My first year of teaching feels like it was eons ago! Looking back now, it is all a blur. All I can remember is this overwhelming feeling of terror, confusion, and eagerness all rolled into one. Despite my feelings, my first year of teaching was a roller coaster ride of ups and downs that I will never forget. There are so many lessons I learned during my first year of teaching that helped shape the teacher I eventually became.
With this in mind, I thought I would share my top 5 lessons learned during that first year with all of the “soon to be” teachers out there, plus a few more tips for new teachers that I picked up along the way. Here it goes…
1. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others!
This is something that we all do. However, as a first-year teacher, this can be tragic! You are brand new and have a lot to learn. Comparing yourself to a teacher who has been around and has their classroom running like a well-oiled machine is only going to have a negative impact on you as a professional. This is especially true with social media. You can’t go on Instagram without seeing a classroom that looks like it belongs in a catalog. Don’t compare yourself to that, just don’t! My advice? Go into your first year of teaching with the intention of learning from everyone around you. Learn what to do and what not to do. Don’t worry about “keeping up with Ms. Jones.” Just do the best YOU can do! That is enough.
2. It’s Okay to Make Mistakes (Because You Will…)
Yep! You are not perfect. You are going to make lots of mistakes. You might accidentally leave a student in the lunchroom, forget to take attendance, send students to the library at the wrong time, or lose a stack of papers you were meaning to grade (oops!). Just know that you are going to make lots of mistakes, but you will recover and learn from all of them.
3. Just Say NO!
I am a people pleaser. I love to say “yes” and help whenever I can. During my first year of teaching, I learned the hard way that it is critical to say NO sometimes. By the third month of school, I was head of the math committee, helping with after-school programs, teaching a morning class for struggling writers, and helping in the cafeteria. Ummm…no! Well, that’s what I should have said when asked to do all of these things. After my first year, I quickly learned the importance of limiting what I do for others and not spreading myself too thin. Being a first-year teacher is hard. Be the hero later.
4. GO HOME
I clearly remember one evening when I was preparing my classroom for the next day. I was arranging materials for a science experiment when I suddenly looked out the window and noticed it was dark. WHAT?! That was the moment I realized I had to set limits for myself. Yes, I could have spent my entire day (and night) in my classroom. However, I quickly knew this wasn’t healthy and wasn’t making me a better teacher. Don’t burn yourself out your first year of teaching. Pace yourself. You’ll thank me later.
5. Simplify What You Can
Yes! This! Simplify! It is so easy to overcomplicate things during your first year. Don’t! As you come up with new systems for your classroom, whether it be taking attendance, bathroom policies, homework systems, etc., be sure to keep things simple.
One system I quickly learned to simplify was my homework system. At first, I was assigning random workbook pages, textbook problems, and worksheets I had printed from the internet. My students would forget what I had assigned, and it was a headache to keep up with. Finally, I started using a spiral review homework system that was more consistent and was easy for EVERYONE to keep track of. If you want to learn more about my simple homework system, check out my post on an effective approach to homework or my math spiral review post.
Try it for FREE! Just click the button below and I’ll give you access to my freebies!
More Tips for New Teachers
These were definitely some important lessons I learned during my first year of teaching. However, over the years, I learned a ton of valuable lessons. As I look back over my teaching career, I realize I made a ton of mistakes and also did a few things right along the way. I hope you can take a few of these tips and apply them to your own teaching career.
Be Consistent
No matter what you are doing, be consistent. If you set up a new homework system, a new way of doing math centers, or you are trying out a new behavior management system, be as consistent as you can. When you implement a system with your students but only do it some of the time, it becomes confusing, and chaos is inevitable. Students respond positively when they know what to expect. Set your expectations and follow through.
Stay Organized
As someone who loves to be organized, this is easy for me to say. However, it is such a critical part of being successful. Each week, month, or year, develop and perfect systems that will help you stay organized. The best way to do this is to make sure you have a place for everything! I keep a teacher binder for all of my lesson plans and important papers. If I need anything, I know exactly where it is. Also, whether you use a filing cabinet or digital folders on your computer, keep all documents in their place. Organizing in this way will help when you need to find something for next year.
Make Things to Last
When putting together a new resource, it is so tempting just to print it and go. However, think about how you can preserve this resource so that you can use it over and over again. Whenever I put together new math games for math centers, or even my favorite grammar games, I always make sure I laminate and reinforce everything I can. This has saved me a lot of time in not having to recreate resources.
Ready-Made Resources Are Your Friend!
Ready-made teaching resources were not as easy to find when I was in the classroom. When searching for resources, I was left scouring the internet for anything I could find, which typically meant poor quality and not exactly what I needed. Now, teachers have the ability to find quality resources in just minutes. Do yourself a huge favor and save yourself valuable time. If the resources your school is providing just aren’t cutting it, go find the perfect resource. My shop is a great place to start!
PURGE!
Purging is simple. Throw things away if you aren’t planning on using them again. You don’t want to end up on a special episode of “Teacher Hoarders.” Here is my rule: if I have an activity that I’ve used in the past but did not use at some point this school year, it goes in the trash. When you have too many files and resources, it makes it harder to find the things you love. Plus, if you ever have to move classrooms, which you will at some point, it will be much easier to accomplish.
Don’t Grade It Unless You Have To!
The idea of not having to grade everything took me a long time to learn. You don’t have to grade everything! Some things are meant to be graded and need to be. On the other hand, some assignments can be quickly reviewed, peer-graded, or graded by the individual student.
Make It Meaningful (Quality over Quantity)
If it isn’t going to add real value to your students’ learning, let it go (insert Frozen music here). I’m not a “fluff” teacher. I don’t typically do an activity with my students just because it is cute or will make a “Pinterest perfect” bulletin board. Yes, those things can occasionally be fun, but this isn’t where the real learning happens. Don’t get caught up in what looks cute. Just be sure that whatever you are doing, it is meaningful.
Always Have Next Year in Mind
Before the school year even begins, I’m already thinking about next year. Make sure you save a copy of your procedures, routines, and anything new you are doing so that next year you have everything ready to go. There is no need to reinvent the wheel each school year. This is especially true with lesson plans. Consider using digital lesson plans so that you can save a copy and quickly edit them as needed the following school year.
Have FUN!
Simple, right? Sometimes it is easy to forget that you need to have a good time while teaching! Don’t get so caught up in the paperwork, politics, or behavior issues that you forget to stop and enjoy what you are doing. You are making a real difference in the lives of your students whether it feels like it or not. When you start to get stressed, stop, take a deep breath, and remember why you became a teacher in the first place.
A Few of My Favorite Teacher Quotes
Here are a few of my favorite teacher quotes. I hope you find them at just the right moment.
I hope these lessons help you have a wonderful first year! For more ideas to make your life easier, check out my classroom organization tips and these life hacks for teachers.
NOW AVAILABLE…
One Stop Teacher Memberships
Our grade-level memberships provide the BIGGEST savings on ALL One Stop Teacher Resources! Get 24/7 access to a library of highly effective, student-approved educational resources.
