Need teaching advice!

Question

Hello, I am currently in college but will be graduating in two years with a bachelors in Elementary Education and I was wondering if there is anything I should start getting now. Like start collecting books or anything. Also I was wondering if there were any books you would recommend getting

Answer 1

I agree with the answerer who said do not buy anything.  Your supervising teacher will have many supplies and resources, and you can see what you like and what you don't like.

Also, you do not know the grade you will be teaching, so you could be wasting your money.  While you are doing your clinical, look at books the teachers subscribe to, also.  I used to love Mailbox with easy to make activities for Centers.    

Also the room you are given may come equipped with lots of materials.  Mine was when I moved to the Atlanta area.  I had boxes and boxes of suppliies.  I still had to buy some things because I like to personalize my room to make it welcoming for the children.

Enjoy your clinical experiences, ask lots of questions and watch what works and what doesnt.

Good luck to you!

Answer 2

I wouldn't go out and buy anything.  You will be starting your clinical experinces soon.  Ask the teacher that you are working with if there is anything she can pass down to you.

This is what I did and I was set for my first year of teaching.  Don't forget to always ask for a letter of recomendation from each teacher you do a clinical experience with (as long as you showed them some teaching).

Answer 3

check out local teacher supply store--------- find lots of reading/language arts learning centers-- or take to your seat centers-----different kinds of social studies and science posters and activities ---math games and activities ----------writing activities-------- 5 min activities

Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

You could start a curriculum file.  Find lessons online that you would like to try someday and organize by grade level, subject, ect.  I am starting my 3rd year and this was nice for me to have my first year.  Although my school has a tight curriculum, having little extras already organized in binders helped A LOT.  I also got copies of lessons that my fellow college students had created that I liked.  The more you can collect now the less stress you go through before your first year!  Good luck!

Answer 5

Depending on what you'd like to teach, some professional books that I'd recommend are books by Debbie Miller, Fountas and Pinnell(Reading trade) and Melissa Forney (Writing).  I teach fifth now, but have taught fourth as well and those authors have brought the most knowledge that I use every year.  

For Procedures and Discipline related topics, try Harry Wong.

Answer 6

Along with what everyone else already said, I would recommend joining professional organizations that will subscribe you to journals, etc.  One such is the National Council of Teacher's of Mathematics (NCTM.org) and others for literacy, science, and so on.  NCTM not only sends journals (Teaching Children Mathematics is a great one) that provide great articles but also great lessons for a wide range of grade levels and gives you access to their website for additional journal articles & lessons that can be useful in your studies.  It also looks good on a resume that you belong to such organizations.