Teacher Candidates

Teacher Candidates Learn Rules of Engagement at ‘Survival’ Conference

By Mary Ruth Ray, PAGE College Services Representative

Last fall, teacher candidates from Georgia colleges gained valuable insight into surviving their first year of teaching. The First-Year Survival Conference, held at Middle Georgia State College in Macon, is an annual event co-hosted by PAGE and the MGSC School of Education.

Keynote speaker Jordan Reeves Walker, Ed.D., a national trainer on learning-focused schools and motivating at-risk students, shared strategies for keeping students on task. “To draw a student who is off task into the discussion, ask the student a lesson-related question that he or she can answer,” Walker said. “For example, if the lesson is on types of rocks, you could ask, ‘Johnny, what are some of the colors you have seen in rocks?’”

Walker, author of “Successful Classroom Management Strategies and Interventions that Work with High School Students”, also coached teacher candidates on positive interventions to help students manage their own behavior. “We’ve all had the eager students who want to answer every question, limiting the participation of those more hesitant to speak out. This puts teachers in the position of having to equalize participation,” she said. “One solution is to give each student a certain number of index cards. Each time a student answers a question in class, he or she gives you an ‘answer card.’ This will cause the uber-enthusiastic stu-

dents to carefully consider which questions they want to answer. The students begin to equalize the class participation based on who is still holding answer cards.”

Another presenter, PAGE staff attorney Matthew Pence, addressed the Georgia Code of Ethics standards that are the most challenging for new educators, one of which is Standard 9, Required Reporting. “I can’t overemphasize how important it is to make all required reports, especially suspicion of child abuse. All educators in Georgia are mandated reporters and must report suspected child abuse within 24 hours,” said Pence. Conference workshop topics included reaching the hearts of students to help them reach their goals; parent engagement strategies; technology tools for standards-based learning; and differentiating instruction techniques. The First-Year Survival Conference was attended by 160 teaching candidates from 18 colleges, including Armstrong State University, Clayton State University, Columbus State University, Darton State College, Georgia College and State University, Georgia Perimeter College, Georgia Southern University, Georgia Southwestern State University, Gordon State College, Kennesaw State University, LaGrange College, Mercer University, Middle Georgia State College, University of Georgia, University of North Georgia, University of West Georgia, Upper Iowa University and Valdosta State University. n

‘To draw a student who is off task into the discussion, ask the student a lesson-related question that he or she can answer.’ — Keynote speaker Jordan Reeves Walker,Ed.D.