How To Survive How To Survive ProbationProbation

Some Tips To EnsureSome Tips To Ensure

That You Will HaveThat You Will Have

A Career In TeachingA Career In Teaching

Just Because Just Because You Were Hired…You Were Hired…

You are in the You are in the second part of the second part of the interview process – interview process – the part where the the part where the employer gets to employer gets to know you.know you.You can be let go You can be let go for good reasons, for good reasons, bad reasons, no bad reasons, no reasons.reasons.

Just Because Just Because You Were Hired…You Were Hired…

Your principal, the Your principal, the consulting consulting teachers, BTSA teachers, BTSA advisors, advisors, department chairs, department chairs, and colleagues are and colleagues are all getting to know all getting to know you and what you you and what you can and cannot do.can and cannot do.

Just Because Just Because You Were Hired…You Were Hired…

Your college Your college advisor and/or advisor and/or former principal former principal and/or your and/or your aunt/uncle on the aunt/uncle on the school board school board and/or, etc. may and/or, etc. may have gotten you have gotten you in the door…in the door…

Just Because Just Because You Were Hired…You Were Hired…

Your student Your student teaching and/or teaching and/or interview skills interview skills may have gotten may have gotten you a contract.you a contract.

Now, it is up to you…Now, it is up to you…

The UACT version of “Survivor” is about to begin!

New Teacher Survival SkillsNew Teacher Survival Skills

You can survive You can survive and thrive during and thrive during your probationary your probationary period if you work period if you work hard, pay hard, pay attention, ASK attention, ASK QUESTIONS, and QUESTIONS, and use the resources use the resources available to you.available to you.

Suggestions are really Suggestions are really directivesdirectives..

““Why not consider” Why not consider” or Why don’t you or Why don’t you try” or “Consider try” or “Consider covering this in covering this in your lesson?” or your lesson?” or “Think about your “Think about your pacing” are all nice pacing” are all nice ways your principal ways your principal or consulting or consulting teachers are teachers are saying “DO IT THIS saying “DO IT THIS WAY”WAY”

Deadlines Are Not Deadlines Are Not PermissivePermissive

Missing a deadline Missing a deadline is a big deal, even is a big deal, even if your principal if your principal tells you it isn’t.tells you it isn’t.Missing two Missing two deadlines is almost deadlines is almost always fatal.always fatal.““My dog died” or My dog died” or “My boyfriend ate “My boyfriend ate it” will only work it” will only work once.once.

Missing Meetings Is Not Missing Meetings Is Not GoodGood

Don’t think that you Don’t think that you won’t be missed.won’t be missed.

Being MIA is not the Being MIA is not the kind of attention kind of attention that you want.that you want.

Calling in sick will Calling in sick will only work once, only work once, maybe twice.maybe twice.

Be on time!Be on time!

Being “too hip” for the Being “too hip” for the room.room.

Cal State Mojave Cal State Mojave may have a better may have a better reading program, reading program, but teaching it but teaching it instead of the instead of the “backward” program “backward” program your principal likes your principal likes will lead to you will lead to you using EdJoin again using EdJoin again next spring.next spring.

Being “too hip” for the Being “too hip” for the room.room.

Remember where you Remember where you work.work.Remember you are Remember you are around their babies.around their babies.Sharing your tattoos or Sharing your tattoos or body piercings at back body piercings at back to school night will not to school night will not make you “New make you “New Teacher of the Year”.Teacher of the Year”.Don’t assume everyone Don’t assume everyone else is trendy or hip.else is trendy or hip.Talking about your Talking about your “wild weekend” will “wild weekend” will lead to loose talk.lead to loose talk.

Being “too hip” for the Being “too hip” for the room.room.

Avoid discussions Avoid discussions about the “big three”- about the “big three”- religion, politics, and religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkinthe Great PumpkinIt’s great that you are It’s great that you are living in a vegan living in a vegan commune with your commune with your boyfriend, but it will boyfriend, but it will not play well in not play well in Ventura Co.Ventura Co.– You have a right to a You have a right to a

lifestyle, but do not lifestyle, but do not assume everyone is assume everyone is open and open and understanding.understanding.

Forgetting You Are A RookieForgetting You Are A Rookie

Believe it or not, Believe it or not, education actually education actually occurred before you occurred before you arrived on the scene.arrived on the scene.

Defer to your senior Defer to your senior colleagues and don’t colleagues and don’t let your enthusiasm let your enthusiasm get you into trouble.get you into trouble.

Forgetting You Are A RookieForgetting You Are A Rookie

Getting along with Getting along with staff members is staff members is more important for more important for you than for them.you than for them.

It may be that the It may be that the teacher next door teacher next door did not get her did not get her grade preference, grade preference, classroom, etc.classroom, etc.

Don’t Challenge the School Don’t Challenge the School RoyaltyRoyalty

The principal is The principal is usually afraid of this usually afraid of this person, so don’t person, so don’t think you can survive think you can survive if you get into it with if you get into it with them.them.

Remember – The Remember – The most belligerent most belligerent teacher has rights teacher has rights you do not.you do not.

Bite your tongue Bite your tongue until you get tenure.until you get tenure.

Don’t Take “Extra” Credit Don’t Take “Extra” Credit For Colleagues Ideas or For Colleagues Ideas or

ProgramsProgramsDon’t incorporate Don’t incorporate their ideas and add their ideas and add your own without your own without keeping them keeping them informed. informed. – Do Your ShareDo Your Share

Not being seen as Not being seen as a “team player” is a “team player” is almost always almost always fatal.fatal.

Gaffes At Open HouseGaffes At Open House

Statements like, “I Statements like, “I am still learning,” am still learning,” or “This is the first or “This is the first time I ever taught time I ever taught this,” or “I am one this,” or “I am one page ahead of the page ahead of the kids” do not break kids” do not break the ice, even if the the ice, even if the parents laugh.parents laugh.

Keep Good Records and Keep Good Records and FilesFiles

Save notes, emails, Save notes, emails, and letters from and letters from parents and the parents and the principal.principal.– Parents will not always Parents will not always

tell the truth about you.tell the truth about you.– Principals can get Principals can get

confused about what confused about what they said and when they said and when they said it.they said it.

All written All written communicationscommunications– EvalsEvals– ContractContract– IPSIPS

Good records are Good records are worth their weight in worth their weight in gold.gold.

Document, Document, Document, Document, Document, Document, and when you’re done document some and when you’re done document some

more!more!

Kids that are Kids that are problematic have problematic have more rights than you. more rights than you.

Remember the Remember the parents see a parents see a different child at home different child at home than you do at school.than you do at school.

You are teaching their You are teaching their baby.baby.

Forgetting That Your Forgetting That Your Principal Has the Right To Principal Has the Right To

Be WrongBe WrongRarely will the Rarely will the system side with system side with you if you get into you if you get into a personality clash a personality clash and/or and/or philosophical war philosophical war with your with your principal.principal.– The Principal has The Principal has

been certified as been certified as an expert by the an expert by the state and the state and the district.district.

Asserting “Rights” You Asserting “Rights” You Don’t Have.Don’t Have.

Discussing Discussing something with something with your principal is your principal is different than different than arguing with your arguing with your principal.principal.

Do it his/her way, Do it his/her way, at least until you at least until you actually have due actually have due process rights.process rights.

Probation LawProbation Law

You may be dismissed for virtually any You may be dismissed for virtually any reason.reason.

You may request a hearing IF you are You may request a hearing IF you are dismissed mid-year.dismissed mid-year.

If you are being non-reelected in your If you are being non-reelected in your second yearsecond year you MUST be notified by you MUST be notified by March 15March 15thth..

““You’re just not a good fit”You’re just not a good fit”

Probation, temporary, intern?Probation, temporary, intern?

Know what you areKnow what you are

Know the differenceKnow the difference

Make sure you keep records of the Make sure you keep records of the contracts the district has you signcontracts the district has you sign

Make sure you ask the association if Make sure you ask the association if something doesn’t seem right, or if you’re something doesn’t seem right, or if you’re curious, or if you’re unsurecurious, or if you’re unsure

Learn To Sort Good Advice Learn To Sort Good Advice From Bad AdviceFrom Bad Advice

Your consulting Your consulting teacher/ BTSA teacher/ BTSA support provider is support provider is a reliable source of a reliable source of advice and advice and counsel.counsel.The “Principal is a The “Principal is a jerk, and should be jerk, and should be in Special Day in Special Day Class” teacher may Class” teacher may be right, but be right, but his/her advice will his/her advice will not get you tenure.not get you tenure.

Mixing Friends, Lovers, Mixing Friends, Lovers, Others Others

Having your spouse, Having your spouse, dad, significant dad, significant other involved with other involved with your job issues is your job issues is almost always fatal.almost always fatal.– It’s even worse if the It’s even worse if the

person is a lawyer or person is a lawyer or a teacher from a teacher from another district.another district.

It’s your job, not It’s your job, not theirs.theirs.

Ignoring “Bad News” hoping Ignoring “Bad News” hoping things will get better.things will get better.

While some criticism While some criticism is expected, is expected, comments from comments from your principal like, your principal like, “I am very “I am very concerned about concerned about ….” or “You are not ….” or “You are not making the type or making the type or progress I was progress I was hoping for” need hoping for” need immediate immediate attention.attention.

Ignoring inappropriate student Ignoring inappropriate student behavior, especially during an behavior, especially during an

observation.observation.You can turn a You can turn a negative into a negative into a positive by using positive by using appropriate appropriate classroom control classroom control techniques.techniques.

Pretending that it Pretending that it isn’t happening isn’t happening will not work.will not work.

Attitude, Attitude, AttitudeAttitude, Attitude, Attitude

Sometimes saying, Sometimes saying, “I did not realize “I did not realize that,” or “I see that,” or “I see what you mean,” what you mean,” or “I am sorry it or “I am sorry it didn’t go well, and didn’t go well, and I will try harder,” I will try harder,” work miracles.work miracles.

Being too embarrassed to Being too embarrassed to ask for help.ask for help.

Early intervention Early intervention almost always yields almost always yields positive results.positive results.Utilizing your Utilizing your consulting consulting teacher/BTSA teacher/BTSA provider can make provider can make all the difference.all the difference.Problems in Problems in November can be November can be fixed. Problems in fixed. Problems in March rarely can be March rarely can be worked out.worked out.Ask your grade level, Ask your grade level, department chair, or department chair, or that helpful teacher that helpful teacher who came to you on who came to you on the first day of work.the first day of work.

The Blame Game Doesn’t The Blame Game Doesn’t WorkWork

My principal came My principal came in on Monday, in on Monday, Friday, the day Friday, the day before a holiday, before a holiday, the day after a the day after a holiday, etc. will holiday, etc. will not work if you not work if you were not prepared were not prepared with a lesson or with a lesson or activity.activity.

Confusing Luck With Confusing Luck With Preparation.Preparation.

It’s always great to It’s always great to be lucky, but being be lucky, but being prepared increases prepared increases your odds for your odds for success.success.A lesson that was A lesson that was well prepared that well prepared that just didn’t work is far just didn’t work is far better than “Cut me better than “Cut me some slack. I was some slack. I was just winging it just winging it because I was in because I was in Vegas all weekend.”Vegas all weekend.”

Telling, or Listening, To Telling, or Listening, To Parent Tales About Other Parent Tales About Other

TeachersTeachersThe comments almost The comments almost always get back to the always get back to the other teacher.other teacher.““I’ve never been in her I’ve never been in her classroom, I can’t classroom, I can’t comment”comment”Listening will be Listening will be interpreted as interpreted as agreement. agreement. Shift the conversation Shift the conversation and refer the parentand refer the parent– Have you talked to the Have you talked to the

teacher?teacher?– Have you spent some Have you spent some

time in his/her room?time in his/her room?

Don’t Mistake Being A Don’t Mistake Being A Pal With Being A TeacherPal With Being A Teacher

It’s great to be It’s great to be popular with the popular with the kids, but forgetting kids, but forgetting that you are the that you are the teacher when teacher when dealing with dealing with students could students could result in having result in having your career end your career end quickly!quickly!

Where to draw the line with kidsWhere to draw the line with kidsYou are the adultYou are the adultWhat you think is What you think is innocent may not be innocent may not be interpreted that wayinterpreted that wayBe careful about notesBe careful about notesDo not socialize Do not socialize outside of schooloutside of school– No StarbucksNo Starbucks– No Jamba JuiceNo Jamba Juice– Dinner at mom’s?Dinner at mom’s?

Do not make Facebook Do not make Facebook friendsfriends

NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVEREVER, EVER

Touch a child unless you have to- Touch a child unless you have to- prevent him/her from hurting prevent him/her from hurting himself/herself or somebody else.himself/herself or somebody else.Be alone with a childBe alone with a child– If you absolutely have to - keep a door If you absolutely have to - keep a door

open or even better- tell another open or even better- tell another teacher or even better- go to a room teacher or even better- go to a room with other adults.with other adults.

Don’t flirt- Don’t flirt- DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!************************************************************************************

An accusation can end An accusation can end your career your career

IMMEDIATELY IMMEDIATELY AND AND

PERMANENTLYPERMANENTLY

Teacher Triple JeopardyTeacher Triple Jeopardy

Lose your jobLose your job

Lose your Lose your careercareer

Go to JailGo to Jail

When to call the unionWhen to call the union

Principal meetingPrincipal meeting

Weingarten rightsWeingarten rights

AdviceAdvice

QuestionsQuestions

ChatChat

Help finding somethingHelp finding something

Sounding BoardSounding Board

Discount Tix/InsuranceDiscount Tix/Insurance

Ignoring Yourself And Family Ignoring Yourself And Family Is Not A Good IdeaIs Not A Good Idea

Not every paper Not every paper needs to be graded.needs to be graded.Make sure you build Make sure you build recreation, spiritual recreation, spiritual and/or emotional and/or emotional time into your time into your schedule. Don’t schedule. Don’t forget your spouse, forget your spouse, kids, significant kids, significant other…other…Rest, exercise, rest, Rest, exercise, rest, eat right and rest.eat right and rest.

Working Too Hard Will Make Working Too Hard Will Make You Dread Your JobYou Dread Your Job

If you are If you are correcting papers correcting papers during church, during church, sporting events, or sporting events, or breakfast, you are breakfast, you are probably working probably working too hard.too hard.

Being prepared and Being prepared and being perfect are being perfect are not the same thing.not the same thing.

Working Too Hard Will Make Working Too Hard Will Make You Dread Your JobYou Dread Your Job

It will also make It will also make you overly you overly sensitive, grouchy, sensitive, grouchy, and not much fun and not much fun to be around.to be around.Your students will Your students will notice right away.notice right away.Remember, Remember, teaching is teaching is supposed to be supposed to be rewarding and fun.rewarding and fun.

Forgetting To Keep Things Forgetting To Keep Things In PerspectiveIn Perspective

Doing a good job is Doing a good job is important, but this important, but this is not brain is not brain surgery.surgery.– Take Take

constructive constructive criticism.criticism.

– Expect mistakes.Expect mistakes.

Never forget that Never forget that it will get easier, it will get easier, and you will make and you will make it.it.

Plan for your futurePlan for your future

Think about retirement NOW.Think about retirement NOW.

Use 403Bs, IRC 125s, talk to a STRS Use 403Bs, IRC 125s, talk to a STRS counselor, think about your kid’s college counselor, think about your kid’s college funds, plan, plan, plan, and plan more.funds, plan, plan, plan, and plan more.

Summer savers program through First Summer savers program through First Financial.Financial.

Would you like a workshop on these Would you like a workshop on these topics?topics?

Work Hard, Have Fun, And Work Hard, Have Fun, And Enjoy Your First Year.Enjoy Your First Year.

Teaching is a Teaching is a special job.special job.

Celebrate learningCelebrate learning

Find joy in your Find joy in your student’s progress.student’s progress.

Remember: Remember: Those Those who can, teach!who can, teach!

Thank you!

Jake Anderson

Primary Contact Staff

UACT

janderson@cta.org

O 805-497-8220

F 805-497-1458

www.conejoteachers.com

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