One day at Shapiro Public Library, I picked out two books: I Got Schooled by M. Night Shyamalan and Food Over Medicine. To my surprise, they had two things in common, which the jacket of Shyamalan's book highlights: "What if successful schools, like healthy people, shared a manageable number of characteristics that were so inextricably linked that missing one of them was nearly as bad as missing all of them?" Food Over Medicine also stipulated that eating healthy is like a locker combination: you can't have part of the numbers correct - you have to get all of them to unleash the effects.
Well... I disagree. Not only do I think that teaching is a craft where every little bit that is right counts, but I think every "right" rule is situational. So I've come up with rules... where the opposite of them are called for sometimes too. I'll insert in italics the exceptions when they arise. I think following even one of these rules on any day is great and will lead to internalizing more and more. So without further ado, here are the nuanced rules of excellent teaching I've come up with from my experience, originally scribbled on a notebook as I rode the Megabus to Chicago.
1. Know why
It's important to determine the objective of a lesson plan first (e.g., Students will be able to complete a graphic organizer to analyze character in the Odyssey). When students ask "why are we doing this?" teachers should deeply know the reasoning behind all they ask students to do.
2. Do what you ask of students.
Answer the essay questions, fill out the worksheet, take the test. Did you perform to your own standards? Being the student of your own lessons helps you see through your students' eyes - so you can better allot time, scaffold the learning, and anticipate difficulties.
3. Repeat again and again.
Say the directions 3x. Ask a student to repeat at the end. Ask students to summarize the learning at the end. If there is a test coming up, remind and leave up a visual calendar on the board.
4. Be specific.
Instead of harping, "Get ready" or "Get focused", say "Take out a sheet of paper and pencil on your desk" or "Track me with your eyes."
5. Be transparent.
Admit when you don't know something. Tell students the lesson objectives or your true feelings towards standardized tests. Even define educational jargon you incorporate in your practice like "prior knowledge" or "formative assessment" and use it in front of them.
6. Have routines.
Save time when the bell rings by teaching students what they are expected to do every morning - a warm-up of some sort. Have paper passing, bathroom, and discipline routines.
7. Talking out of turn is the insidious enemy of teaching.
Punish talking without permission like it is cursing or stealing. Because little by little, that innocuous behavior will deteriorate your authority and students' achievement if not stemmed right away. Get to know the chatterboxes and their interests so you can re-direct their wandering attention.
8. Get to the bottom of the problem.
When you punish, automatically look more into the students' background. Does he/she have an IEP, history of behavior and academic problems, or unstable home life? Make sure you become a trustworthy person in their lives and they will work for you.
9. Communicate with parents.
By phone or in-person if possible. Keep a class website with updates of the week, and let parents know about it, as well as your classroom policies. Update with good and bad news about students in batches.
10. Find trusted educator and non-education communities.
After working with kids all day, find adults you can talk with about issues and lesson plans. Also sometimes avoid talking about work to replenish and get distance.
11. Observe great teaching.
You learn more from seeing what to do than from reading advice (ironic, I know) or from seeing what not to do. Find seasoned or just enthusiastic/successful peers to observe during free time or find videos online.
12. Victories are small. Celebrate yards over touchdowns.
Count the small signs of improvement such as one improved behavior or score increases on a quiz. Compliment them highly and sincerely. After all, these are what add up to grand touchdowns.
13. Aim for full participation.
Call on a variety of students, mixing in cold with volunteer calling. Do warm-ups that invite everyone and make sure to call on rare hand-raisers when you see them. Even a whole-class poll will help.
14. Each day is a clean slate.
While we should review previous learning and build on it, we can forget mistakes and minor trespasses.
15. Reflect and tweak.
Re-play or even record lessons. Look for ways to improve weaknesses and note in a safe file the parts you will keep for next time.
16. Wait time is a godsend.
Stand. Count 3 beats. Then act. Do this when kids are noisy and should know you need their attention. Do this after posing a question for kids to respond to. Wait time will enhance engagement and self-confidence.
17. You're working with teenagers searching for their identity.
They actually look to teachers, especially young ones, for direction. Give it to them clearly and sincerely. Do it with humor and sensitivity and they will follow you.
18. Students first.
You're tired. You have random teacher errands to do. But always act in your students' best interests in making any decisions with your time. Sometimes it indirectly benefits your students to take a mental break though.
19. Don't reinvent the wheel but do take ownership.
Lesson planning is faster when you "steal" from other teachers. But tweak it to fit your style and your students - or else you will feel a bit lost and out of control when delivering the lesson.
20. Believe in your judgment. You know more than you think.
This job requires quick actions and vacillation shows weakness, which will lose the students' respect. Even though you won't be perfect, trust that your teacher preparation and intellect has formed good classroom manager instincts in you.
21. Be consistent.
The best way to earn trust and promote safety is consistency. Avoid being absent or late. Stick to due dates, consequences, routines, and directions you set in your classroom. Be transparent if you are going to deviate from what you said.
22. You are the captain of the ship.
You are the leader, the person who controls the classroom climate and can literally make a difference in the futures of 100+ people every school year. You are appointed to protect and promote the students' learning. People depend on your leadership and competence.
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