lae.org Instructional Advocacy New Teacher Guide

Before You Start

Before your very busy beginning day of teaching, check these lists of ideas, suggestions, and activities. They can make a difference in how that first day, first week, first month, first quarter, first semester and first year of school will go for you in your new teaching position. A little time invested in advance will pay big dividends.

Keep in mind that all first-year teaching situations are different to some extent. Some of you may have been hired in the summer, some of you hired very close to the first day of school, or even after the school year has already begun. Your school may have some of the items listed, but probably not all of them. Your school may have some resources not listed as well. Find out what is available at your school. Remember too, the items and ideas noted here span all grades; therefore, not all of them will apply to you and your new teaching position.

In your school you will find:

1. A map or layout of the school
2. Faculty parking lot or on-street parking areas. Note parking permit requirements or restrictions
3. The main office
4. Other offices (administrative, guidance, school nurse)
5. Media Center and other important areas, such as the gym, auditorium, computer lab(s),
   1. cafeteria, art and music rooms, speech, bilingual / bicultural rooms, Special Ed. and
   2. 504 resource rooms
6. Faculty workroom, lunchroom, restroom(s) and lounge
7. Teaching resources
8. General supplies
9. Student information folders, including health information
10. Custodians’ room
11. Building telephones

Information

1. School hours
2. School calendar
3. District requirements:
   1. W-2 tax forms
   2. Insurance enrollment and coverage
   3. Teaching license
   4. Physical examination
4. Your duties and responsibilities, such as supervision and extra-curricular assignments
5. District or school homework policy
6. District or school policy for students with missing work and dealing with absent students
7. District or school procedures for dealing with disciplinary problems
8. District policy for referring students for assessment of special needs
9. Policy on dispensing medication
10. District or school duplication policy/procedure, and copyright restrictions
11. Procedures for fire drills, tornado drills, and building security
12. Purchasing procedures
13. School forms, what they are and how they are handled
14. Your school’s improvement plan
15. Your school’s curriculum plan
16. How and when you are paid
17. Procedures for personal illness or personal emergency
18. Required staff/faculty meetings
19. Lunch ticket procedure and policy
20. Bus policies
21. Instructional policies, such as lesson plans, grading, sign-up for resource rooms