Tammy’s Teaching Tips
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Big days & eventsNew teachersFuture teachersVeteran teachers

First day, back-to-school night, conferences

The three events that set the tone — and the mistake to avoid at each one.

With Tammy Striler · 1:29 · Filmed fall 2020

What to take away

  • First day: whether it's your first year or your thirtieth, you'll be nervous. If you're not, it's time to retire.
  • Back-to-school night: don't stand there reading out a presentation of things parents could read themselves.
  • Send that home a couple of days early, then let them experience what their kids experience.
  • Conferences: never let it be the first time a parent hears their child is struggling. Call before.

Why it works

All three are the same insight in different clothes — these events are for the parents' experience of the school, not for the delivery of information. Handle the information ahead of time and the event can do the thing only it can do.

TS

Tammy Striler

Founder · classroom teacher

Thirty years in the classroom, most of them with the door open and a student teacher in the back. Tammy started these tips because the best things she learned came from other teachers over lunch, and nobody was writing them down.

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Think of the teacher who changed something for you. Now go be that person.

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Is this the hill you want to die on?

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Every other tip

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