UT ARLINGTONNEW TEACHER WEBINAR 1Advice for New TeachersSEPTEMBER 28, 2013*Recordings will be available of all webinars. No names will be visible in the recordings.

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WEBINAR OVERVIEW• Brief Overview of webinar tools• Guest panelists share advice for new teachers• Question-and-answer time• Info on future webinars

Goals of UTA New Teacher Induction-Open to everyone!

• Teacher Induction Project: Building Digital Community: •

The purpose of the three fall webinars are to begin to build "digital community" for current students and alumni of the department and for all new teachers beyond UT Arlington. The focus is primarily on building knowledge for recent graduates as part of a larger overall teacher induction initiative. The focus will be on interactivity and participation around crucial topics to new teachers.

Webinar 2 (October 19, 1:00 pm, CST)• Building Classroom Community (October 19, 1:00 pm, CST)• (Dr. Amber Brown, Dr. Peggy Semingson, other panelists TBA)Webinar 3 (November 16, 1:00 pm, CST): • Behavior Management (Dr. Jon Leffingwell, Dr. Diane Galloway)

UTA New Teachers Bloghttp://blog.uta.edu/utanewteachers/

• We are looking for guest bloggers —students, teachers, and faculty. Contact Dr. Semingson peggys@uta.edu with your fabulous ideas!

Logistical & technical tips• Raise hand to speak and press “Talk” if you wish to speak. Speaking

is not required! • Ask questions along the way. The webinar is to meet the needs of

you all!• No one can see you unless you press “Video”• Same goes for audio. You have to press “Talk” to speak.• Make a list of “Things to Google” later.• Raise hand to speak. Speaking is optional.• Use chat window often throughout. We will check it throughout it

and respond in “real time” • Use of emoticons are encouraged.• Webinar is about 60-80 minutes in length.• Tip: Take notes

These are our opinions and suggestions! • The opinions of each of the panelists are their own individual

viewpoints.

• Our goal is for you to hear a variety of viewpoints to help support you in your first years of teaching! We have been down the road you are going!

• GOALS/GUIDELINES• Support• Respect• Dialogue• Sharing

Where we are now:• Thanks for joining us! Please use the marker/pen tool to mark a

small x below where you are at. You can also type it in the chat window:

Interactive Poll 1

• Poll question: Where are you in your teaching career? • Select A-E• Voting is optional! I will display the results.

• I am currently a

• A. Pre-service teacher• B. First year teacher• C. 2nd or 3rd year teacher• D. 4th year+ teacher• E. Faculty or none of the above

Order of speakers

1. Brittany Saliano (elementary, lower grades)2. Joy Brown (elementary, upper grades)3. Jessica Hardin (elementary)4. Tierney Gage (mid-level, science)5. Nikki Cade (secondary, instructional specialist)

There will be a question and answer time at the end if you have questions for panelists.

Feel free to ask questions along the way! UTA Faculty will monitor the chat window during the webinar.

Introduction of UTA Faculty*Department of Curriculum and Instruction

• We are here to support you and to answer questions!

Advice for new teachers from Dr. Semingson!

• Former bilingual/ESL teacher and reading specialist (8 years, elementary, public schools)• Ph.D. in Language and Literacy from UT Austin• Sixth year as professor at UT Arlington

• Advice—top five list:• 1) Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

• Example: “How do you teach guided reading?”• 2) Seek resourceful colleagues.• 3) Keep your students in mind.• 4) Take care of yourself.• 5) Instruction: whole group (lots of modeling),

small group/peer learning, table for students who need support w/teacher.

• I do-we do-you do• *Don’t underestimate the power of your

modeling! Practice if possible. It builds confidence.

Dr. Semingson’s adviceHigh-level instruction!• Focus on RIGOR in instruction. “Is my instruction rigorous?”• Plan and prepare HIGHER ORDER THINKING QUESTIONS• Be ready to explain the rationale for why you are doing what

you doing.• There will be visitors to your classroom; be prepared with your

lesson plans on your desk.• Ask yourself, “How can students assess themselves”.• The power of well designed rubrics• Rubistar—rubric generator• Be data-driven….data informs instructional decision making!

New teacher scenarios and solution! Advice from Dr. S.*As I discuss each one, please also type your solutions in the chat window!

• Scenario: Not enough books for your classroom library

• Possible solutions: • Donations from family & friends (internet link)• Donors choose project• Garage sales/thrift stores• Mini-grants for teachers (look online)

What other solutions can we think of?

Scenario and solutions• Scenario: I am a bundle of nerves before school begins.

• Possible solutions: • Ask for the checklist for getting ready for the school year (if

available)• Talk to other teachers at your grade level to borrow first-week

activities (“Don’t reinvent the wheel”).• Write a postcard to your future students (get list of addresses

from school administrative assistant)• Enlist help from family and friends to get your classroom ready.• Remember to breathe!

What other solutions can we think of?

Scenario and Solutions• Scenario: I am looking for a teaching job!

• Possible solutions: • Look on the ESC (region service center) sites for lists of school

districts.• Attend the UTA or your school’s job fair.• Make your resume look great!• Experience working with students enhances your resume;

consider volunteering opportunities that involve teaching.• Prepare short statements about your ideas on teaching;

rehearse a job interview

What other solutions can we think of?

Teacher: Brittany Saliano• Current teaching placement: Kindergarten Teacher• Previous teaching placements: Kindergarten • Certifications (optional): Generalist EC-4, ESL Supplemental

Background:

• Teacher’s Aide (Early Childhood Assistant) 2009-2010 in Arlington ISD

• Graduated from UTA in 2010• Taught Kindergarten 2010-2013.• Teacher of the Year nominee 2013• Currently teaching Kindergarten at a charter school

What has been going well in your teaching?• I have been using several methods to teach reading and

phonics that show great gains in my students’ abilities.• I have recommended these three things to almost every

teacher I have worked with, and they love them too. I think that I am also strong in parent communication.

• I keep the parents informed from the very beginning of any concerns I have, as well as positive things I’ve noticed about their child. Finally, I think that I am skilled at making learning fun (especially since I teach five-year-olds!).

• I love to use songs with movements and games to get the kids excited about learning.

What general advice do you have for new teachers?• I have found that being very organized can really save you

time: Color-code, file, label, and categorize everything that you can.

• Give yourself the maximum amount of time to set up your first classroom; it always takes much longer than you think it will.

• Ask for help! Don’t worry about being a burden to your experienced team members. I have found that most teachers love sharing with you. They are teachers, after all! They want to teach you, too.

• Don’t compare yourself to teachers on Pinterest or teacher blogs. Use their ideas, but don’t expect perfection from yourself!

Where do you get help at work if you have questions about teaching?

• I always ask the mentor teacher first, then the team leader. If it’s a minor thing, I just ask someone on my team. I don’t go to the principal unless the mentor teacher or team leader tells me to. Principals are very busy, but not busy enough to ignore your questions. Don’t be intimidated by them.

 What online resources have helped you?

• I browse Pinterest about once a month (more than that and it becomes a time-waster), and I have a few teacher blogs that I

visit weekly or bi-weekly. Teachers Pay Teachers has been a great resource.

Learning….

• I wish I had known.... that most team members are willing to share their resources. I could have saved a lot of money! I wish I had known that paperwork can sometimes take hours and hours of my time.

• I still want to learn ____ to become a better teacher.... I want to learn more about Whole Brain Teaching. I have seen it pop up on blogs and other teachers mention it. It sounds awesome.

What helps me get my classroom set up is.... • Visiting it before and taking pictures• Measuring the length and width, as well as the furniture• Determining ahead of time what “centers” or “areas” I want• Deciding on a theme or color scheme• Having a friend help me! (invaluable!)• Going to set up the first day the school is open• Completing 95% of the setup before the teacher workdays.

You will use these days for other important tasks.

Behavior & Academics• Behavior issues: I recommend the following

books/philosophies:• Teaching with Love and Logic by Jim Fay and David Funk• Positive Discipline, A Teacher’s A-Z Guide by Jane Nelson• If you’re having trouble with a student’s behavior, take notes and

share them with your mentor teacher. The two of you can come up with a plan.

• Academic issues:• Yardsticks by Chip Wood has a chapter on each age so you can

compare it to the student that is having problems.• If a student is very low academically, gather work samples and

take notes, then share this information with your mentor teacher. They will help you decide if the student is in need of interventions.

Other Advice• Inspiring quotes:

“Teachers who inspire know that teaching is like cultivating a garden, and those who would have nothing to do with thorns must never attempt to gather flowers.” –Author unknown"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." -W. B. Yeats

• Educators you admire: “The 2 Sisters”- Gail Boushey and Joan MoserPatti Belknap- Mentor teacher at John’s Elementary. Has taught Kindergarten for 36+ years. I have used many and more of her fabulous ideas and techniques. • Mentor’s advice:• My mentor Patti always told me to borrow ideas from others, but to make

sure I personalized it to fit my class. She told me to aim high, and teach high, and the others will catch up.

Teacher: Joy Brown (elementary)• Background

• Current teaching placement: Third Grade ESL Math, Arlington ISD

• Previous teaching placements: Fifth Grade Self Contained, Fifth Grade Science/Math, PPCD Aide

• Generalist EC-6, ESL Supplemental• Graduated from UTA in 2011

 What has been going well in your teaching? • I have been doing a lot of research into how children acquire

an understanding of numbers, number sense. I have used this research to teach students the concepts of math, such as the concepts of place value, and what really is happening when you follow mathematical algorithms. I don’t like to use worksheets, and I use a lot of manipulative blocks.

What general advice do you have for new teachers?

• Don’t expect that you will be a master teacher right away. Some things can only be learned by experience. Teaching is a lifetime of learning- learning what to teach, and when and how to teach it.

• Write down everything- and refer to it often. You will not remember it- what ever it is- in thirty minutes.

• Your instructional coaches can be a major support in helping you prepare for your classes, learning the structure of the school and accessing information.

• Ask for help.

Where do you get help at work if you have questions about teaching?• I usually go to the instructional coaches first. I have found that

they have researched many methods of teaching and have been teachers themselves.

• I wish I had known....

• that the first answer you get might not be a valid one. If you have a question about anything from availability of materials to how to teach a concept, ask for multiple opinions.

What online resources have helped you?• • NCTM, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has been

a great resource. • Khan academy has excellent videos that I have watched in

order to see how to teach a unfamiliar concept or to gain a different teaching perspective about a concept.

What helps me get my classroom set up is....

• Thinking ahead of time about what it will look like with students working in it.

• Thinking about how the colors and atmosphere will best work with the age of the students. (I try to pick a theme that resonates with the students. Last year I had “Champ” Birds, and this year I am doing, “Mathsters University”.

Do you have any other advice for new teachers (and/or student teachers) on academic or behavioral issues?

• Academic and behavioral issues are resolved easier if you have a good relationship with the parents before an issue arises.

• I try to call or e-mail several students each week. • If I see that a student may potentially have a problem, then I

try to call the parents quickly so that I have something positive to say before I have to call about something negative.

• Always follow up a negative phone call with any positive improvement.

Interactive Poll: Select A, B, C, or D in drop down poll (near your name in participant window)

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE?

In being a first year or new teacher, what do you believe is the biggest challenge?

A. Finding the time to get everything done I need to get done.B. Coming up with lesson plan ideas and curriculumC. Feeling like a “real teacher” and feeling in chargeD. Behavior management and/or classroom organizationE. Other [state in chat window]

Vote in the poll area.Optional: type your additional thoughts in the chat window.

Teacher:Jessica Hardin• Background:

First year teacher

• Prior experiences subbing• Getting the job I have now was well worth the wait.• Working as an aid in Special Ed while trying to get a full time

teaching job was a great learning experience.

TeacherTierney Gage (mid-level)• 8th grade science• Advice about being a new teacher

Interactive Poll 3: seeking help on the Internet/social media• Question: • I look on certain websites/social/media to help

me find teaching ideas!Green check (yes)

Red X (no)

• Optional: Please share good websites for teachers in the chat window!

TeacherNikki Cade (secondary)• Certifications: Special Education EC-12 + ELAR 4-8• Grades 9-12/Sped Instructional Specialist

• I have taught special education grades 9-12 for 6 years and this is my first year as an instructional coach. I work at a growing charter school based in Irving, Texas. I currently travel to 6 campuses in the Metroplex, helping teachers with accommodations, modifications, special education resources, and co-teaching.

What has been going well in your teaching? (4-6 sentences) •

We began implementing a co-teaching initiative last year. This is year two and I am responsible for ensuring teachers are trained and collaborating effectively. Although it is a huge challenge, I have seen some really great lessons so far this year.

What general advice do you have for new teachers?

• I remember feeling very inadequate my first years teaching. I am alternatively certified and at the time I just did not have the educational background in teaching or the experience I needed to feel adequate. However, what I lacked in experience I made up for in my ability to jump in and take initiative.

• I began watching YouTube channels/videos of good teaching practices, observing fellow teachers classrooms and taking notes, subscribing to educational journals/organizations, and reading books about teaching.

Take initiative• My best advice for new teachers is to take initiative. If you are

week in classroom management take an online or onsite course at your local educational service center or read about strategies that work and practice them.

• If you are only certified in content areas consider a certification in special education or ESL.

• If you are never invited to ARD meetings for some of your students, ask to be included next time to gain valuable insight, etc.

What online resources have helped you? (e.g., social media, websites, blogs, etc.)

• The Teaching Channel• You Tube-Peggy Semingson• Pinterest- (for classroom organization ideas)• ReadWriteThink.Org-(for lesson plan ideas, interactives, etc.)

I wish I had known....

• Although graduate school helped me tremendously, I wish I had known just how many resources there were available to help me with professional growth.

• I still want to learn ____ to become a better teacher....

• I still want to learn many things! For example, I would like to learn more about English Language Learners

Classroom environment• My best advice on creating a positive classroom environment

includes....

• Setting expectations at the beginning of every class!!• Considering the needs of all students (I have had a blind student

and a 17 year old that was only 3 feet tall! I couldn’t imagine consideration for their needs not being the priority of every teacher not just special education).

• What helps me get my classroom set up is....• Planning for learning instead of just decorating and a checklist!

Include any other advice for new teachers (and/or student teachers) on academic or behavioral issues!

• Follow what is stated in your student’s IEP (especially for behavioral issues) and get an overview from your special education team about their background. A general education student and a special education student with an emotional disturbance might react completely different to the same redirection.

• One way to differentiate instruction that is often over looked is with questioning. Varying levels of questioning (Bloom’s/Depth of Knowledge) is an excellent way to add a layer of differentiation to your lessons, which is key for your special population students.

Dr. Leisa Martin,Social Studies Education, UT Arlington“Become familiar with the your state exam.”

• Know the type of content tested and how you can prepare your students for success.

• Familiarize yourself with the types of questions that will be asked.

• Released tests are on the Texas Education Agency website:• http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/staar/testques

tions/

Final advice from Dr. S:Reward yourself!To-do lists work! (checklists)Break the task down into a lot of little things to do! Then cross them off as you complete them.Set a timer to work to stay focused.Reward yourself!

Type in chat window. What are your rewards to yourself for working hard? Dr. S’s: coffee and scone!

A big THANK YOU to our panelists and faculty!• Let’s give the panelists a round of applause

for taking time to share with us!

Websites for new teachers• Discovery Channel

http://www.discoveryeducation.com/survival/ • Reading Rockets First Year Teacher Program (FREE!)• http://www.readingrockets.org/firstyear/ • PBS Teachers • http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/ • National Geographic Education • http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/?ar_a=1 • Edutopia • http://www.edutopia.org/

Master’s in Mind, Brain, and EducationOur work at the SW Center for Mind, Brain and Education seeks to advance the quality of teaching based upon insights gained from the cognitive and neural sciences as well as contribute to research in this new and evolving field.

We build collaborative research relationships with schools, develop research trajectories that profit from the strengths of our faculty and students and maintain a working and teaching laboratory for researchers and graduate students.

1. Courses include: Neuroscience of typical and atypical language development Neuroscience of typical and atypical mathematical reasoning Complex dynamic systems Research design EEG research methodology

2. Individual work: Research-based capstone project encouraged - Conference presentations encouraged - Publishing in peer-reviewed journals

For more information on the Mind, Brain, and Education Master’s degree, please contact Dr. Marc Schwartzschwarma@uta.edu

We hope to see you next time!

Webinar 2 (October 19, 1:00 pm, CST)• Building Classroom Community (October 19, 1:00 pm, CST)• (Dr. Amber Brown, Dr. Peggy Semingson, Mary Curtis, other

panelists TBA).

Webinar 3 (November 16, 1:00 pm, CST): • Behavior Management (Dr. Jon Leffingwell, Dr. Diane

Galloway)

• For questions, email Dr. Semingson peggys@uta.edu• To register for Webinar 2 (October 19) email Jane Merrill

merrillj@uta.edu

Recording will be here on the UTA New Teacher Blog • http://blog.uta.edu/utanewteachers/recordings-of-webinars-li

nk-mp4-video-mp3-audio/

Facebook page: UT Arlington-Curriculum and Instruction

Feedback-chat window

•Please share general thoughts/feedback on this webinar.•What topics would you like to see in

future webinars?•What is best day/time?