I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

I started out my career wanting to be a teacher. I was enthusiastic and creative.

Then life sent me down the behavior path. I worked strictly in the autism field, and became a board certified behavior analyst.

For the past 12 years, I did nothing but behavior analysis.

A district hired me last year full time to be their behavior specialist. I was over the moon to be working in a district close to me doing what I love.

Then the budget couldn't support my position. The great news was, I was given a class of emotionally disturbed boys who needed a BOCES program. My district decided who better than their behavior specialist to do this?

I am really excited about this.

But... I am missing the T gene. The teachers' rooms are all beautifully decorated. They all have cute teachery things, bright colorful rooms.... Great ideas.... Just stuff that's not in my reportoire.

I know I am "new", but I am used to being a very knoweldegable person in my field, and at age 38, I feel like a fish out of water in a job I haven't really honed my skills in. I love new experiences. I love teaching. I really love lesson planning and all of that.... But I don't have tenure yet. And everything needs to be done in a specific way. And I have all of these things that need to get done that I never EVER had to do before.

I am on pinterest religiously I am reading, doing research....

On top of that, we have all this APPR stuff stressing everyone out. My kids all have different schedules I need to put together and figure out when my aides could take lunch (and when I can take my lunch and prep).

I know starting out is hard. I know the beginning of the year is stressful for everyone.

Anyone start teaching at an older age that felt like this? Did it get better?

My school has one principal, and no AP. she is terrific, but overwhelmed herself. She has worked with me a bit. I see that as a good thing, but also a bad thing. I don't want her to see me as someone who needs ths much help. She already told me my classroom needs "more" in it. I am going shopping today for stuff.

I hardly slept all night stressing about all of this....

Message edited 8/31/2012 11:25:47 PM.

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

I have a hard time with classroom decor as well. I teach 5th grade and the principal loves the look of a "print rich" 1st grade room. I think it's too much stuff, but I comply. Can you post a picture of what your room looks like?

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

What grade(s)? I teach 1st grade I could email you picks of my room

Message edited 8/31/2012 7:58:12 AM.

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

Message edited 8/31/2012 8:03:33 AM.

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

Message edited 8/31/2012 8:14:15 AM.

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

I am in the same boat. I was been doing supervision of children with autism for a few years and decided I want to go back to the classroom. I have a 6:1:1 5th grade class. When I went to my classroom last week, I left with all the furniture in the middle of the room because I could not decide. Do you have a SmartBoard? What curriculum are you using? I'm trying to get some ideas too!

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

I'm not a classroom teacher, but i ended up reading this woman's blog setting up her classroom, even though I don't do much of this


link

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

I would honestly wait a week or so to see what you will need, and what the students will need. There's nothing worse than setting everything up, and then realizing that you don't need things, or you have to move things around to make it work better.
For now, make sure you have bulletin boards covered, maybe some inspirational quotes, cute pictures for the kids, and brightly colored folders. I love folders, and there are SO many uses for them...even just as background decoration.

It'll all come together...sooner than you think!

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

Posted by Palebride

I would honestly wait a week or so to see what you will need, and what the students will need. There's nothing worse than setting everything up, and then realizing that you don't need things, or you have to move things around to make it work better.
For now, make sure you have bulletin boards covered, maybe some inspirational quotes, cute pictures for the kids, and brightly colored folders. I love folders, and there are SO many uses for them...even just as background decoration.

It'll all come together...sooner than you think!

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

I know you probably feel very stressed right now but just now that it WILL all get done. You just have to get through the tough first few weeks. How many bulletin boards do you have? What grade do you teach? If it's elementary, maybe you can start off the year with a bulletin board titled "A Garden of Good Choices". Decorate it with blue bulletin board paper and flowery boarder. Put each child's name on a flower and the flowers could either be on a vine or individual stems. You said they are a behavioral class so perhaps over the first few weeks as you "catch" them making good choices you put them on the flower petals so that at the end of the first month the entire board is decorated with the good choices they have made. Even if the choices are as simple as "shared a pencil with a peer" or "hung up his jacket in the morning". Another bulletin board could be a word wall. Another one could be jobs. Those two bulletin boards you could just buy the supplies to make them at Lakeshore and hang up the premade pieces. As far as space goes, how are the desks set up? Do you have clearly delineated spaces? I teach in a coteach class. Our class has 4 groups of desks, a reading area with a class rug, a computer area, 1 kidney shaped table for working with groups, 1 round table for working with groups. The round table is separated on one side by windows against the wall and a bookcase on the other making it a little more "private." I know you only have 4 kids, but with multiple aides, you probably want other "spaces" that they could be working with the kids.
I hope any of this helps! Just know that you can do it and the kids are lucky to have someone with your behavioral experience teaching them. That's the hard part. You can always buy "cutesy" stuff.

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

Posted by lipglossjunky73

Posted by Palebride

I would honestly wait a week or so to see what you will need, and what the students will need. There's nothing worse than setting everything up, and then realizing that you don't need things, or you have to move things around to make it work better.
For now, make sure you have bulletin boards covered, maybe some inspirational quotes, cute pictures for the kids, and brightly colored folders. I love folders, and there are SO many uses for them...even just as background decoration.

It'll all come together...sooner than you think!

Thanks!!!

I appreciate that!

It's just my principal is on me for everything....

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

I am a minimalist when it comes to the classroom. I like neat, simple space, where everything is labeled and has a home, but I hate teacher store posters all over. Really my room follows TEACCH and the only teachery stuff I have is three bulletin boards of student work, my behavior system and a morning meeting area with a calender, etc. It becomes more "print rich" as we start working on stuff because I buy the post-it chart paper and make graphic organizers, lists, etc. while I am teaching and then leave them up around the room.

Message edited 9/1/2012 10:58:29 AM.

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

Thanks everyone!!!!!

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

Just a few thoughts...

There are great decorating/organizing ideas on the clutter free classroom blog.

You can get pre-made printable labels/signs for items in your room from teachers pay teachers - oftentimes, for free.

Colorful baskets/buckets for materials are an easy way to brighten up a room. (Love the ones at the dollar tree - blue & green)

Maybe the kids can help you make some materials - together you could create a jungle or a beach or something for a reading corner mainly out of bulletin board paper.

HTH!

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

I would make buddies with someone whose classroom looks awesome and see if they can "mentor" you. Its always good to have a buddy who can help guide you, rather than the principal.

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

You will excel-you specialize in this!! At the end of the day, you want the kids to learn and make good choices. Decorations etc, are not going to make or break the classroom! This will be my 12th year teaching and the 8th classroom that I have had to move into (due to excessing) I am always overwhelmed when I walk into either a bare classroom or worse- a classroom with the previous teacher's junk still in it. Throw in a sweaty 90 degree day and I just end up taking pictures of the room and going home! Bulletin boards add instant color! Also,I'm not sure how much stuff you have (and don't stress if you don't have a lot of stuff!) but I have learned not to bring everything in. Just bring the basics and slowly trickle in what you need as the weeks progress! Keep us posted!

Message edited 9/1/2012 7:09:41 PM.

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

I'd pick a few basic colors and start with the room. cover bulletin boards, buy bins and get paper in those colors. then, if each child has a bright and cheery color assigned it will help him find his stuff. you will fill your boards and spaces with curriculum as well as behavior management. Have the basics up around the room (i.e. depending on the age, alphabet, sight words, etc.). It is easy to start decorating with work they have completed, which will give them a sense of pride, and information they will need in an ongoing basis. Within a month or two, it will all fall into place.

And don't forget, it isn't a bad thing to fake it until you make it, which you will!

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

Try this site! Good luck- it will come, it just takes time!

Teacher Stuff

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

Posted by smooney

Try this site! Good luck- it will come, it just takes time!

Teacher Stuff

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help

For a 6:1:1 you probably want to keep the decorations minimal. I would def think feet cut outs for line spots, rules posted, behavior charts posted, schedule- visual. If they are ED everything labelled for them to know exactly where everything goes.

Re: I don't really feel 'teachery".... I need Help