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Before School Starts
When you accept your new position:
- Request the NWT Induction package from your regional office or
your principal
- Find out if there will be an orientation in your region
- Find out if there is a mentorship program in which you could
become involved
- Ask your principal for contact people in your new community and
their phone numbers/e-mail addresses
- Acquaint yourself with the region where you will be teaching -
geography, history, culture
- Become familiar with the NWT curricula, which are relevant for
your teaching assignment - http://www.gov.nt.ca/research/departments/index.html.
- Begin to prepare for your teaching assignment
- Gather useful and relevant teaching resources Check out Free Stuff
for Canadian Teachers @ http://www.thecanadianteacher.com
- Note that the NWT Induction and Mentorship coordinator is
available as a resource @ amanda_mallon@gov.nt.ca.
- Become familiar with the details of the contract @ http://www.nwtta.nt.ca
When you arrive in your new community:
- Allow time to adjust to your new home, community, environment and,
possibly, culture
- Introduce yourself to adults and children in the community - be
visible and friendly
- Explore the community and find out about local services
- Arrange to get keys to the school
- Contact teachers or community people you have been in touch with
already prior to arrival
When you arrive at your new school:
For the best possible start, take time before school begins to get
your classroom set up and your resources assembled. Advance
preparation will help set the stage for a successful and rewarding
year both for you and your students.
- Get to know your materials by reviewing the program of studies and
relevant curriculum guides and teacher manuals
- Set up your classroom as a comfortable and inviting learning
environment for you and your students
- Find out about the policies and procedures for your school. These
items may be included in a staff handbook or in a staff orientation,
but, if not, ask your mentor or principal.
- Registration procedures, class lists, enrollment forms
- Expectations for first day
- Opening exercises and school assemblies
- School-wide rules, i.e., attendance policy, school arrival and
dismissal times
- School keys and security
- Timetables
- Student fees, supplies textbooks, workbooks
- Student computer use
- Supervision duties
- Substitute teachers
- Photocopies
- Paper, supplies and budget for additional supplies
- Student evaluation
- Library resources for students/teachers
- Field trips
- Fire drills
- Staff meetings
- Calendar of events for the year
- Assign bulletin boards for specific purposes:
- Announcements
- Student work
- Seasonal and current events
- Different subjects
- Prepare for teaching:
- Prepare an outline for the first week
- Plan for the first day in detail
- Organize your daily plan book - commercial or photocopied for
convenience
- Duplicate materials needed for the first few days
- Arrange classroom furniture
- Put your name outside the classroom door with a class list
- Make a checklist for forms which need to be sent home and returned
- Get a receipt book ready for money collected
- Prepare a textbook distribution record
- Set up a filing system:
- Substitute teachers
- Emergency lessons for emergency situations
- Log book to record calls from parents and other significant
incidents
- Late and absent notes
- Staff memos
- Student records for evaluation and examples of student work
- Get to know your students:
- Read the student files
- Identify students on Individual Education Plans (IEP) or modified
programs
- Prepare file on individual student interests
- Prepare a package to go home on the first day:
- Introduction letter
- Supply list
- Forms required by the school
- Gather:
- Arts and craft supplies
- Musical equipment
- Audio -visual equipment, TV, overhead projector
- Computer equipment and software o Attendance materials
- Textbooks and workbooks
- Teaching resources
- Collection of library books for classroom
- Set up learning centres
- Create a personal wellness plan
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