Rapid Transitions

[to_to_toriquah]

I have a plethora of changes  in my life in the next 2 weeks for which I need all the prayer that I can get.

1.) New job - I just got a full time teaching job and being this late in the summer I have 2 weeks until in-service starts.
2.) Moving - The new job is 4 hours away and I need to find a place to live (temporary or permanent) before I can move. Also, my parents might not be able to help me move.
3.) Preplanning - I have to develop 1 course, and lesson plan based off set curriculum for 5 other courses during the next 3 weeks, as well as consider classroom set up and decor.
4.) Car - I have no vehicle and need to purchase one before I can move, but I don't have the money and the bank might not be willing to loan to someone who is making as little as I am (its a tiny Christian school).
5.) Nerves - I graduated with a History Education degree and I will be teaching 1 history class, 2 English classes, a Bible class, a study skills class, and an art history class.
6.) Income - I will be out on my own and with a small salary I will need a second source of income just to make sure I will be able to pay my bills and still eat.

Thanks so much for the prayer! Any classroom/teaching suggestions are welcomed with open ears

~tori

[_JM_]

Proud of ya, little sis 

Note - reason our parents might not be able to help her move is that our other siblings are heading back/out to college around the same time.  Brother's going to Memphis for his junior year and sister down to Palm Beach for her freshman year.  So yeah, lot of moving pieces right now for us.

[YourMathTeacher]

I pray that all the transitions go smoothly, and that God provides for all your needs (as He usually does).

I have always been disappointed that schools give new teachers 5 preps, instead of just one to help them get their feet wet. As you said, though, it is a tiny Christian school, so they generally need people to teach many different things in order to even offer a full-time position. Fortunately, you are likely to have small classes, so discipline and grading should not be a huge issue like they would be in the public schools where you would be grading hundreds of tests/essays every week, and dealing with serious discipline issues on a more regular basis. For your first year of teaching, you can focus on classroom management skills, lesson planning, and content mastery.

My main tips:

1.) Get to know the support staff by name. They will help you get acquainted with the basics of life.
2.) Get to know the teachers next door to you. They can help you with emergencies (real or imagined).  They can also help you learn the computer programs for attendance and grades. They can also remind you that it is time for that meeting or that today is chapel day.
3.) Find out who has the same free period as you. These teachers will be able to give you the most help, since they do not also have to deal with their own students when you are asking them questions.
4.) Do lesson plans at least one week ahead of time. Remember that your administrator knows your plans may change, so you can adjust them after the fact. However, turning in the original lesson plans late creates unnecessary tension. If anything, going back to change your lesson plans shows your flexibility as a teacher, based on the needs of the students (so that's a good thing).
5.) Do your grading as quickly as possible. Students need feedback to bring closure to the lesson, but you also don't want grading to pile up.
6.) Use your free period wisely. Sometimes I just needed a breather after a tough day, but you need to get in the habit of grading and planning during this time. The more you do at school, the less you will have to do at home.

Feel free to email, PM, or post any other questions. The first year of teaching can be tougher than most imagine. But, don't give up! Ask for help! The rest of the staff is usually ready to help you when times get desperate. We were all first year teachers once, too.