Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

I'm going into my 1st year as a HS SPecial Education teacher. Does anyone have any advice about making the 1st year run as smoothly as possible?


I still haven't found out what class I'm teaching and I'm getting pretty anxious!

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

oh boy... where does one begin!

i'm not gonna lie...the first year is hell.... i am a special ed. teacher also. but my adivce to you is get a hold of your IEPs as soon as you can and get a sense of what your kids need. don't be afraid to reach out to your prinicpal or chairperson for help (particualrly for things like writing IEPs, doing testing, etc. all things that will be new for you this year).

Are you resource room? if so, make real nice with the classroom teachers. you need to know what they're doing to help your kids,

Are you self-contained? If so, talk to the teacher from last year (If still there). he or she can give you LOADS of information about what skills the kids have/don't have. this is crucial so you know how to start the year.

Also, at the beginning of the year, it's good to do some diagnostic stuff the first week. have them write about their summer vacation, quiz them on math facts, etc. etc. qhile informal, this is good information to see where some of their skill levels are.

Make nice with the service providers: OT, speech, etc. they are a FOUNTAIN of knowledge that will help you in your classroom as well as give you lots of insight on the kids that you both serve.

Also, I highly recommend getting info. on curriculum. as much as you can find out now, may help lessen the late ngihts at school (but honestly, i was at school til about 7 every ngiht my first year!) see if you can find out what the curriculum is before hand and start planning broadly about where you might want to go/ need to go for the year. Scope out resources for the curriculum.

get to school the week before to set up your room, meet people, etc. etc.

Sorry so long... there's probably so much more i am not thinking of... but good luck to you!!! FM if you need anything.

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

I am also a teacher. I've been teaching for seven years, going on my eigth year. I've taught on Long Island, but left to teach in the city, if you can believe it! I actually like the city so much better. So I can certainly answer any questions you may have not matter where you may be teaching. I've always taught regular ed, but this year I actually requested to be placed as the special ed teacher in an inclusion class. This will be my first experience in special ed. FM me with any questions and good luck!

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

the most important people in the building to know...the Aps, the deans, and the custodial staff!!!
ps. the first year is very difficult but hang in there!

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

I am also a HS special ed teacher. There is a lot to write but if you have specific questions feel free to FM me. Good luck and hang in there. It gets easier as time goes on. Stay organized! That is key!

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

I have no advice, but I just wanted to say that I too just got my first job teaching! I'm teaching eight grade English... I'm so frickin nervous.

Best of luck to you!

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

Good luck!!!!

This post has me in tears because I am only returning to subbing again this year. I am certified English 7-12 and couldn't find a position. I didn't even get called for an interview

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

I totally agree with Donegal--- and just to add-- be tough! And dont let on that it is your first year to the kids--- they will test and test you to see how far they can get!

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

Do not be your student's friend...
You can always 'get nice,' but if you start out nice and 'get mean' you will be in a world of hell...

Be strict!

Good luck and have fun! It is a fantastic job.

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

Be friendly, smile, and be ORGANIZED! Take the time to REALLY get to know your students. It makes a HUGE difference! Good luck!
I am teaching 7 years and the first year is always rough, but you will be amazed at how you grow as a teacher.

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

So sorry to hear that...my good friend is Secondary Social Studies and she didn't get a call for an interview either. Did you try the city? I was a permenant sub while I was going for my masters and when I finished and went the whole summer without getting a job...I applied to the city...and I just finished my 1st year and love it there.

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

The first few months teaching (I'd say probably Sept-Nov) were complete and total hell. You'll be surprised by how physically and mentally draining the job is, and when you come home, you still not done with all the work. You'll want to quit during that awful time, but don't, it gets a lot better and easier. LIke everyone else said, start out extremely tough with the kids, try to be as organized as possible (which I'm not at all and has caused me lots of headaches), and remember not to take it too seriously or you'll lose your mind. Congrats on getting the job and best of luck to you!!

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

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Posted by tarateacher

I am also a teacher. I've been teaching for seven years, going on my eigth year. I've taught on Long Island, but left to teach in the city, if you can believe it! I actually like the city so much better. So I can certainly answer any questions you may have not matter where you may be teaching. I've always taught regular ed, but this year I actually requested to be placed as the special ed teacher in an inclusion class. This will be my first experience in special ed. FM me with any questions and good luck!

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I taught on LI and left to teach in the city too! I thought I was the only one crazy enough to do that!

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

thanks so much for all the advice!!!!

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

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Posted by lilqtny

Good luck!!!!

This post has me in tears because I am only returning to subbing again this year. I am certified English 7-12 and couldn't find a position. I didn't even get called for an interview

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I'm sorry to hear that. People don't know how tough it really is to get a teaching job on LI these days.

If it makes you feel any better, mine is only a permanent sub position for one year... and you will find something soon. Don't give up... a lot of people told me that if I didn't get a job I should just keep on applying and applying - that a lot of the time schools will get last minute openings right before school begins and even into September if somebody doesn't work out, so keep putting yourself out there and keep checking the NY Time Sunday Times educational job ads in the Week in Review section. You could even end up with a mid-year leave replacement or something.

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

I am in the same boat, somewhat.. I am teaching my first year in my own classroom. I just know that being overly prepared and super organized helped me a great deal last year..

Good luck and if I get any good advice I will pass it on to you!

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

Last year was my first full year of teaching resource room in the elementary school. I love the book 'The First Days of School' by Harry Wong,,,he has great classroom management strategies for all students of all ages! Also,,,OVER-PLAN!! You never know when an administrator will pop up to observe you! Studies have shown that students do better in class when they know some personal info about you, for example,,,,where you graduated high school, your first car,,things like that----just don't get too personal--you need to still have authority over them!! And finally,,,make sure that you use the students interests to motivate lessons,,for example if the shyest kid in the class loves spiders,,then do a lesson on spiders,,,things like that!! These are just some of the major things that I have done to make my first year run fairly smooth!!!!

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

This is great advice :) I am a first year teacher as well.

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

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Posted by bridy06

Do not be your student's friend...
You can always 'get nice,' but if you start out nice and 'get mean' you will be in a world of hell...

Be strict!

Good luck and have fun! It is a fantastic job.

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i DEFINITELY second this!! i am a speech therapist at a school district... last school year was my first year working.. i was naive and thought ' eh- with speech, i only have 2-3 kids at a time, i don't need to be super strict with them, i'll be easy going'
BOY was that a mistake!! i had some kids that responded well to the whole ' nice' thing... but for the most part, i had a tough time keeping the kids in line and getting them to listen to me. and its hard to set rules once you've been the ' easy going' teacher..... definitely establish ground rules, and assert yourself with them upfront....

Re: Ant 1st year teachers or veterans?

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Posted by bridy06

Do not be your student's friend...
You can always 'get nice,' but if you start out nice and 'get mean' you will be in a world of hell...

Be strict!

Good luck and have fun! It is a fantastic job.

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I could not have said it better!! I teach hs and they know who they take over - you never want to be that person. Good Luck!!