Are you a new itinerant teacher? Do you have genuine fears about what to do next? Step one to success: get organized!
- A three-ring binder
- Dividers for each section
- Pen or Marker
- First find out who your students are, what buildings and classrooms they are in and thier daily schedules.
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Visit each school building and do not, repeat, do not leave until you have the following:
- A copy of each student’s schedule (you can often obtain these through PowerSchool or some other on-line program)
- A copy of the layout of the building
- A bell schedule for each building, including special days, delay days, etc.
- A listing of each teacher and contact information, including the specialists in each building (OT/PT, Speech)
- Make sure you introduce yourself to the principal and other administrators; especially get to know the secretary, if you need to sign in and out.
- Obtain user name and password information to log on to the programs you will need or email access you will need for each school.
- Get on each school’s listserv so you know when assessments are given or school events are happening.
- Learn how to log on to the program that gives you access to IEPs, and obtain authorization to get access.
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Finally, arrange your three-ring binder by:
- Schools (including bell schedules, student schedules, maps, phone contacts)
- District maps and locations of buildings
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Create separate binders for each student, to include:
- Current IEP
- Current eye report
- Notes back and forth from parents
- Observations from meeting students
- Lists created for related services and contact minutes; master schedule for visiting student(s)
- Have access to a master calendar for scheduling; mileage logs for reinbursement.
Now breathe slowly! With proper planning ahead of time, you are well on your way to being a successful itinerant teacher!
Variations are anything different from what you planned. Be flexible, takes mistakes as growth experiences.
