Mindset list for new teachers
Sunday, June 20, 2010 at 09:44AM This week has included some serious house-cleaning around the department, including in my office. I threw out a bunch of old books and pamphlets, some print telephone directories, and a couple piles of composting desk-litter than I realize I will never get around to reading.
I also tossed two other old desk companions that I just never use anymore - my file of business cards and a print dictionary. Both replaced, of course, by their online cousins.
A while back I developed a "mindset list" for librarians entering the profession - suggesting some ways their jobs are different from even a few years ago. So how about one for teachers? (At least the ones in many districts.)
Teachers entering the profession in 2010
- Have never gotten a buzz sniffing fresh mimeograph copies.
Have never used a paper gradebook (and have always needed passwords).- Have only received their school bulletin via school e-mail and have always had a school website.
- Parents and students have always been able to Google them.
- There has always been a Rate Your Teacher website.
- Have always used white boards and LCD projectors, not chalk boards, overhead projectors or TVs.
- Have always had a telephone and voice mail in their classrooms.
- Have always been asked to be more concerned about test scores than about learning.
- Have never "taught" students how to use a print dictionary, encyclopedia or atlas.
- Have been portrayed by politicians and the press more as villains than as heroes.
What would you add to the list?
I look at this list and ask myself if I would choose education as a career today. The tools are fun; the kids are better than ever; education is doing a better job for more kids than ever in history; the satisfaction of teaching is still rich. But do the politics overshadow the joy? I'm really not sure if I'd steer kids toward or away from the field today if asked.
Oh, via Tim Stahmer's Assorted Stuff blog, is this great opinion letter by Michele Kerr - The Right Way to Assess Teachers' Performance.
Reader Comments (11)
Doug: feel free to edit if you use these!
11) Have been on Facebook since it emerged and now are anxious about whether to accept student "friend" requests.
12) Have seamlessly used technology in their social life, but lack the experience to use it meaningfully in the classroom.
I'm sure there are more coming!
Thanks for making me feel old! :-)
Seriously, however, I think one of the big differences between teachers entering the profession now and many of us who came in a few years back is that most of them don't seem to view teaching as a "career". When I work with teachers in their first few years, most tell me they only expect to stay in the classroom a little while and then move on to something else.
Is that a bad thing, or just something the profession needs to adjust to?
And if I was just starting out, I'm really not sure if I would choose to spend my whole life in the field, although I think I would always see myself as an "educator" regardless of the setting.
Have to decide whether or not to de-friend a parent on Facebook when the child is now in their class.
This whole facebook or other social networking sites issue for teachers is, for me very clear - there is to be no relationship with parents or children on facebook if you are using it for personal purposes. Although it may seem mean or cruel or whatever, I dont think there should be any crossing of this boundary.
Some of those don't quite work at MPOW: we still have paper gradebooks, and not every teacher has a phone extension (and thus, no voice mail). Believe it or not.
Have no clue as to what a filmstip or 33 1/3 RPM record is. They only understand technology to mean computer related in some way--hand held, laptop, or desktop.
One of the biggest struggles I have with working with pre-service teachers is preparing them for both the world of education I want to see and the realities of what day to day classroom life is like. I want to see my students using all these wonderful digital tools, and yet they may end up in a school with little technology and need to use paper gradebooks. I still think they can all be agents for change is their school, so I still have hope that our future teachers will have it "better" than we did.
@Spiro I think your addition of #12 is one of the most important ones... I know so many veteran educators who assume that all new (younger) teachers should automatically know how to use technology in their work very effectively and efficiently -- and I know from experience in working with new teachers that this is just not the case. I feel like I am constantly correcting people who try to use the "digital native" vs. "digital immigrant" concept to make assumptions about others or to have excuses for themselves.
I am new to the field of Education and what scares me the most, is not being able to keep up with the new technology that is around me. I am very exciting about everything that I am learning right now and I can’t wait to see how I’m going to apply it with my students in the classroom.
13. Have no idea why the technology they have used their whole lives is not available to them in the public school setting.
As to considerations of entering the teaching profession, many new teaching candidates hoping to enter the profession will be amazed at 1) the lack of jobs available to them as school districts are operating at staffing levels lower than ever before because of the antiquated school-funding systems still in place; and 2) how insecure their jobs are should they be fortunate to be hired full-time because of the same reason. RIFs are rampant as funding is continually cut, and new teachers are the first to take the hit.
Love the list for new teachers! It is important to realize the generational differences of teachers that we are working with at one time. I work with mentors and new teachers. I usually incorperate something every year to make them realize some of these differences. I now have a new list to share with them.