Latest / New Teacher Talk / Ep 138: New Teacher Summer Survival Guide: Preparing for Success in the Next School Year

Transcript

Ep 138: New Teacher Summer Survival Guide: Preparing for Success in the Next School Year · New Teacher Talk

• 0:02
  Hey there, teachers.
• 0:03
  Welcome to New Teacher Talk.
• 0:05
  I'm Dr.
• 0:06
  Beth.
• 0:07
  This episode is brought to you by The New Teacher's Guide
• 0:10
  to Overcoming Challenges,
• 0:13
  available from Routledge Press or wherever you buy your
• 0:16
  books.
• 0:18
  And, I'm Dr.
• 0:19
  Anna.
• 0:20
  It's June,
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  so we know you're probably already thinking about next
• 0:24
  year, whether you're staying put, job hunting,
• 0:28
  or just wondering how to make the most of summer break.
• 0:33
  Exactly.
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  And honestly, we've all been there.
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  So let's chat about how to set yourself up for success,
• 0:40
  no matter what your situation looks like.
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  Are you staying at your current school?
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  Lucky you!
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  If you're staying where you are,
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  you've got a huge advantage.
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  You already know the lay of the land.
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  That's right.
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  So here's what we would recommend.
• 0:59
  Before summer hits,
• 1:01
  grab coffee with your principal or department head.
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  Come with a little wish list,
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  what grade you'd love to teach,
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  any cool committees you want to join,
• 1:12
  or professional development that caught your eye.
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  And hey,
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  if you've been eyeing that classroom down the hall with the
• 1:19
  better windows, now's the time to ask.
• 1:24
  Also, take a quick inventory.
• 1:27
  What supplies are you running low on?
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  What would make your teaching life easier next year?
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  Watch for tag sales from retired teachers if you're trying
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  to expand your classroom library or find some
• 1:41
  organizational supplies.
• 1:45
  I really like that idea, Anna.
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  The best part about staying is you can actually improve on
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  what you've already built.
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  Think about those lessons that totally flopped this year or
• 1:58
  that unit you have wanted to develop further based on your
• 2:01
  students' feedback.
• 2:04
  Summer is perfect for giving lessons or units a makeover.
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  And don't forget to connect with your teacher friends
• 2:10
  before everyone scatters.
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  Maybe plan a casual get-together to swap ideas and
• 2:16
  resources.
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  Plus, if new teachers are joining your team,
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  be the welcoming face you wished you'd had when you
• 2:25
  started.
• 2:27
  Are you looking for a new teaching job?
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  We get it.
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  Sometimes you want to move to a different school district
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  or you just need a fresh start.
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  That's totally okay.
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  If you're moving to a new city or simply ready for a new
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  opportunity, job searching can feel overwhelming.
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  So it's important to think about ways to make the process
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  easier for you.
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  Many departments of education have job banks where you can
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  see educator vacancies across the state.
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  This gives you a sense of where there are openings in
• 3:00
  places you'd like to be.
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  Then dig deeper into district websites for more
• 3:06
  information.
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  You can get a sense of the district's vibe and what they
• 3:10
  value.
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  We also recommend using the AAEE Job Search Handbook as a
• 3:17
  resource to make your job search easier.
• 3:20
  Hey Anna,
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  let's put a link in the show notes for the Handbook to make
• 3:24
  it easier for our listeners to find.
• 3:27
  Absolutely Beth.
• 3:29
  When applying for any job,
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  make sure your resume is fully optimized so it successfully
• 3:34
  passes through an applicant tracking system or what we
• 3:38
  refer to as an ATS.
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  And remember to customize every application.
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  Generic applications are basically invisible.
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  And, network like crazy.
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  Tell everyone you know that you're looking.
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  Seriously, your college professor,
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  that teacher you met at a conference,
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  your neighbor who works at a school,
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  you'd be amazed how many jobs get filled through word of
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  mouth.
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  And, when you get that interview, remember,
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  you are checking them out, too.
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  Ask about the school culture, how they support teachers,
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  and what a typical day looks like.
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  Trust your gut.
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  If something feels off, it probably is.
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  Oh yeah.
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  Okay,
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  let's talk summer First things first. You have our permission
• 4:35
  to binge watch Netflix for at least the first week.
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  Seriously, you've earned it.
• 4:43
  Yes to that.
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  Rest is productive.
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  So once you are feeling human again,
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  summer is your secret weapon for leveling up your teaching
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  game.
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  Select a day of the week to do so.
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  And in that way,
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  you can work on school prep while honoring your time to
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  rejuvenate for the school year ahead.
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  Yes, keep everything work-related in a tiny little box.
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  And pick one thing you want to get better at.
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  Maybe classroom management or family engagement.
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  Don't try to fix everything at once.
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  That's a recipe for summer burnout.
• 5:24
  Good point, Anna.
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  Read that teaching book that's been sitting on your
• 5:28
  nightstand.
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  Join some online teacher groups and take a fun workshop and
• 5:34
  honestly pursue your hobbies, too.
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  Maybe it's a yoga class or you're working on meditation.
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  Hey, that pottery class might inspire your next art lesson.
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  Summer is also perfect for the boring but necessary stuff
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  like organizing your digital files or creating systems that
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  will save you hours during the school year.
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  Your future tired teacher self will thank you.
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  And,
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  take some time to reflect what worked this school year and
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  what didn't.
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  Set a couple of realistic goals for next year with emphasis
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  on realistic.
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  Write your goals down and post them somewhere so you can
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  read and reread them on a regular basis.
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  So whether you're staying, going,
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  or just trying to survive summer,
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  remember that every teacher's journey looks different,
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  and that's perfectly fine.
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  Absolutely.
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  Teaching is this amazing blend of art and science that
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  keeps evolving.
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  Each year is a chance to get a little bit better,
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  have a little more fun,
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  and make even a bigger difference in your students' lives.
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  We're rooting for you.
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  Drop us a line on our socials,
• 6:58
  Instagram and BlueSky @newteachertalk and let us know how
• 7:03
  your prep is going.
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  Let us know what you need.
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  We love hearing your stories, too.
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  Thanks for spending time with us at New Teacher Talk today.
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  I'm Dr.
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  Beth.
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  I'm Dr.
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  Anna,
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  here's to finishing this year strong and making next year
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  even better.