Check out these back to school tips for new teachers from our guest blogger, Kristy from 2 Peas and a Dog. Kristy has been a middle school classroom teacher for 11 years in Canada. When she is not teaching she shares her teaching ideas on her blog and in her TPT store.
Dear New Teachers,
I remember being a new teacher as if it were yesterday. (Why can’t it be yesterday? Now I feel old!) Those first five years were tough. I am forever grateful to the principal that hired me, but I was hired into a role with no resources and no support. Stick with this profession! It is hard, but the reward when you see the growth in your students from the start to the end of the year is worth all those tears (ok maybe not all those tears).
5 Authentic Tips for New Teachers:
- It is ok to cry. You are going to cry – just don’t cry in front of your students. Cry in the car, in the bathroom, or at home. You can do it, but it will be tough! Just know you WILL get through it!
- Find places to get help. If you don’t have someone to help you at your school start looking around at other schools– ask other new teachers where they access support. Attend all of the new teacher professional development you are sent to. I made some great friends that I still have from those workshops. The internet has blossomed as a fantastic resource for teachers. Check out hashtags on Instagram #newteacher or #dearnewteacher You can also search for teaching related Facebook Groups.
- Do not make your entire life about teaching. The summer I graduated from teacher’s college, I went garage sailing and thrift store shopping like it was my job. I was so excited to have a classroom that I forgot real life existed beyond those four walls. Remember your friends and family are the ones who supported you in your journey.
- Your classroom will not be Instagram perfect – that’s ok! It is really hard to compare yourself to a teacher who has made a career out of classroom design. An organized and clean classroom is more effective than having a professional classroom design. It will come – focus on your teaching skills and curriculum knowledge first.
- Enjoy your students. Find something special about each of your students – their taste in baseball teams, their reading habits, pets, hobbies etc. and ask them about these regularly. Students want to know their teachers care about them.
New Teachers!!
How can we help you? Please feel free to post your comments below, email me, or join my Facebook group- Middle School ELA | Digital Learning. We have a ton of helpful resources and teachers who are more than willing to answer your questions.
For more tips and resources to implement at the beginning of the school year, check out this blog post, Proven Back to School Strategies that Work.
