I was hired for my very first teaching job one week before school started. In fact, on the very day my district’s New Teacher Academy started. I missed the first couple of hours. Four months earlier, I had left my writer/editor position with the federal government and boy, was I nervous! I was about to embark on a journey that would forever change my life and I didn’t have the slightest clue what I was getting into.
As a person who started out in education in a very non-traditional way, I have a soft spot for new teachers. I remember the anxiety, fearing that I didn’t know what I was doing was going to be “discovered”; trust me, everyone knows you are just hanging on and trying to figure it all out!
In this week’s Tech Tuesday episode, I focus specifically on tips and advice for new teachers:
But there was so much more I wanted to share that just didn’t fit into the episode. So here are some additional ideas to help you get started:
You Donβt Have to Learn EVERYTHING!
There is so much you have to know as a first year teacher, it may seem like you have to know it all, but you couldn’t possibly gather what takes years of teaching to hone. There are 3 things you really need to focus on as a first year teacher:
- Building relationships with students
- Learning your curriculum and pacing
- Honing your classroom management skills
Building Relationships with Students
Building relationships with students is KEY! I remember two teachers from my years as a student because they did the exact opposite of this. I felt to blame for every move I made in their classes and I struggled to learn. Every teacher I remember having an impact on me found a way to connect with me.
Learn your Curriculum and Pacing
Most teachers become one because they are passionate about a subject area or enjoy learning and teaching others about that topic. While your curriculum will include the things you love, it will also be aligned with state standards and a set pace to make sure everything is covered within the school year. Unless your school or department has set the pacing for you, it can be hard to always correctly gauge if you’re on track on not. Keep notes after every unit reflecting on how long it took students to learn a concept, areas of concern surrounding a standard, and even school activities that may have disrupted class. This will help you determining the pacing the following year.
Hone your Classroom Management Skills
You may think you have good classroom management skills until you are in a class completely by yourself and you’re the only adult in the room. It’s one thing to keep your class managed while teaching a new concept and something quite different when an unexpected situation occurs.
I remember a specific event during my first year when the lights went out and the backup generator didn’t kick in. In a windowless room. Children were screaming and I remember thinking to myself, “You have to keep it together, because you’re the adult in the room” and I leaped into action, controlling the situation in a way I never thought I could do.
People to Follow
It’s hard to pick just a few people you should follow as a new teacher, but here are a few you can find on Twitter, Instagram, or both:
- Matt Miller, Ditch That Textbook
- Kasey Bell, Shake Up Learning
- Jennifer Gonzalez, Cult of Pedagogy
- Dr. Catlin Tucker, Blended Learning expert
- Dr. Samantha Fecich, supports new teachers
- Rebecca Saltzman, supports new teachers
Each of these educators have their own sites, books, or podcasts and often speak at teacher conferences. They are also very active on social media.
Listen to Podcasts
New teachers are busy (well, we all are!) and there’s never enough hours in a day, but teachers are the ultimate multitaskers! While we may not be able to read the latest educational article, book, or check out a recommended blog, I have found podcasting to be a way to do two things at once. I listen to a variety of podcasts in the car on my way to work. I have about a 30-40 minute drive, so I can get about halfway through an episode on my way to work and finish it up on the drive home. I know lots of other teachers who listen while working out, cooking dinner, or cleaning.
Some of my favorite educational podcasts include:
- The Shake Up Learning Show
- Cult of Pedagody
- The Edugals
- Thrive in EDU
- Lemonade Learning
- Talk to Mee in the Car
- 10 minute Teacher Podcast with Vicki Davis
There are also plenty of podcasts that focus on new teachers specifically, such as:
- First Year Teacher Podcast
- Ready, Set, TEACH
- Beginning Teacher Talk
- New Teacher Center
- #NewTeacherJourney
If you’re in a Google School, I would also recommend checking out old episodes of The Google Teacher Podcast, which is no longer an active podcast, but so well worth the listen!
Use Twitter as a Resource
In the last few weeks, I’ve seen so many educators asking for tips for new teachers, whether it’s new teachers asking or veteran teachers asking in support of new teachers. Twitter is such a good resource and the education community is so strong and in my experience very helpful and positive. There are those few that I have steered away from, but on the whole, this is a sharing community. Here are a few tweet threads to help you out:
I hope these additional resources will help you as you begin the greatest journey of your life!! Veteran teachers, what other tips and advice can you give those just starting out? Please share your expertise below in the comment area.
Ms Priester EDU 