These new teacher activities are the result of a mentoring course offered on site to the mentors. Two teachers designed this activity for the purpose of providing necessary information to new staff and opening communication lines between the mentor and the protegè.
If you use this model in its current state or modified it in some way, please provide feedback to The Mentoring Leadership and Resource Network to share your findings with others interested in implementing this activity.
Introduction
This Treasure Hunt is designed to be an orientation program tool. It is OK to ask for details as you hunt.
Don't panic as you look through this packet! We tried to think of everything we thought a new teacher might need and include those things in this packet.
In reality, you won't need all of this information in week #1. Also, some of these pages we will use as guides during the "Blue and Gold Training Camp" sessions.
All of the questions do not have to be completed today. Do what you can and come back to the tasks as you have a few minutes. We want you to feel comfortable and welcomed in the new environment, not frantic!
Hints for Understanding the Chart
Filling in the Chart
When it says, "Questions to ask my mentor:"
We suggest that you use your mentor as a guide/reference to help you understand the issues raised by the charts.
SCHOOL STAFF "TREASURE HUNT" #1
Write down any of the requested information that you may already know. When you don't know the answer, try to explore the school, ask others for help, use your staff directory, or ask your mentor for help. Use this as an opportunity to get to know the "treasures" that are on our staff and available to support your success!
| Treasures | Location |
Hours |
Services |
| Dean of Students | |||
| Learning Center Director | |||
| Attendance Clerk | |||
| Security Director | |||
| Quill & Pen Club | |||
| Future Teachers of America | |||
| Staff Social Committee | |||
| Assistant Principal for Instruction | |||
| P.T.A. Speakers Bureau | |||
| Site Technology Coordinator |
TREASURE HUNT #2 - Now We Are Ready to Teach
Elements of successful teaching in your lessons will not only enhance your students' skills and your daily experience, but you will also be evaluated on them. This checklist is designed to help you focus on some important aspects of what is happening in terms of instruction in your classroom, and to guide your reflection on ways you might choose to improve your impact on the students even more.
| Instructional Areas to Explore |
|
Help Who? Where? |
3 months later
|
| 1. Weekly Calendar | |||
| 2. Daily Objective | |||
| 3. Anticipatory Set | |||
| 4. Delivery of Instruction | |||
| 5. Transitions | |||
| 6. Use of Instructional Aids | |||
| 7. Questioning Techniques | |||
| 8. Checking for Understanding | |||
| 9. Wait Time | |||
| 10. Integrating Technology | |||
| 11.Guided Practice | |||
| 12. Independent Practice | |||
| 13. Closure | |||
| 14. Praise | |||
| 15. Movement Around Room | |||
| 16. Professional Goals | |||
| 17. Co-operative Groups | |||
| 18. |
Questions to ask my mentor:
TREASURE HUNT #3 - Classroom Management
Even the best made plans can be twisted by the difficult student or the unanticipated "disaster". Knowing how to react and where to go for help can help you reduce your stress level and feel more confident when dealing with difficult situations. Doing that requires advanced planning and strategies you are prepared to use at just the right time. Need help thinking of these or planning responses for these? Remember you are not alone! Go back to you staff treasure hunt and consider the resources the school provides to support you. Also, remember your mentor.
|
Procedure | Help Who? Where? |
Follow-Up Check |
| 1. Class rules (Policies & expectations) | |||
| 2. Grading | |||
| 3. Late Work | |||
| 4. Make-up Work | |||
| 5. Lack of Preparedness | |||
| 6. Student Disruptiveness | |||
| 7. How Much is Enough? | |||
| 8. Where to Get Immediate Help? | |||
| 9. Sending Students Out of the Room | |||
| 10. Paper Trail (Dept., Couns., Dean) | |||
| 11. Parent Contacts - Phone | |||
| 12. Parent Contacts - Mail | |||
| 13. Confrontational Strategies | |||
| 14. Repeated Tardy Violations | |||
| 15. Student Medical Issues | |||
| 16. Group Work | |||
| 17. Motivating Students | |||
| 18. Classroom Organization | |||
| 19. |
Please feel free to send these to any of the directors of this network. Your input is valuable.
If you have any questions or comments about the program design or the new teacher activity, please submit these to:
Ami Hicks <AmeliaMH@aol.com>.