Merced Union High School District

The New Teacher Institute recently concluded as the three-day training program offered new MUHSD teachers guidance as they begin the school year. District instructional coaches and mentors guided the new staff members through role-playing exercises, along with providing instructional knowledge and essential classroom management skills. The program is optional for probationary teachers and they are paid for attending by the District.

 

Approximately 25 new Merced Union High School District teachers took part in the New Teacher Institute, which was held at the DISC from Aug. 4-6. In its third year, the New Teacher Institute is a three-day program that aims to help first or second-year teachers or teachers new to the District be successful in the classroom by providing instructional knowledge, classroom management skills and other tips offered by veteran teachers who are currently working as instructional coaches and mentors. The program is voluntary for probationary teachers and they are paid for attending the training by the District.

 

The new teachers are led through role-playing scenarios, instructional strategies and other useful tools to help them successfully navigate their way in the classroom. “We want teachers to feel a little more successful when they're entering the classroom,” said MUHSD Instructional Coach Grace Reeder. “After having this training, they'll know instructionally, the things the District feels are really important for them to have in every lesson. They'll leave with that knowledge, and then they'll also know how to handle classroom culture, classroom management situations and ways to build positive relationships with students and a positive environment in the classroom.”

 

The New Teacher Institute gives new teachers a lot more information than Mindy Crooks received when she started teaching 19 years ago. “When I started teaching, I was given a set of textbooks and the text books had a pacing guide and it was like, ‘Here you go,’” said Crooks, who works as an MUHSD New Teacher Support Mentor. Crooks says when she started she was able to attend weekend training sessions at the DISC.  

 

During the three-day program the participants were given the District “Must Haves” when formatting a lesson plan. That list includes:

• A measurable standards-based objective
• Academic rigor (depth of knowledge 2 or higher)
• The four Cs (communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity)
• Regular checking for understanding
• Closure/reflection/assessment

 

Kelsi Kamesch,who graduated from Atwater High in 2018, will be teaching in the agriculture department at El Capitan High after moving back to Merced County after teaching in Oklahoma for three years. Kamesch felt the New Teacher Institute was valuable in laying out clear job expectations for teachers in the District. “Being able to have that checklist in front of my face to know what's being asked is helpful,” Kamesch said. “Yes, I need to have my learning objectives in every slide or posted somewhere in my classroom every single day. I need to make sure that my students are communicating and they’re using critical thinking and things like that. So when I'm being observed to see if I'm doing my job, my admins can have their checklist and see I’m hitting all these boxes like I’m supposed to be doing.”

 

The importance of classroom routines, structure and expectations was also emphasized in the program. “The students kind of feel relieved knowing what to expect each day,” Reeder said. “With you roaming, constantly circulating the room so you’re making sure that you are an active teacher, and redirecting students when they're off task. That's a constant job. Recognition is also big, so always acknowledging positive behavior as it arises. Even if it's the tiniest little thing, it could be something that means a lot to your students.”

 

The idea behind the New Teacher Institute is not only to aid teachers in starting their careers in education, but it also benefits the students who hopefully will have a better learning experience from teachers who are more prepared.  “If I had this starting, I would feel a lot more confident in teaching and knowing what exactly was expected of me as an educator,” Crooks said. “I think they will leave here feeling a lot more confident in building their lessons and how to deal with their student behaviors.”

 

Shawn Jansen is a MUHSD Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at Sjansen@muhsd.org.