Surviving your first year as a teacher
You’ve finally qualified. After years of study, getting your accreditation and securing your first job, your time has come to move from student to teacher. Regardless of whether you’re teaching preschool, primary, or high school, standing in front of the classroom can be daunting. Your new chapter will come with its own share of lessons. To survive, and thrive, in your first year, you need tips, tricks, dos and don’ts to ensure your next adventure is everything you have dreamed of.
1. ? ? Plan. Plan. Plan.
It goes without saying that the success of every class lies in how much and how well you plan for it.
Break it down from the year, semester, term, monthly, weekly, and daily plan. Remember to check you have all the resources you need prepared for the next day so that you aren’t rushed, panicked, and under pressure when class begins. The children will look to you to have lessons that are fun, engaging, exciting, informative, and challenging. Make sure it’s something that they will enjoy learning and that you will take pleasure in teaching.
2. ? ? Build a support system.
You can easily become bogged down with all the tasks, meetings, planning and grading that come with the territory. As much as you’ll be teaching the class, you have, if you’re lucky, teaching assistants, mentors, fellow teachers, and school principals that you can and should lean on for support. They have a wealth of experience and knowledge they can share to help you get through your first year.
3. ? ? Be patient with yourself.
Finding your feet in any job doesn’t happen overnight. Every student, class, subject, and school are different and will take time for you to learn the rhythm of each. Be patient in learning how to manage the class, learning the content and how to impart it to your learners, and how to perfect your instruction.
4. ? ? Set boundaries.
Teaching is a lesson in management. As much as you’re managing a classroom, you also need to learn how to manage your time. It’s easy to want to do it all and take work home (it’s okay sometimes). But you shouldn’t make a habit out of it. Create boundaries for how much time you will continue working when the final school bell rings. And when your timer goes off, so should you. If you don’t, you run the risk of burning out quickly and losing your desire to come back when the next year starts.
5. ? ? Take notes.
Yes, even as a teacher you should take notes. Think of your first year as your first draft. As the years go by, you will revise and fine-tune your method. Jot down ideas, what works and what doesn’t, what to do or not do and other ideas and organisation tips you will pick up as you go.
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6. ? ? Build relationships.
Your students want to know that you care. That you are there for them and want to see them succeed and grow, not just in the classroom but beyond. Make conscious efforts to build positive and healthy relationships with your students, your fellow teachers, and the parents. Good relationships will solidify the foundation for a positive classroom and staff room, as well as help you get the support you need from parents. Nurturing these three relationships shows your heart for them, gives you willing hands to support you and help carry the workload, and find solutions to whatever problems may occur in the future.
7. ? ? Ask for help.
Finding your feet in unknown waters means you will need help from others. You will not go into your first year with all the answers. In fact, you’ll probably have as many questions as possible, if not more, that your students will have. You will need help. Ask. Don’t be afraid or ashamed to do so.
8. ? ? Be firm, yet flexible.
Ruling your classroom with an iron fist may get you some results, but not the ones that will endear you to your students. Have rules for your classroom. Create behavioural contracts with your student – with rewards and consequences. Design a management system. But also, be open to change when you realise something is not working.
9. ? ? Celebrate small wins.
Not every day will be easy. Some days you may be tempted to quit. Don’t. Choose to focus on the wins, yours, or those of your students. Identifying learning challenges in your students and finding solutions, students performing well, a day when everything went well - these are all wins worth celebrating. However small, celebrate your victories. These are what will keep you going when the going gets tough.
Finally, be open to learning, “Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.” - C.S. Lewis.?
Alison has several courses you can take to help you survive your first year:
By using some (or all) of the tips, tricks, and techniques mentioned here, you will not only survive your first year, but thrive.