10 Things First-Year Teachers Wish They Knew
There are more than 3.5 million teachers in the United States — and a portion of those educators are navigating their first year in the classroom. If you are about to join the group of excited yet intimidated first-year teachers in the next school year, it’s a good time to begin preparing for this upcoming adventure. As they say, hindsight is always 20-20, so here’s some things that many teachers say they wish they knew during their own first year on the job.
- The daily schedule should be written yesterday.
Every teacher should create a daily plan for each school day, and Edutopia recommends that you outline the daily schedule prior to leaving the classroom the day before. Not only does a daily schedule benefit you, but it’s helpful to your students as well. You can share your lesson plans electronically using the latest technology, which keeps your students and their parents informed. When both you and your students have an expectation for the following day, everyone will be better prepared.
- You should communicate with parents in more than one way.
The relationship between parents and teacher is a delicate balance, and one of the key elements to developing a successful relationship with your students’ parents is communication. Don’t rely on one form of communication, as this can isolate certain parents or leave some uninformed. E-mail is a wonderful way to keep in touch with parents, but traditional options like notes home and phone calls are still necessary.
- Give students opportunities for hands-on learning.
As a new teacher, it’s easy to prioritize lessons and instructional time. You want to make sure you convey your point and that you provide your students with all of the information that they need to know, but this can leave them without the time they need to apply that knowledge. According to the Teaching Channel, providing students with clear and concise instructions and then giving them ample active learning time can improve results as well as classroom behavior.
- Create rules but don’t outlaw flexibility.
It’s essential that your classroom has a set of rules, and you might want to take the time to develop the rules for your new classroom ahead of time. However, as a new teacher, you need to be flexible as you apply those rules. If you feel like it’s not working for your group of students, don’t be ashamed to edit the rule in order to make it a better fit for your classroom. As one teacher told WeAreTeachers.com: “Relax. Be in control. Be prepared to be flexible!”
- Choose your shoes wisely.
Comfortable shoes are essential to surviving the first year in the classroom, as you will be spending most of your time standing, teaching and walking around the classroom in order to address the individual needs of the students. Heels or brand new dress shoes might look great with those new outfits you bought for your first year on the job, but you’ll quickly regret your decision.
- Keep spare clothes on hand.
When you are working with a group of 20, 30 or more students at a time, anything can happen. Whether it’s a mishap with an art project in an middle school classroom, or a bathroom accident in a kindergarten room, you’ll want to have spare clothes on hand in the case of an emergency.
- Ask for help and learn every day.
For a while, it was rumored than nearly half of all new teachers were leaving the field within the first five years. Fortunately,EdSource notes that a federal study recently revealed that the reality is about 17 percent of new teachers leave within five years. Still, this number highlights the fact that new teachers need help and resources as they begin their careers. Don’t be afraid to ask experience teachers and administrators for help when you need it. Make it a goal to learn something new about your job every day.
- You’re the teacher, not the friend.
Everyone starts out wanting to be that cool, influential teacher who feels more like a friend than an instructor. This is an idealistic thought, and a nice goal to set, but it’s more important that you play the role of teacher versus the role of friend. You are there to be kind, supportive, and loving while you educate your students — but don’t make the mistake of getting involved of the social drama that is inevitable in any classroom.
- It’s okay to go home.
While the federal study claims about 17 percent of new teachers leave the industry within 5 years, the National Education Association reports that the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future claims that about one-third of all teachers leave the field within three years. One reason is that many inexperienced teachers get burnt out during those first stressful years, when they spend excessive hours in the classroom. As one teacher states on WeAreTeachers.com: “Go home at the end of the day! Your work will still be there tomorrow.”
- School staff members should be your best friend.
The janitor who cleans up your classroom and the nurse who tends to your sick students will all play an important role in your daily life at school. Treat them with kindness and respect, and your first year will be better than you imagined it could be.
Lesson planning during the first year can be time-consuming and stressful, but not when you have Planbook Plus on your side. Through Planbook Plus, you can organize your lesson plans online with options for daily, weekly, monthly and yearly views. It’s an easy and intuitive platform designed specifically for teachers, and it can be one of the best investments you make in your teaching career. Don’t let this be one of the things you wish you knew about during the first year. Start it off on the right foot by downloading Planbook Plus today.
