Real Talk
There’s nothing quite like being a first year teacher. The year is arduous, full of self-doubt and stress, all while you try to fulfill perfectly the mountain of daily tasks teaching requires. As a veteran teacher, here are some things I would go back and tell myself in my first year on the job.
1. You won’t always have so much prep work.
Starting from scratch is never easy. Even with a curriculum to follow, it takes a while to make it *your own.* If you’re knee-deep in first year planning, just know your efforts will be compounding for years to come for you to build on and go back to! You’re laying a foundation, and the more work it is, the more likely it’s concrete.
2. You don’t have to be THE BEST at everything.
Some teachers are expert planners. Some teachers are master classroom decorators. Some teachers have the most creative minds. Some teachers are just FUN.
You don’t have to be all of those things all the time. It’s okay to lean into your strong suits and just be satisfactory in other areas.
3. You can’t save them all.
This is a tough lesson I learned the hard way — but with 150 middle school students in my classroom each day, it’s not humanly possible to make them all want to participate, learn, and behave every day. “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them drink.” You can be the best teacher there ever was, and you still can’t save them all. Do your best to reach all the students you can, and learn to make peace with that.
4. Use your sick days.
I know it can be tempting to save every last sick day as a first year teacher, but this is the quickest way to burn out. There are no perfect attendance awards in teaching. Save some sick days, but also use some. Trust me.
5. Prioritize your relationships with fellow teachers, counselors, secretaries, and other school aides.
These are the people who will be your strongest allies and greatest mentors. Learn from more experienced teachers, and call on counselors to fill the emotional gap in your classroom during tough situations. You will be surprised how much your success depends on the organizational work of secretaries and the support of your coworkers. You will need them, so build that relationship well and show your appreciation often.
6. Set boundaries.
You have a life outside of being a teacher. Set boundaries that work for you, and remember that you don’t owe anyone anything from about 3:30 pm to 7 the next morning (unless when coaching, extracurriculars, etc.). We all have to find our balance. Turn off the notifications and leave the work for tomorrow when you have to. It’s easier to be ALL-IN during contracts hours when you’ve had ample time away from those responsibilities.
7. What you see on social media is not real life.
As a first year teacher, it’s easy to see teachers on TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest and develop some unrealistic expectations. Just remember that those teachers are often not sharing the behind-the-scenes, nitty gritty life of a teacher amidst the color-coded cutesy photo and videos in your newsfeed. Also, teaching varies greatly by state, school system, and building. You will not have the same time, resources, or funding as everybody; avoid playing the comparison game.
8. You set the tone of your classroom.
Attitude is everything. It will take you further than anything else you bring to the classroom. If you come in ready to learn, your students are more likely to. If you grace your students with a positive attitude, it’s more likely to be reciprocated. This is arguably the most important piece of advice I can give you. Just like with everything else in life, a smile and a kind word go a long way.
9. Don’t let anyone dull your sparkle.
That unique personality you bring to your classroom — it will get bogged down in tedious tasks. The lesson planning, paper grading, and constant professional development can really take the fun, and your personality, out of the job — but I promise that clinging to your unique teacher qualities is always worth it. It’s what will make your students listen to you, and it is what will keep you afloat when this job gets monotonous. I’m convinced that the secret to longevity as a teacher is to hold tight to your quirks and individuality.
10. Don’t be too hard on yourself.
Nobody expects you to be a perfect teacher, especially the first year. You will make mistakes; learn from them, and come back as an even better teacher the following year. You’re only human. As long as you care for your students and strive to grow as a teacher, you are doing great. Don’t be so critical, analytical, and hard on yourself that you don’t recognize the milestones and successes you’ll have in this first year.
And above all else, first year teacher, enjoy it.
