Dear Younger-Teacher-Self…

What would veteran teachers say if they could meet their younger selves, as freshly minted teachers?

ETAI Summer ConferenceJuly 2015

Inspired by a blogging project

organized by Joanna Malefakion her website,

here:

https://myeltrambles.wordpress.com/

Note:All entries and

names are shown as submitted.

Collected byNaomi Epstein

Greece It's OK to say, " I don't know.“

Joanna Malefaki

Don't worry so much! The kids are waiting for ME to set the tone of the class! Margie Cohen-Jackel

Israel

Italy /Israel

When things go wrong, don't panic, just change... yourself and your approach! Everything begins and ends with the amount of energy you have.

Gratzia Golan

U.S of A /IsraelAdele

1. It's not all about you. 2. Don't assume your students know that you care about them: TELL them!

Hey Mariana,Don`t worry! Every long journey begins with a small step!

Mariana ManolovaBulgaria

Israel

Don't follow the grammar books' material; too structured.Make your own worksheets to suit the needs of each class.

Phyllis Oded

Don't worry about not being able to draw a straight line with a ruler - there will be computers!! Naomi Epstein

Israel

Be patient, don't expect much, some days will be unbearable but in the long run it will be worth the pain.

Yael Goldstein

U.S.A / Israel

Don't take the first job offered. Wait until there's an opening at a school where the students are competitive academically.

Marlene Goldberg

Russia

Don‘t take what happens in class and/or school TOO close to heart. Turn to the colleague you trust and talk it out.

Anna

Don't forget your sense of humor.

Elaine Goldstein

Israel

Remember - never lose your sense of humor. Ultimately, the kids are ridiculous!

Michele Ben

U.S.A / Israel

Remember that no matter how old your students look, they're just kids and kids do stupid things sometimes.

Bari Nirenberg

Israel

The fact that you love grammar doesn't mean that your students love, understand or NEED it as much as you do!Leo Selivan (aka Lexical Leo)

Love yourself more, and then remember that every mother's child is beautiful, with unique

needs.Judy Henn

Israel

Show your kids that you believe in them.

Renee

Switzerland

Everything will turn out fine, even when it doesn't

look like it and you will love this job and your students!

Vicky Loras

Israel

Love your pupils as if they were

your own children.Rachel

ALWAYS love your pupils. Humor is a

great teaching tool.

Esther Hilf Revivo

U.S.A / Israel

Hold in there! With time and experience you'll get the hang of it and will love your job! It's hard but worth it.

Debby Zweibach

Czech Republic

Don't be afraid to show positive, as well as negative, emotions. Be aware, though, that once emotions take control of you, the teacher, they become a hindrance. Work with emotions carefully and don't let them befog your thinking and your attitudes.Hana Tichá

Treat them as if they were your own children and they will pay you back with respect and gratitude!

Meshulam HowittIsrael

What’s food got to do with it?

Israel

Sleep 8 hours, eat breakfast, and remember your favorite song.

D.S.

U.S.A / Israel

The Difference between Knowledge and WisdomKnowledge is knowing that the tomato is a fruit and not a vegetable.Wisdom is knowing that the tomato belongs in your vegetable salad and not your fruit salad.

Israel A. Cohen

Do your best, enjoy your teaching, raise your prices, spend the money on professional development (and food).

Helen Waldron

U.K.

Food for the soul and mind

Israel

Do at least one in-service training course every year.It's good for your soul and your salary!

Denise Cohen

Israel

Teaching is difficult, but with experience it becomes enjoyable.To increase your salary, engulf and devour 'hishtalmuyot'.

Dorian Cohen

Greece

Be genuinely interested in your profession. Be passionate about it because this is the only way you will be able to overcome obstacles but , most of all, enjoy every moment of it!!

Vicky Papageorgiu

Every day is a good day to learn something

new.

Mona ArvinteRomania

You're never teaching if you're

not learning.Leo JC

Brazil

Norway

Make time to observe other teachers' lessons. You'll get inspired and get ideas.

Maia Benkow

U.S.A -Austria

Go to conferences and keep a journal of the good ideas you hear and try them out in your own classroom. Make notes on how they went so you can refer back to the journal for ideas when you need something new. Marjorie Rosenberg

Serbia

Always be willing to learn from your students.

Gordona Popovic

Inspire through sharing, collaborating and creating.

Dina Buzaglo

Israel

Israel

Engage in studies in which you are in grade 1, so to speak, to better understand your students' plight.

Students can benefit from repeating a sentence 10 times.

Dorit Renov

England

Enjoy it and beware the

mood hoovers!

Fabenglishteacher

Israel

Relax - you're doing great! You can't please everybody

all the time... Elizabeth

SimplyENJOY

your job.Mona Saleh

Yemen

Teaching math is fun, but teaching English is much more fun! (I started out as a math teacher).

Sara G.

israelIsrael

Israel

Go into every classroom with a smile on your face.

Susan Bedein

Sing your song and teach your true colors.

Lauren Ornstein

Israel

Relax in the classroom and remember to see each and every pupil. Enjoy the lesson and remember the kids want to learn, even the ones who pretend not to want to!

Aviva

U.S.A

Enjoy your students and be a role model. You may be the first smiling face of the day to greet them and wish them a 'good morning'.

Arlene B.

England / Israel

It'll take you at least 40 years to get the hang of it. Meanwhile enjoy the frequent changes !!! They'll keep you interested.

Sharon Stern

England

Keep everything organized from the start of your teaching career.

Laura Green

Australia/Israel

Learning a language is not easy and everybody learns at their own pace and in their own way, which means that ultimately all classes are heterogeneous. Accept this fact and plan accordingly, to ensure all learners' needs are met. Jane Cohen

U.K.

Being thorough is better than being popular, so

set and check more homework every time.

Wiktor

Scotland

It does get easier!Dace Praulins

Be prepared for the

unexpected!

Sarah Dembinsky Israel

Israel

"To thine own self be true!" Shakespeare

You're doing great! (Older me to younger

me) Francine Widerker

U.S.A / Israel

Remember that the success of your teaching year is measured by the end of the year and not by the beginning.

Tsippi Sandler

Israel

Make your material interesting. Find subjects which appeal to your students such as popular songs.

Tammy

Working in Italy

Stop trying NOT to be a young learner teacher - embrace it early because it's your strength.

Helen L.