Last year was my first year teaching. I am still a beginning teacher and will consider myself a beginning teacher for a while. However, I did learn some things during this time. For those of you who are starting off-- or those of you who are willing to listen to the struggle and ease of little almost-second-year teacher, here are a few tips for your year of teaching.
Find a Friend
I was lucky enough to have an amazing group of teachers to choose from. I ended up with more than one great friend to turn to. Teaching is going to be the best times and the worst times all in one. Finding a friend who you can vent to about your day, or share your excitement for something new that you tried is KEY. It is so nice to have someone to turn to. I found myself looking forward to our chats about our day and getting excited to share something that happened (good or bad). Friends are a great way to reflect on your teaching, get advice, or reassurance that you’re not alone.
Go to a Veteran Teacher for Advice.
Although having a friend may double as your advice-giver, veteran teachers always seem to have the sh*t together. They seem to have gone through everything and lived to tell the tale. If you’re unsure, just ask. Any time I asked a veteran teacher for advice, they seemed to take pride in their knowledge and were always willing to help. You only have one year to play the “first year teacher” card. Might as well make use of it!
Don’t Spend Money Unless you Need To.
Getting stuck at the Target Dollar Spot is more than likely going to happen but try your best to stay away. My first year I bought a few decoration items, which I’m glad I used, but I really didn’t have any clue on what I needed until I stepped foot into my classroom. Leading up to my first year and even through college, I bought books, flash cards, and various games that I thought I might use. In reality, I had no idea what grade I was even going to be teaching. The things I bought were for lower elementary and now I’m teaching fourth grade. Even though the games are targeted to the younger kiddos, they still make a good addition to my “Fun Friday” bin. However, I did not use them as often as I was hoping. I would just save your money.
"They started pulling books from their own shelves that they had a collected throughout their years of teaching. Soon I had two boxes FULL of perfectly good books that were the appropriate level for my future fourth graders."
As for the books-, those are always useful. Even upper elementary kids love a good picture book every now and then. However, books are VERY EXPENSIVE and can add up quick! My advice for getting a good book collection is to ask teachers! I was working in an elementary school as a Special Ed TA when I accepted my fourth grade position. Those teachers were so willing to help in any way possible. They started pulling books from their own shelves that they had a collected throughout their years of teaching. Soon I had two boxes FULL of perfectly good books that were the appropriate level for my future fourth graders. I was also blesses with an unwanted book collection that the teacher before me had left behind.
Stay Positive
Try your best to connect with your team. I know, I know, sometimes it is hard but, this will help you in the long run. It is extremely important to have a positive relationship with your teammates. These people are the ones you will be spending most of your adult interaction with throughout the days (you all have the exact same schedule). This is where your friend may come into play. You could also find that your teammates double as your friend or veteran teacher. What an ideal situation, right?
Take a Break
Leave! I mean it! LEAVE!!! My first year I came in at 6:45am and normally stayed until 6, 7, sometimes even 8 pm! That is OVER 12 HOURS of work! I felt like I needed to prepare absolutely everything possible for the next day. It’s good to be prepared, but not to the point of losing your personal life. It is so important to take a break and try your best to leave school at school. Towards the end of the year I found a better balance (still not the greatest) and got through it. My classroom started to get a little messy with piles of paper everywhere, but that is NORMAL. Everyone is just trying to make it to summer break as much as you are. The one thing I tried to do every day before I left, was to leave my classroom as if there will be a sub tomorrow. You don’t necessarily need to have your detailed lesson plan on your desk, but have it clean. Put the random papers away, erase the board, and have your copies made. This SAVED me.
This year is going to be so fun and so crazy. Try to find a person who shares your love for teaching and someone who you can vent to at school. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice when you need it. You can only be a first year teacher once. Stay positive and take a break. I hope this advice is helpful. What are some things you are nervous about for your first year? Are there any other tips you can think of? Comment any questions below.
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