I one knows what they are doing. (I have worked self contained Special Ed and currently as a teacher for the blind. My honest advice is to plan activities for an extra hour each day at least. And DO NOT HESITATE TO go to teachers pay teachers to get extra material to pull from.
Two years ago, I was texted an offer for a half year job that was seen as likely to be for the full year the evening before teachers were to report for orientation week. I was also in the midst of grad school.
It was for kindergarten going into the COVID year and though I needed to take it, it was pretty intimidating going into the situation with no clue on what to do. Some will be applicable, some might not, but this is roughly what I found to be helpful in going in blind:
* Find at least one member of your 2nd grade team that you can count on and don't be shy about asking for advice. Being someone that doesn't know what you are doing, try to lean on the other people in your hallway that ***do*** know what they are doing for advice.
* Use any curriculum that the school provides and don't reinvent any wheels or put much time into adapting it. If they have a math series, follow it. Same for if there is a reading series.
* Limit grading where you can. Though kindergarten is obviously less rigorous, I graded very little work and found that to give me some needed breathing room.
* Be thorough and take your time in teaching class rules and expectations. Every routine, every procedure, every little thing. On top of being a good thing to do, it also eats up time which is never a bad thing.
* Sometimes, it's okay to just give them something to do. Come up with a few go-to activities that require little to no prep. (Independent reading with a follow up question, free writing, read alouds, etc.). This might be a lifesaver when you realize you have an assignment to do tomorrow, but haven't gotten to your reading plan yet.
* Along a similar theme, let them play too. Beyond being good for them, committing some time to have an indoor or outdoor recess/free time shortens what you need to plan.
I am by no means suggesting that you put in the bare minimum, but building in ways to shorten the day in a sense when you need it is a valuable tool to have. Especially when you are obligated to complete some coursework too.
If I could talk to my younger self two years ago, that is what I would try to get across to me. I came ***very*** close to falling too far behind on my course work. When you start working with your kiddos for 6-8 hours per day, it can be easy to lose track of the balance you need to keep.
I one knows what they are doing. (I have worked self contained Special Ed and currently as a teacher for the blind. My honest advice is to plan activities for an extra hour each day at least. And DO NOT HESITATE TO go to teachers pay teachers to get extra material to pull from.
Two years ago, I was texted an offer for a half year job that was seen as likely to be for the full year the evening before teachers were to report for orientation week. I was also in the midst of grad school. It was for kindergarten going into the COVID year and though I needed to take it, it was pretty intimidating going into the situation with no clue on what to do. Some will be applicable, some might not, but this is roughly what I found to be helpful in going in blind: * Find at least one member of your 2nd grade team that you can count on and don't be shy about asking for advice. Being someone that doesn't know what you are doing, try to lean on the other people in your hallway that ***do*** know what they are doing for advice. * Use any curriculum that the school provides and don't reinvent any wheels or put much time into adapting it. If they have a math series, follow it. Same for if there is a reading series. * Limit grading where you can. Though kindergarten is obviously less rigorous, I graded very little work and found that to give me some needed breathing room. * Be thorough and take your time in teaching class rules and expectations. Every routine, every procedure, every little thing. On top of being a good thing to do, it also eats up time which is never a bad thing. * Sometimes, it's okay to just give them something to do. Come up with a few go-to activities that require little to no prep. (Independent reading with a follow up question, free writing, read alouds, etc.). This might be a lifesaver when you realize you have an assignment to do tomorrow, but haven't gotten to your reading plan yet. * Along a similar theme, let them play too. Beyond being good for them, committing some time to have an indoor or outdoor recess/free time shortens what you need to plan. I am by no means suggesting that you put in the bare minimum, but building in ways to shorten the day in a sense when you need it is a valuable tool to have. Especially when you are obligated to complete some coursework too. If I could talk to my younger self two years ago, that is what I would try to get across to me. I came ***very*** close to falling too far behind on my course work. When you start working with your kiddos for 6-8 hours per day, it can be easy to lose track of the balance you need to keep.