Helpful Tips

HELPFUL TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND:

• When you are explaining something new, especially a challenging topic, make sure to go slow, repeat yourself, and consistently ask if anyone has questions (tell them there are no dumb questions so they feel comfortable)

• As teachers know you can plan the perfect lesson plan and it either doesn’t go as expected or the timing is off. We try to make sure there are enough activities if you are moving quickly, but don’t feel pressure if you don’t get through everything. Try to get through the most important parts of the lesson, but if you need to have students read some of the articles on their own time or you need to push something to the next session you can definitely do that. • Write the agenda on the board

• It’s important to be at the session 5-10 minutes early. This allows you to be able to get any last thoughts together before the lesson and do any prep work (writing something on the board, passing our name tags). This also helps with

• Greet students at the door so they feel welcome and that you are excited to be there! It sets a positive tone for the session.

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

• Go slow, repeat yourself, and consistently ask if anyone has questions

• Don’t feel pressure if you don’t get through everything

• Arrive 5-10 minutes early

• Greet students at the door

management and keeping students orderly.

• Take a quick stretch break

• Get them involved in the lesson

• Use positive reinforcement

• Contact RTSWS anytime for help!

• Write the agenda (list of activities) on the board if possible. Students like to know what’s going on and they may not all pay attention closely in their books.

• If an activity is taking much longer than expected and you are losing students attention then you can take a quick stretch break or bathroom break (beware these can take too long uless you say be by a certain time). You can also move on to the next activity to switch things up.

• Try to get them involved in the lesson as much as possible. Whether this is by asking questions, having students explain the key term in their own words, share their initial thoughts on the article, etc. No one likes to be talked to for an hour straight so try to involve their voices as much as possible.

• Students like to be positively reinforced so if they are doing something great or had a really thoughtful answer let them know! The more specific you are the better so they know exactly what they did well so they can do it again.

• This is very unlikely but if any student is being extremely disrespectful or making you uncomfortable then have one of the volunteers reach out to or find the school champion or reach out to your primary contact at RTSWS and we will help.