In this section, you’ll discover encouraging advice and ideas on how to get students excited about a college education and their future careers.

Tips for Increasing College Readiness in Your Students

Jana McLain
Iola ISD Spanish I, II, III, IV, V
Blinn Junior College Spanish Instructor for Workforce Education
Texas Tides

1.  Use of a syllabus/course calendar- The use of a syllabus or course calendar can be very beneficial to students, parents, and teachers alike.  Students learn responsibility and accountability from following the assignments as written on the calendar.  If the calendars are posted on the school website, then parents may check on assignments and test dates and monitor the progress of the students.  Teachers benefit because they have a long term pacing guide that will help them stay on track during the year.

How does this aid in college readiness?  Most, if not all university professors use a course calendar for their courses.  Their students are held accountable for the exams and assignments on the syllabus, regardless of whether or not the assignments are explained during class time.  The use of a course calendar/syllabus in high school will prepare students for this responsibility and will reduce the initial “syllabus shock” the some collegiate freshman face.

My course calendars are by no means perfect, but you are welcome to check them out at:

http://www.iolaisd.net/Academiclinks.htm#Spanish

2.  Rapid pacing-  The pace of  honors/ AP/ IB courses in high school is important and should be rapid and equal to the pacing of a collegiate level course.  Students should be expected to keep up with daily in-class lectures and assignments, while also completing ongoing independent assignments outside of class.  Time management is crucial and students must learn how to organize and deal with multiple tasks while still in high school.

How does this aid in college readiness?  I have often had former students mention to me that a big struggle they faced in college was handling the initial workload their freshman year.  They simply weren’t accustomed to the pacing and quantity of reading and assignments they were required to complete.  The more capable students will adjust and make it work, but if not, they will be one of the thousands of college students in Texas that leave college during or after their freshman year.   High school collegiate level courses must increase their pacing and quantity of assignments to alleviate this issue. 

3.  Study skills-  Students need to be introduced to various study methods in high school.  Many times students know they must study for a test but have no idea of how to effectively do so.  They will go home and open the book and stare at the material for hours on end, and have no concept of why they failed the test the next day.  Teachers should practice effective study strategies during class time with the students.  These study strategies should vary from test to test so that the students are able to find what works for them.  In Spanish classes for example, students can make fans for vocabulary, flashcards, copy verb conjugations multiple times, study in pairs, use online resources offered by the textbook company, use audio tapes, and other techniques to prepare for tests.

How does this aid in college readiness?  It is obvious that college students must know how to memorize very large amounts of material in a short amount of time.  This is a learned skill that can and should be taught, to an extent, at the high school level to alleviate frustration the freshman year in college.

4.  Higher order thinking/problem solving-  At the high school level, many teachers are so busy, and get so bogged down in their responsibilities, that they cope by having students do the “book work” independently.  While there is nothing wrong with using this at times, teachers must also strive to develop innovative approaches and projects in the classroom that foster necessary high order thinking skills and increase student ability to problem-solve.

How does this aid in college readiness?  As many collegiate freshmen face their first experiences with independence away from the guidance and support they received at home, it is crucial that they are able to think for themselves and solve their own problems when they arise.  Mom and Dad can’t be there to bail them out anymore.  Also, many assignments at the college level purposely leave room for innovation, and higher thought levels are expected to be evident in these assignments.  High school teachers must strive to incorporate strategies that foster high order thinking in their classrooms.

READ

Reading is a skill – if you do not practice, you will not improve!!

College professors assign several chapters at a time, and the material is NOT 6th grade reading level.

You will be responsible for the material in the assigned reading, many times without discussion or explanation on the part of the professor.

So – actually read the material assigned by your high school teachers…if critical reading is one of your academic weaknesses, you need to fix it NOW, not try to struggle through in college.

TAKE ADVANCED CLASSES

Honors or AP classes will prepare you for the more difficult level of work required in college.

A less challenging program in high school may make life simple now, but the result will affect your college placement.

College remedial classes do not count towards your degree, but cost the same as other classes and take time that you could spend on more interesting coursework – AVOID them!!

STANDARDIZED TESTS MATTER

Colleges and scholarship committees use these tests [SAT/ACT/AP/TAKS] as an objective measure of your ability since the difficulty level of course work and methods of computing GPAs differ from school to school.

Colleges use your score to place you in freshman classes – a low score may cause you to be placed in a remedial class, while a high score may allow you to place out of certain basic classes.

So – PREPARE for the tests!

We asked teachers involved in the TIDES Learning Community what advice they had – or wish they had been given – when they were first starting out in the teaching field. Read on to find out what they had to say!

One thing that I would suggest is to go to conferences that address your subject matter It will all seem to be over your head at first, but submerge yourself. Also, dont be afraid to ask for help.  One of the most important things to classroom management is consistency. Back up what you say you are going to do. Also, you are the teacher, not their friend. We joke in middle school, don't smile until the 2nd semester of school, which really means, that you can start off with too much control and loosen rather than being party central and then trying to reign them in. Remember you are the expert in your classroom, go with confidence!

- Laurie Gallant

My main suggestion would be to get as many classroom experiences (good or bad) at as many different grade levels and with as many different subject areas as possible BEFORE you student teach. I think it is also helpful to do a split student teaching experience. I know for me, I thought I wanted to be a Kindergarten teacher. I did 180 hours of observation before I student taught, but all of it was in K. Then, I student taught for 12 weeks in 3rd grade. I wish I had done more. I ended up starting my teaching career in 1st grade and hated it. I finally found my niche in middle school. Who knew?

I don't think there is an easy way to prepare for being a teacher. I wish there was. It is one of those fields where you just sorta need to jump in with both feet and try to stay afloat.

- Keli Jacewitz

You have to believe in yourself. Teaching can be very difficult, but also so very rewarding and fun. The administration wants the scores on TAKS and teachers are expected to produce these scores. Teaching is definitely not an 8:00 - 3:30 job. I spent 4 hours grading this Sunday and will also work one day this week in my classroom. My main suggestion would be to substitute at different schools and in different grade levels during your days off from taking classes.( Schools are desperate to find substitutes.) This will give you an opportunity to experience the different grade levels and it will give you teaching experience. Also, you will be able to check out the teaching atmospheres at various schools. In addition, it may give you a foot in the door. It is very important to be organized and have everything prepared for the week. Always over plan and be consistent with discipline. Be yourself and ask lots of questions.

- Adelheid Murphrey

Kids need to hit the door working and walk out the door working. Plan more activities than they can complete. Problems happen when they have nothing to do. The other key is consistency. It is so hard when a class is challenging to keep strict discipline in place, but it is so critical. Start very tough, you can't start soft and then get tough. I also believe that kids need to understand that everyone in the classroom has a job to do. I tell my students that they must respect the job I am doing, and must respect the right of all students to learn, including themselves. Discipline becomes very common sense to the kids when you tell them that no student has the right to interefere with my right to teach or another student's right to learn. Any behavior that stops that process requires discipline. My students will admit that they are in the wrong 90% of the time. I love teenagers. Love the group of kids you work with. Let them know you think they are improtant. Listen to them, helping them when you can academically or socially but always be professional. If kids know you care, they'll work for you. It's easier for us to work for a fair, consistent boss that has our best interests at heart. Kids are the same. Finally, love what you teach. Be enthusiastic and energetic. It's contagious. It may require large doses of caffeine some days, but they'll look forward to your class every day. I could go on and on. Teaching is not easy, and you will be in survival mode your first year. Every year gets better and easier. There simply isn't a more rewarding or important career.

- Kimberly Fryman

I've been one of those mean yelling teachers for nine years. Rules, consequences, discipline, ya'll know what I mean. It's what most of us use to control our classes. This summer though I went to Capturing Kids Hearts and my classes have totally changed. It's a great program. A link for more info is http://www.flippengroup.com/education/ckh.html. I wish I would have had this knowledge nine years ago when I was starting out. I am much happier and organized now. I don't have to yell anymore. The kids are happier. They don't get picked on or yelled at hardly at all in my class. It also teaches my students much needed social skills. My classes still aren't perfect, and some days are still better than others, but wow what a difference! I would first recommend this workshop to any beginning teacher to help them have control without being the evil dictator!! My other piece of advice would be to strive for structure and consistency. Many struggling kids do much better if they know exactly what is expected of them and exactly what is coming next. It doesn't mean that your classes have to be boring and redundant, but just let your kids know your daily plans in advance. That eliminates unwanted surprises and confusion.

- Jana McLain

The best advice I can give a first year teacher is to JUST SAY NO!! New blood means new bodies for the endless committees you find in a public school. No matter what- the first year teacher needs to say NO. You need the time to adjust yourself to your new career. There is plenty of time to become involved.

- Amy Simmons

35 years of teaching have been quite an experience, adults, teenagers, elementary and babies, each level has been completely different, but what I´ve learned through the years is that it doesn´t matter what age you´re teaching, it's mainly the attitude we have towards them, and it depends on the the group you´re teaching, believe me, through the years we all become phsycologysts. When I worked with teenagers, I realized that they are always competing between them, they all want to be the best and also want to be part of the team. When I realized that, I started using these attitudes to make them work.

- Patty Wood

I, myself, am a second-year teacher at Center High School. I enjoyed my first year while at the same time dreaded each day. There were days when I felt as though I was thrown into a den of lions, who by the way, took on the resemblance of 15 year old children. I say all this to let these first-year teachers know that it will be ok. You only have a first year one time and that's it. Learn from your mistakes. Don't be too friendly while at the same don't be stark cold. Learn your balances. Use your first year to learn, and learn ONLY. Remain yourself. Students can tell a teacher who is fake, who really doesn't want to be there, who is really there for the kids, who enjoys teaching. I know this because I hear it everyday. They are not DUMB. Learn to accept the students that enter the classroom. They are the ones that you must impress, not the administration or the parents. (Don't get me wrong, these people are important, but you are there for the students.)

- Udoro Gatewood

I have had the mixed blessing of having education students come in and "observe" my classes for an education class they must take. Sometimes, I am thrilled by the student that is actually dressed professionally to observe the classroom - they may not be teaching YET, but they represent our profession and the students need to see that teaching is a serious profession. Most often though, I get students who either don't show up on time for the class to be observed, or don't show up at all. I call this experience a mixed blessing because all too often the students I have observe my class do not show much potential as a teacher - they simply don't have that special "passion" for working with kids. On the other hand, I do get an opportunity to share some of my ideas with them and hopefully help them come away with a better appreciation of the time and energy it takes to really connect with the students.

OBSERVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN and at all grade levels. Lessons on the elementary level can be adjusted to meet the needs of a high school level lesson and vice versa. ALWAYS DRESS PROFESSIONALLY when you go to observe a classroom and, of course, when you student teach...unless of course you plan on playing in the mud that day!!! LEARN ALL YOU CAN about the many ways and means that veteran teachers get and keep control of their classrooms. Harry Wong has a good book for beginning teachers and setting up the classroom. Whatever methods you use remember to: 1. keep it simple 2. document everything 3. be consistent.

- Angelia Greiner

Being a teacher is the greatest gift for me. I enjoy every instant I'm with my students. The only thing you need to be a good teacher is to give the best of you. The recipe is FIRST LOVE then enthusiasm, and good attitude. Students need to feel "Calidad humana" Human quality, human care well I don't know which word will be the best translation. That you really accept them. Respect them that you are worried about any problem they face. It could be with a subject, family problems, peer pressure, etc. A teacher is like an actress that is going to have a different performance everyday. People love to laugh, to enjoy, to play and you need to teach them using these three ingredients as well as to use your creativity 100% and make them use it. It's important to start giving classes with a big smile and good attitude. Kids, babies and teenagers are so sensitive to find out in which mood you are. The techniques for teaching, the methods, the rules in class, the lesson plans, keep control of their classroom are very important but the most important is to GIVE THE BEST OF YOU. The success will come easily to you and you will be proud of your goals and their progress.

- Maru Avila

I had my 5th (and most incredible) student teacher this year, and this was the Bray's top ten list I gave him on his last day:

1. Don't give in to the whiners, gripers, naysayers...in education - they're in every district, and all they do is breed bad feelings.
2. Smile every day. Others notice it, your students will too.
3. If you want to be treated as a professional, dress like one - no flip flops, unironed clothes, sloppy stuff.
4. Be prepared. Plan as far ahead as you can and make changes along the way. You have to have a map when you take a trip, and teaching is certainly a trip.
5. Do unto others...you want students to respect you, you must give respect in order to earn it.
6. Be flexible. Recognize when something isn't working and fix it.
7. Beg, steal and borrow. Find every website you can find with lesson plans and supplements. Better to have to many options than not enough. You can personalize and adapt whatever you find.
8. See your principal once a week. Let him/her know what exciting things you're doing. Give them a heads up if you know something is coming up.
9. Have fun - you get 2 months off in the summer!!!
10. 5 or 18 - these are all someone's children. They're JUST children. Love them, embrace them (not literally, or you may have a lawsuit).

I love teaching, there's not another job in the world I'd rather have. I tell my student teachers and interns that it will be a lot of work, but if you love it, you'll be successful. As far as classroom management, we all know what works for some will not work for others - it's all a learning experience and by the time you retire you'll have it figured out.

- Claire Bray