One of the greatest lessons that I have learned in my years as an educator is to always be prepared.
Be prepared for class. Never walk into the class thinking “I wonder what we should do today?” Create an agenda for the day and build a lesson plan to support the agenda. Review your lesson plan and be ready to present the material.
Be prepared for the student salon. Just like the classroom, we should have an agenda prepared for the student salon. Students will not be with customers 100% of the day and we must be prepared with mini-classes, projects, activities, etc. for when they are not busy.
Be prepared for the unexpected. Sometimes things happen in the school that will knock you off your game plan. The projector bulb goes out and you can’t use your PowerPoint. The internet is out, or the computers are crashing, and you can’t use your planned activity. The blow dryers keep blowing the circuit breakers so can’t have all students doing the same procedure at the same time. Another educator calls in sick and you must find a way to incorporate her students into your class. The products you needed for today’s class didn’t come in on time and you can’t do you planned demonstration.
Be prepared for a variety of student moods. Students come into the school and may be excited, apathetic, cranky, crying, and on and on. Have a class opening in a place that gets them all out of their own challenges and focused on the day’s class.
Be prepared for a variety of business needs that pop up. There may be the unannounced fire drills, state board inspection or even the unexpected NACCAS visits. The more prepared you are, the easier you will be able to adapt to these situations.
Always have a variety of activities, exercises, and project ideas ready, so that no matter what happens to your plan you have something to fall back on if needed. When you walk into the school prepared for the day, no matter what comes at you, you will be able to handle it.
Remember, proper preparation and planning promote positive performance!
P.S. Our blog and Facebook page (Milady Instructors) have a ton of tips to get you prepared for class!