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Step 1
First step is to know before hand when you get to the classroom, what kind of materials will be at my disposal. textbooks, paper, handouts, overhead, pens, paper, white boards, chalk board, etc. get familiar with the copy room machines and how they work. You might be relying on these for a few months. When it comes to supplies for your room, always check with the school for pens, paper, etc. Never buy it yourself. That is usually provided for you.
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Step 2
Try to stay at least a week ahead of the students. Look through the textbook or whatever course materials are provided and create your assignments through those topics. Also try to supplement your class work for students with a workbook, and several activities through the year. Use worksheets, crossword puzzles, word searches, to supplement your assignments and to have for free time for the students. Within the department that you are involved (English, Social studies, etc. ) always order, if you can, materials that can enhance your classroom and its environment. Have posters, and pictures that can be displayed for the students to look at. Anything that looks appealing and interesting will be essential for the room. Tim lines, charts, and maps are great too. Another thing that i have discovered is to have a puzzle out for students to work on. this is a great time consumer and will get some if not a few students interest to actually finish the puzzle.
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Step 3
Borrow, take, (steal) ideas, from previous teachers that u might have had, or from teachers at the school. Talk to teachers in your subject area. What section are they on? Can i come to observe u? Ask them what section they are on in the textbook. Always make friends or good friends if yuou can with your neighbors, you never know when u will need them or they will need u. You might need to have a student leave for a period some time out of the year and u can send that student to your neighbors and they can send one to you. this is always a great system to have.
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Step 4
I myself have taught history the last 8 years and have found out that technology is the way to go these days. You want to have a computer or technology based assignment at least once or twice a year. this gives the students a chance to be creative whether it is a power-point project or a hyper studio project. I myself have used power-point the last 8 years or so and it works great. I come up with the criteria that they need to have and the guidelines for the assignment and the students are to come prepared with the information in hand. No researching in class, i have found that they try to do cut and paste and/or copy fro the internet. Give them about a week tops to create their power-point presentations and on the last day have them present what they have. It is a great technology tool and majority of the kids love it. For students that don't come prepared, have a paper for them to type out everyday.
