by California Casualty | Educators |
My name is Donn Harrison and I have been a member of California Causality for years. I have also taught school for over 25 years. This past May I was awarded Top Teacher on the Live with Kelly and Michael Show. I was asked by California Casualty to write a few articles to teachers and members of the California Casualty family. While this article is directed to educators it certainly applies to all careers.
As the beginning of the school year washes over us like a cold shower on an August morning, hopefully you have established a routine. You know your students by name, and you’ve interacted with some kids so many times that you say them in your sleep. Here are several “keeps” I use as I go through the year that help me to be a better educator, parent and spouse. Hopefully some of these may help you not only survive the year but thrive!
Keep Ahead
There are so many expectations on teachers today. You are a shoe tying, data collecting, problem solving, group leading, question asking educator. All these expectations are heaped upon you and you have to keep ahead. There are several ways to do this. When your principal announces that all teachers have to turn in something, get a jump on it. Try to at least knock it out that day. Getting a jump on it will give you time later.
Keeping ahead may even happen at home. I get all of my clothes ready for the week and put them on hangers on Sunday night. There is nothing better than grabbing an already ironed outfit on in the morning. This is a great way to keep ahead and avoid a hectic morning!
Keep Grounded
No matter how crazy my day is I save time for a hobby. I love to bike. So every day I save at least 45 minutes to get out and get some fresh air. It centers me and relaxes me. You may crochet, read, jog, walk or jam out in the car on the way home, but take time and make this a priority in your daily routine.
Keep your priorities
You can’t get everything done in a day. You have to see a task coming at you and be able to say, “this can wait.” You need to find out when someone expects it and get ahead if you can. Some things you will miss and forget to do. That happens. Apologize and move on. As a firefighter I am able to prioritize pretty well. On a fire scene, I know that gas and electricity needs to be turned off when we arrive at a structure fire. The same goes at school. The scraped knee at recess needs a band aid before the zipper on the coat needs fixed. See tasks coming at you and prioritize them.
Keep an open mind
Education changes year to year. Changes can drown you and make you seem like an antique when you fight them. Keep an open mind and embrace change and spin it with your own unique teaching style. In my career, I have seen policies from not leaving children behind, to racing to them to the top to making their core common. Each time I tried to embrace the change and spin it in a positive way and make it my own unique system.
I hope you have a great year and some of these tips help you make teaching fun for you and your kids!
by California Casualty | Educators |
You got the job, you have the room prepared and you think you are ready for that first day in the classroom. But as the day arrives you are more nervous than you thought. Here are some tips you can take into the classroom from those who have been there before you:
- Look over your room one more time to make sure there is nothing to distract the students
- Create good traffic patterns
- Prepare for every silly question possible
- Have a lesson plan but be ready to deviate when teachable moments present themselves
- Have clear rules and expectations
- Don’t worry if the students don’t like you; teaching is not a popularity contest
- Build relationships with the other staff, administrators and the janitors (you will need their help)
- Use a normal, natural voice
- Stash a spare set of clothes for emergencies (ink gets spilled on you or someone becomes sick)
- Realize you’ll arrive early and stay late
It’s important for new teachers to be prepared and build a strong support network; research shows that up to 40 to 50 percent of new instructors leave the profession within the first five years.
California Casualty understands educating our children is a tough job. That’s why we created the $2,500 Academic Award to help educators purchase the classroom supplies and materials they need. Give your wallet a break and visit www.calcasacademicaward.com for more information.
And, the NEA® Auto & Home Insurance Program from California Casualty provides educators quality insurance with benefits not available to the general public:
- $500 personal property coverage for items stolen, damaged or destroyed in your vehicle
- Reduced or zero deductible for vandalism or damage to your vehicle when it is parked at work
- Rates guaranteed for a full year (not six months)
- Free identity theft protection with each policy
- Multiple payment options including EZ Pay and holiday or summer skips
- Superior customer service – 99 percent with a claims satisfaction rating of 96 percent, https://www.calcas.com/customer-feedback
New educators can explore the possible savings and benefits by calling a California Casualty advisor today, 1.800.800.9410 or by visiting www.calcas.com/NEA.
Sources for this article:
https://www2.ed.gov/pubs/FirstYear/ch3.html
https://teaching.about.com/od/pd/a/First-Year-Teacher.htm
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/classroom-management-tips-novice-teachers-rebecca-alber
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/new-teacher-tips
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/10/why-do-teachers-quit/280699/
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/05/16/kappan_ingersoll.h31.html
https://horizon.unc.edu/projects/issues/papers/Hampton.asp
by California Casualty | Educators |
For many teachers, the beginning of the school year is both exciting and overwhelming. In the final few weeks of summer, their minds are racing with thoughts of lesson plans, class rosters, assessments, Back-To-School Night, and classroom set up. Before you dive into your classroom theme or your new reading corner, consider the following items as you prepare the upcoming school year:
1. Tackle Your Personal “To Do” List
Seemingly small tasks can become a burden during the hectic school year. Do yourself, and your family, a favor by taking care of these things before you head back to school. Get household affairs in order: make doctor/vet appointments for all members of the family, finish incomplete summer projects, and tackle any needed car or home maintenance. It would also be a good time to evaluate your personal finances – including your auto and home insurance. Check out the “Get a Quote” box to the right. You might be able to save some serious money!
Fewer items on your personal/family “To Do” list means more time to grade papers and plan lessons, right?
2. Plan Ahead for Professional Development
Once the school year has started, it may be difficult to switch from thinking about lesson plans, to thinking about your professional development. Many districts lack the funds to provide quality professional development opportunities to teachers. If this is true for you, check out the continuing education courses at your local university. Before the school year begins, enroll in coursework that will benefit you in your professional development. Some school districts may even have a tuition reimbursement program.
3. Re-establish Routines
Make it a point to re-introduce daily routines before the school year begins. Many of us get used to a more relaxed routine during the summer months: bedtimes are later, mornings are less hurried, and brains take a break.
A week or two before school begins, introduce your usual routine. You can start slowly, or all at once. Create (and stick to) bedtimes, set morning alarm clocks, practice bathroom routines, and eat a healthy breakfast. Don’t forget to incorporate some reading time into that routine! Having a routine in place before heading back to school, for both teachers and students, helps ease the transition from summer to the school year.
4. Take a Moment for Yourself
Take a day, a half-day, or even just an hour, before you head back to school for some “me” time. Lounge by the pool, give yourself a pedicure, get a haircut, watch a movie, or even have a spa day. Whatever your choice of leisure activity, squeeze in some time for yourself before diving into the new school year.
Cheers to a great new school year!
Erin Randolph has taught elementary school in Louisburg, Kansas for eight years. She lives in Olathe, KS with her husband, a three-year-old son, and a two-year-old daughter (and a seven-year-old border collie).
by California Casualty | Educators |
Pictured here from left to right are: Susan Frantz (Group Marketing Team Manager, California Casualty), Tom Torlakson (CA Superintendent), Beau Brown (CEO, California Casualty) and Lisa Almeida (Assistant Vice President Group Marketing, California Casualty)
The Association of California School Administrators and California Casualty are mutually committed to serving members who lead great schools. California Casualty is proud to stand with ACSA for more than 30 years as it supports the administrators who encourage and steer their staff to attain new heights in an ever changing education environment. ACSA lends support to its members through professional development, sharing of great ideas and innovation and with benefits of membership.
As the Presenting Sponsor of the California Department of Education’s School Recognition Program, California Casualty has recommitted to ACSA’s goal of supporting California’s educators and administrators, helping make possible events that honored the 2015 Teachers of the Year, Classified School Employees of the Year, and the 373 secondary schools named 2015 Gold Ribbon Schools.
California Casualty CEO Beau Brown remarked what a privilege it was to play a key role in acknowledging the achievements and successes of California educators and their schools. “Our partnership with the California Department of Education is a testament of how schools, businesses and communities can come together to promote the remarkable successes of those developing the minds of our future generations.”
ACSA and California Casualty salute the great work of administrators across the Golden State and the schools they lead. Together, our organizations are able to do more for the ACSA members we serve. A California Casualty representative would welcome the opportunity to explain the many benefits that come with ACSA membership. If you would like more information, contact Roxanne Dean, 1.800.964.3903 ext. 5923 or [email protected].
by California Casualty | Educators |
Check out these quotes for other occupations:
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by California Casualty | Educators |
by Thomas Brown
Next year I’ll be going into my sophomore year of high school. Throughout my eleven years of school I’ve had teachers who let us sit with our friends, teachers who assign seating, teachers who have couches for us to sit on, teachers who let us sit on the floor and even teachers who make us sit on the floor (this happened twice; in kindergarten and 8th grade). I’ve had classrooms that were so quiet it was borderline awkward, and then I’ve been in those classes that are so loud other teachers have to come in and tell us to be quiet. You could say I’ve seen it all.
Personally, I’ve always liked free-seating. In my experience, sitting next to my friends, especially at the beginning of the year when I don’t know everyone in my class, puts me at ease and helps me participate more in class. Also, I’ve noticed that the kids who usually are the loudest in the class will talk to anyone sitting near them, friend or not.
The way I see it, if I have to have someone talk my ear off for an hour, I’d rather it were my friend saying something interesting than just another loud classmate. Additionally, I’ve found that friends will find a way to communicate with each other in class even if they are sitting far apart. Once again this is just my opinion, but someone whispering quietly to the person next to them is pretty much always less distracting than someone yelling, waving their arms, and making weird faces to get someone’s attention from across the room.
Despite being against assigned seating, I do admit there are some good arguments for seating charts and teachers choosing the seating. As I said before, I’ve been in many a class that is out of control and often a seating chart can help calm if not completely get rid of distractions. However, these are extreme cases and I feel like the best approach might be what many of my teachers tend to use, which is to reward quieter, on-task classes with free seating and force distracted classes to sit separately from their friends.
Whether or not to have assigned seating should depend on the behavior of the class, giving the students a reason to stay on task. Ultimately, however, it is the teacher’s choice on whether or not a class should have assigned seats. But if you happen to be on the fence about it, my advice would be to let the students choose where they sit.
