Timeliness

Here’s some tips we came up with during class on timeliness when you’re starting your first days of teaching:

1. Grading
   1. Giving deadlines to yourself
   2. Make sure it’s realistic, and then stick to it
   3. “Let me grade the first 5 tonight, and I’ll let you know when I’ll had it back.”
   4. Set yourself a time limit
   5. Prioritize what you’re grading for
      1. Spelling? Ideas? A specific skill?
   6. Quick, pointed, meaningful responses—don’t waste your time with something students won’t pay attention to
   7. Have students grade their own stuff sometimes
      1. Strategy for figuring out how many people in the class get it
         1. Tell students to not write their names on it
         2. Give pop quiz/couple questions for students to answer
         3. Gather pop quizzes 
         4. Gather pop quizzes and pass out again randomly for students to grade
         5. At end, ask how many students got all right, 1 right, 2 right, etc.
         6. Literally collect them and throw it away—you have what you need to know for plan for tomorrow.  This is only to see how much of the class is getting it and if you need to cover any broad ideas again tomorrow
2. Emails: 24 hours—tell parents in the beginning to expect a response within 24 hours
3. Time management: If you can do something in less than 5 minutes, then do it.
4. Get to the class before students are there, if possible, stand at the door to greet students—shown to be an incredibly effective strategy for setting up good classroom management.  You’re able to show students you’re prepared and there for them, as well as assess where each student is emotionally and mentally before the bell even rings.
5. “First in the building, last to leave”—Even if you don’t follow this literally, remember you’re there to impress with your work ethic and dedication during student teaching.  Besides, you are going to have (or should have) a ton to do.  Get to school early to prepare, and show your dedication by staying late to wrap up corners.  It will be easier on you in the long run in your personal life anyway to isolate school work as much as possible to the school.  Also, keep in mind, the longer you’re in the building, the more networking opportunities open up.

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