"Describe techniques or methods that could help teachers do their job more effectively."

1.  Over-prepare for the day of class
You only get one chance to make a first impression, and the first day of class is critical. As soon as possible, begin work in your room. Count the desks, find out the number of students, and start gathering materials and books. Learn the daily schedule for the first day, and know what paperwork has to be completed on that day. Plan how you will introduce yourself and plan what assignments and activities the students will do to introduce themselves to you and to each other. Community building is critically important to having a well-run classroom. Consider interest inventories for the first day. Keep the students very busy and engaged in get acquainted activities as well as academic ones.

On the personal side, if you have moved to a new town, get settled in as early as possible, and practice your commute to work. Do everything you can to ensure that you will arrive ready, calm, and organized on the first day.

2.  Plan for classroom management
First of all, plan your philosophy. Read widely about management plans from a variety of theorists and then take the best from each of them for your plan. Find out what the school wide rules are and who provides the back-up support for teachers regarding discipline issues.

Next, plan the routines and procedures for everything students do in your room. Arrange the desks so that you can walk to each student. Make seating charts. Have an entrance table where students pick up supplies. Greet students at the door the first day and ask them to find their seats, based on a chart on the screen, and then to start the assignment on the board. 
Post the rules, with consequences and positive rewards, on the wall. Send a copy of the posted rules home to parents in the first newsletter. Make sure students have a copy for their notebooks or in the syllabus. Teach the rules. Review them on Mondays, and whenever necessary. Enforce the rules equitably. Motivate students with positive rewards that reinforce teaching — computer time, a review game, or extra minutes to study for a quiz.

3.  Accept today’s students
No matter your age, today’s students will not act as you did when you were their age. Accept this and teaching becomes a lot easier! Accept their music, their fashion, their tattoos, and their backgrounds. Today’s students need their teachers now more than ever before, and the toughest to teach may need us the most.

4.  Assess prior interest and knowledge
Do not assume that all seventh graders are ready for the seventh grade curriculum. Use pre-test with students to find their levels of expertise. Have students complete ungraded assignments and open-ended questionnaires about your discipline. Yes, this takes time, but spending a few weeks reviewing or teaching the basics may put you farther ahead later in the year.

Use interest inventories to ask students what they read outside of class, and what their goals are for the school year. Don’t ask embarrassing or overly personal questions, but knowing a little about your students will help you to meet their needs.

5.  Open lines of communication with parents
As the new school year begins, send letters and/or emails home to students’ families. Share the school calendar, the management plan, and also information about the curriculum. Find out when the open houses are scheduled, and meet as many families as possible. Observe how other teachers handle parent conferences, and use conferences when needed. Don’t hesitate to have another teacher or administrator sit in on parent conferences.

6.  Use a variety of teaching strategies
Are you concerned about being too teacher-centered and direct in your classroom? Are you worried that if you teach with groups that you won’t get a good evaluation? The key is to use a variety of strategies and to keep learning new ones. Today’s young students are already using computers and some middle and high school students are taking online classes, so keep current with your teaching methods.

7.  Keep good records (and a new portfolio)
Keep a good plan and your second year of teaching will be 100% easier, because you will know how long it took to complete chapters and activities. In addition to keeping your plans, keep samples of student work and proof of your completion of professional development activities. Some schools may require you to produce a portfolio as part of your annual evaluation. If you change jobs, you will need a portfolio for your next job interview. Your files, both electronic and paper, will help you in your current or future job.

8. Take advantage of your mentor and of professional networks
A mentor can help you to find materials, organize your classroom, plan the curriculum, and just listen to your concerns. If possible, consider having your mentor observe in your classroom or go observe in his/her room. Be sure to thank your mentor for all his/her help and time.

Your membership in professional associations can connect you with a world of other mentors. Consider membership in one organization for teachers, like Kappa Delta Pi, and one for your discipline. Attend their conferences for motivation and ideas.

9.  Practice positive self-help and stress managementFirst-year teachers often report that their jobs consume them, taking up hours and hours of time outside of the school day. While preparing for teaching, and keeping up with the paperwork is time consuming, prioritize some time for yourself. Exercise, eating right, and creating some down time in each week are critical to staying strong. Make time for friends, and create a support network to help with the personal and life balance issues.

10.  Know what you do and why — reflection worksWhen the days get tough, remind yourself of the importance of teaching. Remember student successes, and how much students need you as their teacher and as their role model. Reflect upon your job. Keep a journal. Write an article for your professional association’s publication. Create a blog for reflection, if you want to go public. Teachers rarely get all the support they need from outside sources. We need to create and refine our intrinsic motivation often. Be positive in your self-reflection.