If I could tell myself 10 things as a first year teacher, this would be it! As I embark on a new year in a new grade level at a new school, I keep thinking how grateful I am and how lucky I am to have the experiences I went through in just three fast years. Rewind three years in time. I was about to get my very first class. I knew exactly what I was getting myself into but had NO idea just how it would feel like to be run down and tired all the time. If I could go back in time, and give myself advice, this is what I would say…
1. You are not perfect. You will never be perfect. Do what you need to do to be effective and successful. You are going to have to learn as fast as you are going to have to think. Many things are going to be hard the first time. Things are not going to be comfortable, so throw perfection out the window. You may get pretty darn close one day, just not anytime soon.
2. Be confident in your direction. Even if you don’t know what you want the kids to do, be sure you make it up as you go. Let your students know you may change your mind and that is okay. Kids are resilient and they know when you don’t know what you are doing. If you are confident and assure them that even though the direction or procedures may change, you are still sure of yourself.
3. Know who’s who on the staff. This includes the tattle tales and the brown-nosers. Yep. I said it. Even if you think you are not doing or saying anything wrong. Every site has a different culture, and you don’t know what the “rules” are. Let everything settle and scope out the people you can trust.
4. Focus your attention on what is impactful for kids. Ask yourself, “Does the energy I am spending on this have a direct impact on kids?” If it does not, do what you need to do to follow policy, but do not loose sleep over it.
5. Youtube. Youtube anything you need help on. If it is engagement strategies, attention-getters, cooperative structures, etc. I still use Youtube to learn the latest and greatest on best teaching practices.
6. Be nice to the teachers on your team and do not flaunt the fact that you learned a lot in college. Although you did, take everything they have to say or give you. You will not be able to do it all. Listen to what they have to say. Do not reinvent the wheel. Take, borrow, beg, steal. They know what they are doing (most of the time). My supervising teacher gave this little tip to our small group, and I am so glad she did. It saved me a lot of damage-control.
7. Listen to the parents, stand your ground, and admit when you are wrong. You are going to have to grow some thick skin, because you are going to be questioned. Be open to what they have to say, apologize, and come up with a solution. This creates a relationship where it is okay to be honest and they are less likely to contact your administrator before calling you.
8. Be proactive, not reactive. You are going to be evaluated, and you are going to have things that you have to work on. Take this advice. It will only make things easier for you in the long run. Work on what they say, because it will make you a better teacher. It is easy to get frustrated and react over negative feedback, but if you think about the lesson and how it looks from an outsider’s perspective, it may make sense that you could improve.
9. Get a mentor and do everything they do. Stick to the way they do things as much as you can. That way, when you have a problem with something such as the behavior system, or instructional approaches, they can better guide you on where you are going wrong. If you have a different system, they will have a harder time giving you advice on how to implement and/or enforce it.
10. Breathe and enjoy your students. Don’t spend your entire weekend planning for the next week/quarter. You are going to burn out really fast. Reserve some time to yourself each day and weekend and do not think or speak of school. Then take the rest of the time to do what you need to do. You want to be there for the kids, but if you can’t take care of yourself, you will never be able to take care of them. The kids are why you became a teacher. Don’t forget that.
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Great post Emily; I truly enjoyed reading this and I will definitely keep everything you said in the back of my mind always.
Good luck, Vanessa! If you need any encouraging words along the way, feel free to email me!
Emily
I really needed that Emily, thank you soo much! We start school August 19 and this is my first year teaching in the district, I’m kind of freaking out a little bit. This really helped me!
I am so glad I could help! Have fun and don’t be surprised by anything:) Good luck, Tianna!
Love this advice, but as a relatively new teacher myself, I have to add another tip: Go out of your way to introduce yourself to and make friends with the secretaries and the custodians! They are often some of the most helpful and well-informed people in the building!
Yes yes yes! You are so right…they seem to know everything:)
This made me feel like maybe this wouldn’t be the worst place for me if I follow these tips. I tend to get a little over-invested in things and had a rough time my first year (I was also a long term sub from Nov. to the end of the year). Thank you for this post. 🙂
Thank you! I am glad this has helped. The biggest thing to keep in mind is to not freak out about things that are not under your control. Do what you can, and the rest is history:)
Great post! I wrote one similar recently: http://5thandfabulous.blogspot.com/2013/08/letter-to-self-teacher-edition.html
Emily, this is wonderful advice! I am a first year teacher and let me just say I am questioning my career choice!! It’s super tough and overwhelming, but I remind myself everyday of the things you mentioned in this post. I agree with all of your statements and they definitely reaffirmed my reminders to myself about the first year. Thank you!
Emily – I may need you to text me these reminders on a weekly basis next year!!
Misty
http://www.thinkwonderteach.com
Good List. I would add, EDIT YOUR MOUTH.
This is one of the top three best blogs I’ve read for tips of new teachers….and I’ve read A LOT! It was honest and blunt…just the way I like it, Misty wants weekly texts…I would love DAILY texts 🙂
I have been teaching 25 years and sometimes still need reminders of these things! Especially when they keep adding things to what I need to get done but don’t take anything away.
Thank you so much for writing this! I am currently in my first year teaching and overwhelmed is an understatement! I am trying to be perfect for my student and I know that’s not possible. I feel bad at times for my students, because I know my best isn’t the best they could probably get! I know things will get better I just wish at times I didn’t feel as lost! I teach in a small school where there is only one teacher per subject. The 3rd grade teacher next door has been great in helping me, but she is brand new in her grade as well! Reading this helps me realize that I am not the only one that has struggled!
I needed to read this so much! Thank you. Now the question is…can I walk the walk?
i learned this exact set of things my first semester, and the second semester has already been better!
Great post and good sound advice!
Everytime I started in a new school I gave myself at least 6 months to look , listen and learn.
Keep my strong opinions to myself and learn who was the person(s) with the power. It is often not the Principal!
Dont try to change the way things are in the first day week or month. Change is often achieved once you have developed a strong team and gained the knowledge of who is of a like mind who is supportive and who is likely to use you as a stepping stone .
Remember it is much easier to relax the rules and boundaries with time than it is to tighten up and reign in out of control kids.
Maintain your sense of humour.
If the kids hear you say it, then they have permission to say it too! ( Treat others with respect. Speak to others as you expect to be spoken to)
Enjoy the young people you are influencing!
Best of luck for your new class. Every day will bring something new exciting and enjoyable.
From Grannie
love this advice! I would also add, you can’t get everything done. There comes a point at the end of the day that you just have to say, “I did what I could for today,” and go home without it!
With a month and a half left of my first year, I can say I wish I had read this sooner. Taking time for myself had been something I have struggled with all year! Hoping year two will be less overwhelming :).
Thanks!
Nicole