Help at Every Level
OK. You’ve been through preservice orientation and you’re finally in your classroom. Now what?
You have decisions to make — practical decisions about how to arrange your room, manage your classes and plan your lessons. The tone you set can have a major impact on how the class functions.
You’re Not Alone
Luckily, you don’t have to figure all this out by yourself. There are experts in your school who can provide guidance and experience. Some schools have a professional development team that may include a literacy coach and a math coach or a Teacher Center specialist.
These colleagues have years of classroom experience, and they’re eager to share their knowledge. They will:
- Help you problem-solve instructional and classroom management issues.
- Show you how to construct standards-based classroom assignments and assessments that will assure you that students are learning the subject matter while preparing for standardized tests.
- Meet with you and, at your request, come into your classroom to make suggestions and even provide demonstration lessons.
- Show you how to construct standards-based classroom assignments and assessments that will assure you that students are learning the subject matter while preparing for standardized tests.
- Offer support in a nonevaluative way.
Your UFT Chapter Leader
The union members in your school elected this person to represent you. The chapter leader is your best source for information about your rights and benefits. If you haven’t yet joined the UFT, he or she will have a membership card — or you can sign up online at www.uft.org.
Your School Secretaries
School secretaries — also UFT colleagues — know how to cut through the red tape. The payroll secretary, in particular, handles forms and records for attendance, payroll, health benefits and other matters of immediate importance to you. Connecting with your payroll secretary will get you reliable answers to your questions..
Mentors
In addition, if you’re eligible — generally speaking that means if you haven’t had prior teaching experience — you’ll get one-on-one mentoring throughout your first year.
- Mentors are experienced colleagues who have trained extensively in ways to best support you.
- They will do demonstration lessons, co-teach classes with you and offer constructive feedback on your teaching practices.
- They will help you diagnose student work, make suggestions about lesson plans and help you connect to people and instructional resources in your building.
- They will work with you on a nonevaluative, nonjudgmental basis. Translation: Your discussions will be professional and confidential.
If you believe you are eligible and have not heard from a mentor by mid-September (or for spring-term hires, two weeks into the term), see your UFT chapter leader or call your UFT borough office.
Coach, mentor
What’s the difference?
- Coaches focus on content (math and literacy) and work with all staff in a building.
- Mentors help new teachers learn teaching strategies and classroom management.
- Mentors and coaches often collaborate. They support best practices and influence the culture of a school.
UFT Teacher Center
The UFT Teacher Center is the union’s nationally known professional
development program.
Its professional development philosophy is straightforward and practical,
emphasizing instruction based on the state and city standards and ongoing,
collegial support.
- Teacher Center staffers can help you deepen your content knowledge and enhance your teaching skills.
- They are your colleagues. The wisdom they share is based on practical classroom experience.
- They can offer you advice, encouragement and the opportunity to try out and master new techniques.
Their goal is simple: to help you become a dynamic and knowledgeable teaching professional.