How Do You Survive Teaching Elementary School?
Close to 50 percent of all new teachers quit within the first five years of teaching. Unprepared for mountains of paperwork, high expectations of teachers for student performance, disruptive students and under-funded school budgets, they simply decide that the work is not worth the rewards. Find out about your students before the school year starts. Go into the office and access the student files of each of your students. Each file will contain the name of the student, a picture and some educational and personal background. Scan each file and make notes of allergies and other medical and personal information you feel is important. You will also find a list of his previous teachers. Talk to them if you have any questions. Start the year with a seating chart. Never allow the children to pick their own seats at the start of a school year. As the year goes on and you know the students better you can allow seat moving as an earned reward for good behavior and performance. Learn the names of
