to be promoted, to retire or to change jobs.
However, learning to teach and how to cope with the challenges of teaching really starts when one gets the first posting.
When I started teaching, I did not see anything wrong with students calling me by my first name. An older teacher told me why it was not proper.
A young teacher expects a lot of respect from students but sometimes may get the opposite. A young lady was teased by her students. She broke down and cried in class!
Another one had better luck – she was teased but cried later at home. Some young male teachers complain about the behaviour of young girls which seems to be meant to attract them.
Boys too tease some young ladies and it can get out of hand if the lady’s dressing and body language suggest she is looking for attention.
Students in some schools tease new teachers to see if they are sure of their material.
How, then, does a young teacher cope? Here are some tips:
-Ensuring that you know your subject well. Learn from various sources like books, colleagues and newspapers.
-Preparing for each lesson effectively.
-Working through the practical work before the lesson.
Keep an eye on your salary to make sure you are being paid properly. Fill appraisal forms annually. Keep on updating your file. Take advantage of in-service opportunities. These make life easier when you want to be promoted, to retire or to change jobs.