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  • Advocacy
    • Importance of Physical Education
    • Quality Physical Education
    • Advocacy Resources for Physical Education
    • "No Excuses!" Documentary
    • Importance of Recess, Play, and Active Classrooms
  • Pedagogy
    • Physical Education Pedagogy >
      • General Strategies
      • Adapted Physical Education
      • English Language Learners
      • Cross Disciplinary Examples
      • Facilitating Discussions and Debriefs
      • Miscellaneous Articles and Videos
    • Physical Education Pedagogy Continued >
      • Social and Emotional Learning
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    • Assessment >
      • Assessment in Physical Education
      • Rubrics for Assessment
      • Grading in Physical Education
      • Fitnessgram Guidelines and Resources
    • Class Management >
      • Class Management Overview
      • Tools for Assessing Behavior
      • Techniques for Forming Groups
    • Planning >
      • Planning Physical Education Units
      • Domains of Learning
      • Teaching Styles in Physical Education
      • Instructional Models in Physical Education
  • Resources
    • Physical Education >
      • Activities and Lessons
      • Physical Education Related Organizations
      • Physical Education DIY and Hacks
      • National Observances Related to Physical Education
      • Safety Related Resources
    • Fitness >
      • Activity Promotion and Adherence
      • Creative Fitness Activities
      • Stress Management Techniques
      • Health, Fitness, and Nutrition Resources
    • Instructional Videos >
      • Icebreakers, Teambuilding, and Conflict Resolution Videos
      • Instructional Dance Videos
      • Dance Resources
    • Professional Development >
      • Information and Resources for Professional Development
      • Social Media Resources
      • Teaching Evaluation Forms
      • Podcast
    • Technology >
      • Technology in Physical Education
      • Online Resources
      • Mobile Apps
      • Projector Uses in Physical Education
      • 360 Degree Photos/Videos in Physical Education
      • Augmented Reality in Physical Education
      • Virtual Reality in Physical Education
  • ​Welcome
    • About Us
    • Parents and Administrators
    • Search Page
    • Sitemap
  • Service
    • Paradise U Community Project​
    • Coalition for Quality Physical Education >
      • Coalition for Quality Physical Education
      • Most Important Job in America
      • SPARTAN Races
    • Other Projects
  • Advocacy
    • Importance of Physical Education
    • Quality Physical Education
    • Advocacy Resources for Physical Education
    • "No Excuses!" Documentary
    • Importance of Recess, Play, and Active Classrooms
  • Pedagogy
    • Physical Education Pedagogy >
      • General Strategies
      • Adapted Physical Education
      • English Language Learners
      • Cross Disciplinary Examples
      • Facilitating Discussions and Debriefs
      • Miscellaneous Articles and Videos
    • Physical Education Pedagogy Continued >
      • Social and Emotional Learning
      • Social Justice and Diversity
      • Growth Mindset and Multiple Intelligences
      • Engaging Families
      • Advice for New Teachers
    • Assessment >
      • Assessment in Physical Education
      • Rubrics for Assessment
      • Grading in Physical Education
      • Fitnessgram Guidelines and Resources
    • Class Management >
      • Class Management Overview
      • Tools for Assessing Behavior
      • Techniques for Forming Groups
    • Planning >
      • Planning Physical Education Units
      • Domains of Learning
      • Teaching Styles in Physical Education
      • Instructional Models in Physical Education
  • Resources
    • Physical Education >
      • Activities and Lessons
      • Physical Education Related Organizations
      • Physical Education DIY and Hacks
      • National Observances Related to Physical Education
      • Safety Related Resources
    • Fitness >
      • Activity Promotion and Adherence
      • Creative Fitness Activities
      • Stress Management Techniques
      • Health, Fitness, and Nutrition Resources
    • Instructional Videos >
      • Icebreakers, Teambuilding, and Conflict Resolution Videos
      • Instructional Dance Videos
      • Dance Resources
    • Professional Development >
      • Information and Resources for Professional Development
      • Social Media Resources
      • Teaching Evaluation Forms
      • Podcast
    • Technology >
      • Technology in Physical Education
      • Online Resources
      • Mobile Apps
      • Projector Uses in Physical Education
      • 360 Degree Photos/Videos in Physical Education
      • Augmented Reality in Physical Education
      • Virtual Reality in Physical Education
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YOUR CART

Advice for New Teachers


"So, you have prepared yourself for this moment. It’s your first day of school and you are no longer the student.  You are the teacher! Yes, YOU are the teacher. Hi, my name is Natalie Page and I am a 2005 graduate of CSU Chico's Physical Education Teacher Education program.  Immediately after receiving my physical education credential I was off to teaching that very same year. To this day, my first day is still so clear and I can vividly recall the feelings that I was experiencing. So many thoughts and concerns occupied my mind.

​Although I had confidence and I didn’t doubt my education, I was worried about my lack of knowledge of my new place of employment (the staff, students, procedures, and culture). This was a sink or swim moment. At times throughout the school year I felt as though I was sinking, but at other moments I felt like I had my head above water. Reflecting upon my experiences throughout my first year, I wished that someone would have given me some helpful hints and tips. Below are mine for first year Physical Education teachers." (2017)
PERSONAL NOTES
  • Buy quality clothing and shoes (you will be in the elements every day).

  • Check with major sporting organizations for equipment, some of them offer free starter teaching kits that include free equipment and teaching resources.

  • Explore physical activities in the school's community so you can make informed recommendations to your students and parents.

  • Know that what you teach and say can either make a positive or negative impact on students attitudes toward physical activity. If you're not excited, they won't be.

  • Take care of yourself physically. You are now a role model for your students to be “active for life.” Students get a kick out of seeing you active in your community, at your local gym, or even in class.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
  • Find out what facilities you have access to and their schedules. For example, do you share your space with the drama department, ASB, or daily lunch services?

  • Find out what your budget is. If your money doesn’t roll over to the next year, spend it on needed equipment because your budget may not be the same next year.

  • Get to know your colleagues and ask them questions. Are they interested in teaching quality physical education? What are their teaching styles, protocols, etc?

  • ​Remember that you don’t have to team teach.

  • Take inventory of your equipment so you know what you are working with.
School and Staff
  • Attend school functions when possible (games, plays, or even sit out in the lunch area to get a feel of the school culture). Your students may never have a parent or family member attend any of their school functions and they will be so appreciative of your attendance. Once you have built that rapport, students will work harder for you because they know you care!

  • Attend staff meetings and get to know your colleagues.

  • Be around positive teachers on campus, and collaborate with them, and avoid places and people with negative energy.

  • If needed, are there translators at your school?

  • Introduce yourself to secretarial staff and be NICE to them. They run the school!

  • Know the discipline policies and standard procedures at your school.

  • ​Who are the custodians on campus? They can be your best friend when you need help cleaning up or are doing outside activities.
TEACHING
  • Attend IEP’s & 504’s to get to know your students better.

  • Don’t forget to build professional personal relationships with your students. You might be the only stable adult figure in their lives. Having a professional personal relationship with your students may also change the outcome of decisions that they make (good or bad).

  • Don’t give your keys to students or teacher assistants, you may not get them all back!

  • Give students and parents your school information (phone number and e-mail address). Remember your students are your clients and you need to be available.

  • If you can, resist the opportunity of coaching your first year so you can become comfortable with your teaching.

  • Know all your students' names. I have over 240 students every year, and if I can do it, so can you!

  • Know that every lesson you teach could be a success or a flop. If a lesson flops, make changes and try again.  Remember there is no such thing as a perfect teacher or lesson.

  • Make phone calls home and remember to recognize good students.

  • Your students will know that you are new, so exude confidence but don’t pretend that you know everything.
Additional Advice for New teachers
Physical Education Articles
  • 10 Tips for New PE Teachers
  • ​20 Mistakes I’ve Made in My 20 Years of Teaching PE
  • 101 Tips for New Physical Education Teachers
  • ​Advice for First-Year Physical Education Teachers
  • ​​Back to the Future – Where is Doc When You Need Him?
  • Change Takes Time
  • ​How to Ease Into a New Year of Teaching PE
  • Teaching With A Challenging Colleague
  • ​​The First Year
  • ​​Tips & Strategies for First Year PE Teachers

​General Education Articles
  • ​10 Tips for Surviving and Thriving Your First Year Teaching
  • ​Advice to a New Teacher
  • ​​Find Your Marigold: The One Essential Rule for New Teachers
  • ​​New Teachers: Edutopia Homepage
  • The Mistakes I Made as a New Teacher
ADVICE FOR STUDENT TEACHERS
  • 7 Habits of Amazing Student Teachers
  • 8 Things I Wish I Knew As A Student Teacher
  • ​​9 Tips for Overcoming Classroom Stage Fright
  • Don’t Just be a Future Professional, Be the Future of the Profession
  • ​Student Teaching Success Guide
  • ​Tips for Future HPE Professionals
  • What is Considered Appropriate Dress for PE Teachers?

CHOOSING THE PROFESSION

  • ​Becoming a Physical Education Teacher
  • Career Center for Health and Physical Educators
  • Careers in Kinesiology
  • FAFSA, Financial Aid and Student Loan Forgiveness for Teaching Students
  • ​​Fields of Study - Physical Education
  • Guide to Scholarships for Future Teachers
  • ​​How to Become a Phys Ed Teacher
  • ​SHAPE America #CareerWhy Tweets​​​​​​​
DECIDING WHERE TO TEACH
  • ​International Teaching - Is It for You?
  • Should You Switch Grade Levels?
  • SHAPE America - Career Center
  • ​Taking the Leap: Changing School Districts​
  • Teaching Overseas
Finding and Landing Jobs
  • ​​How to Rock That Teaching Job Interview​
  • ​Interview Questions for Health and Physical Education Teachers​
  • ​​Interview Tips for Physical Educators
  • ​Securing Your Job in PE - Part 1
  • ​​​Securing Your Job in PE - Part 2
  • Suggested Job Interview Questions for Health Education Teachers
  • Suggested Job Interview Questions for Physical Education Teachers

Job Interview Tips for Teachers​

Interviewing With Confidence
ONLINE RESUMES
Online resumes are a great way to show potential employers your abilities. More than just paper, you can include photos, videos, links, and much more (example). Our Online Technology Resources page has a section dedicated to web design with links to internet resources that help you easily create your own website or you can use E-Portfolio sites such as Portfoliogen. 

​See additional resources: ​​8 Résumé Tips Just for Teachers, Developing a Portfolio - Tips and a Checklist, and Do I Need a Digital Teaching Portfolio?