Ten Rookie Mistakes to Avoid in the Classroom

.    Don't try to teach too much in one day. New teachers often struggle to balance high expectations for what is engaging, is developmentally appropriate, and gives students time to process newly learned material. Gary Rubinstein, math teacher at NYC's Stuyvesant High School and author of Beyond Survival (2010), advises splitting lessons originally planned for one day into two-day sequences.

.    Don't teach a lesson without a student activity. Rookies tend to burn up their planning time (or energy) fretting over the direct instruction component of their lesson. Rubinstein says to plan the activity first, even if it occurs last in the lesson. "We can wing direct instruction and discussion if necessary, but not a thoughtful learning activity."

.    Don't send kids to the office. When the buck stops at the office, this can become the only thing students respond to. There are no magic answers for discipline, but this holding pen should be a last resort.

.    Don't allow students to shout out answers. If you want students to listen and respond to one another, pose thoughtful questions, but then wait for several hands to raise before calling on volunteers or nonvolunteers. A lively classroom may mask the fact that only a few vocal students are tuning in.

.    Don't make tests too hard. Rubinstein uses a scale of 1–3 to rank test questions from high to low priority. When he finishes creating a test, he cuts about 25 percent of it by eliminating low-priority questions.

.    Don't be indecisive. Teachers make countless decisions daily. Rubinstein says that new teachers should focus more on answering decisively and less on whether it is a right or wrong answer. If you make a mistake, reverse it the next day with more decisive language: "I thought that, but now I think this. Let's move on," advises Rubinstein.

.    Don't tell a student you're calling home. Calls home work best when they are a surprise. Don't give students a reason to ratchet up bad behavior, a chance to intercept your call, or the impression that you're all talk if, for some reason, you don't get a chance to follow through with calls home.

.    Don't try to be a buddy. This classic rookie mistake is likely to creep in as the school year progresses. Rubinstein suggests marking a random day, for instance, some day in February, "to be the first time you carefully cross the buddy line for a short visit before returning back."

.    Don't dress too casually. It's a misconception that looking like a professional creates barriers between you and your students.

.    Don't babble. While new teacher nerves might have you rambling, remember this: "The more words you say, the less value each word has. … Choose your words carefully." 

Source: From "The Don'ts and Don'ts of Teaching," by G. Rubinstein, 2012, Educational Leadership, 69(8), pp. 50–52. Copyright 2012 by ASCD.