Question: What is the worst advice given to new teachers?
Answer: I think the worst advice given to new teachers is to “just follow the script” of a program or resource. I do think that following a script is important in standardizing teaching across classrooms, I think that what teachers need to cultivate really quickly is a sense of how to teach anything through understanding the basics of teaching.
I feel like if a teacher knows how to take a concept and break it down into learnable chunks, model how to do something and hold the kids’ hands while they practice it and then give great, descriptive feedback, they can teach anything! Including following a scripted program!
The second worst advice given to new teachers is that it’s too hard to take days off when they’re sick, so just show up anyway. Here’s what I say: slap together a good-enough lesson plan and take time to get better!