Note: This article first appeared by the author in the book How to Be Successful in Your First Year of Teaching Middle School: Everything You Need to Know That They Don’t Teach You in School (click here to purchase it on Amazon). It is reprinted with the author’s permission.
The best thing about my job is, from Day 1 to putting in overtime on Day 200, I love every single minute of it. And for the past 8 years, I’ve looked forward to every school day as a challenge to be better than the previous one. Those two statements make me great at what I do. If any person loves their profession, they’re on a path of predestined greatness. Someday I’ll be a principal who will be a gatekeeper between you and this dream job. Here are some tips for you:
1.) MAX-OUT YOUR STUDENT TEACHING
- Make everything you do student-centered – you’ll see the glimmer in your students’ eyes after they do a mock trial, not after a PowerPoint.
- Go big or go home – student-teaching should be about taking some risks on big projects. Make sure you “cover the content,” but that doesn’t mean it has to be like covering a wall with paint. Have fun with it; sometimes you’ll succeed and sometimes you’ll fail.
- Spend more time crafting your lessons rather than following a specific format for your lesson plans.
- Observe other successful teachers working in their classroom; too many student-teachers become absorbed in their own world – you’re still a student, so go venture and learn!
2.) NETWORK – Every one of your college professors has connections in the education world. Build up your base of connections, leave a business card with them, and treat each interaction in the education world like it might lead to an interview.
3.) STAND OUT FROM THE PACK – no book or article can help you receive a job, but I can help you get an interview. Keep in mind, principals are going to receive upwards of 200 applications for a single position. What does your resume have that others don’t? Here are some things you should do:
- Get multi-certified – I cannot stress enough how important it is to have more than a social studies certificate. Granted, that’s what I love and it’s what I teach now, but I began teaching mathematics and reading as a “core teacher.” All the elementary hires at our school are required to have a special education certificate. Schools can be picky because the supply of teachers is currently larger than the demand.
- Be an asset to your school – middle schools are known for having “squirrely” students; how do you work with them? How do you help accelerate gifted students? How do you help support and scaffold for special ed students?
- Send a picture of yourself with students learning in your resume.
- Spruce up your resume in unconventional ways so it doesn’t blend in with the rest.
- Clean up or delete your online presence – The web is public domain, and principals are going to search you out before they bring you in for an interview.
- Hand-deliver your resume to the secretary with a big smile – Take a moment to talk with her. There’s nothing more powerful than saying, “Hello, I’m here, and I want to come back!” You’ll find your resume located in the good pile.
Click here for reasons 4-7.
