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Dear First Year Teacher,
I know how you might be feeling because I was once you, standing in the middle of my classroom, looking at my bare walls and the mounds of books (and the accompanying dust) that the former teacher had left behind.
I remember walking through the hallways, peeking into other teachers’ classrooms in hopes of being inspired by their seating arrangements and their Pinterest-perfect classrooms. Most of those teachers were already working on unit plans and anchor charts because they were in the same classrooms they taught in last year. They didn’t need to assemble any furniture or hang up butcher paper on their walls. And they already knew what to expect.
Meanwhile, the only time I led a classroom of my own was in my garage. When I was 5. And my stuffed animals were my students.
This was the real deal. Everything I had spent years working toward was finally going to happen and play out FOR REAL.
And it all felt so daunting.
My grade level team was so inclusive – trying to involve me in conversations about class projects and lesson plans. But it was difficult to focus because my mind kept screaming, “I’M NOT READY. MY CLASSROOM IS NOT READY. I NEED MORE TIME.”
I know you must feel pressured to have everything ready to go for the first day of school.
But, take a deep breath. And trust that even the most effective, “together” teacher you know has been in your shoes once before.
Here are a few things that may be helpful to you as you are about to embark on this beautiful journey.
1) You CAN start the year off with bare walls.
Some teachers even leave their walls empty all year long. There have been some research studies around whether too much decorating can be a distraction for students. But I left my walls untouched because I didn’t have the time. Between the day I got my classroom keys and the first day of school, there was way too much to do to actually think about what was going to be plastered on my walls. And it ended up being a truly wonderful thing because, over the course of the year, the students and I hung things up that were helpful and/or meaningful to us. It really drove home the message that this was our classroom and not just mine.
2) You don’t actually have to have unit plans and lesson plans mapped out.
One of the veteran teachers that was mentoring me reminded me over and over that my focus should be on the first week of school. The content can come later. There is just so much new information coming at you when you’re starting a new job. You have to learn your students, the bell schedule, the curriculum, the school-wide polices, etc. It can all be so overwhelming. But if you focus on just the first week, on easing your way into it, it feels so much more manageable.
3) Create a list of rules and procedures.
What are systems you want in place in your classroom? What should a student do when they need to use the bathroom? Are snacks allowed at their desk? Write down every single expectation you have for your student and then create a procedure that goes along with that. Literally step by step. As if you were about to explain it to a toddler.
These are things you will want to cover during your first week of school. If you are an elementary school teacher, I recommend going over each procedure with them and practicing it multiple times until they are little experts. Once all the procedures are established and ingrained in their mind, it will make your life a heck of a lot easier when the content is introduced.
4) Prepare icebreakers and get-to-know-you activities for the first week.
Aside from assigning the students their textbooks, we didn’t touch a single book during the first week of school. It’s important to build relationships with your students and let them know right off the bat that you care about them as a person. Not only do you get to know them on a more personal level, but you also help them get to know their classmates and create a sense of camaraderie in the classroom.
5) Ask for help but recognize that you’ve got your own style.
There are so many veteran teachers that would love to share their wisdom and expertise with you. I had some of the best mentor teachers that reminded me to breathe, debriefed with me at the end of each day, and allowed me to cry on their shoulder when I felt that I was failing. Teachers are the most empathetic bunch of folks I know. If you ask for support, you will receive support. But, at the same time, recognize that just because you’ve got a super cool mentor teacher who’s been teaching for 20 years, your classroom dynamic isn’t going to be the same. 1) They’ve got a couple more years under their belt, y’know? And 2) You are you. There is no need for you to try to emulate someone else when you’ve got your own amazing qualities that landed you in the position you are today. You’re there for a reason. So, when you’re feeling down on yourself, just remember someone had enough faith in you to hire you and place you in a classroom with children.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR FIRST-YEAR TEACHERS
Check out some of the links below for advice and/or resources for new teachers.
- Education World’s First Year Teacher’s Primer
- The First Day of School
The best-selling book ever on classroom management and teaching for student achievement. This book walks you through structuring and organizing a classroom for success. - What to Expect Your First Year of Teaching
This U.S. Department of Education on-line book is a great resource for beginning teachers! - Your First Year: How to Survive and Thrive
A book filled with practical strategies and advice regarding management, collaboration, and lesson planning. - The Classroom Management Book
A book about how to organize and structure your classroom environment to make your kids feel safe and secure while also creating a positive environment for learning to take place in.
Emily says
This is such a great post. I’ll have to share this post with some of my friends who are teachers and friends who are going to be teachers.
Emily recently posted…5 Ways to Save on Back to School Shopping
Emily @ Pizza & Pull-ups says
This is so helpful, I am not a teacher, but used to work in a school and I know preparing the classroom and getting ready for the school year can be so stressful.
Emily @ Pizza & Pull-ups recently posted…Finding balance and dealing with mom guilt
Renae says
I love this! Such a great and informative article! The resources listed as well will certainly help ease the sensation of being overwhelmed on the first day, week and year!
Cath says
I am not a teacher but wish that someone had done this for me in my former profession when I was a newbie. So kind
Emily Chaumont says
This is awesome advice and I’m pinning it to come back to in a couple of years when I’ll be starting my first teaching job!!
-Emily
http://honeybeejoyous.com
Jackie says
Another wonderful blog post with great tips and ideas. Fab advice.
Jackie recently posted…The Body Type Diet
Beth says
What a wonderful post full of great suggestions for teachers! I hope someone reads this and finds some inspiration for their school year!
Beth recently posted…Currently in August
Akaleistar says
I really like the tip about creating a list of rules and procedures 🙂
Akaleistar recently posted…Mid-week read: The Guineveres
Jessica Bradshaw says
YES! So much yes! Teaching is so stressful and the first year is truly the most difficult. I like teachers pay teachers for fun ideas and activities. I love that you encourage the first week for team building. That makes such a big difference in behavior when you know your kids better and they know each other.
Great tips, girl!
Jessica Bradshaw recently posted…Portland + Hood River Travel Guide
Christine C says
Some great ideas and suggestions that can even be adapted for a college classroom. Thanks!
Christine C recently posted…Summer Bucket List Check In
Jessica Peresta says
I love this! I felt the same way my first year of teaching. It was so overwhelming going from student teaching to having my own classroom. This advice is amazing and I’m going to definitely be sharing this!
Jessica Peresta recently posted…3 Ways to Practice Procedures in the Music Classroom
Melissa Javan says
I’m not a teacher but this sounds SO helpful especially #1 and #2 about you CAN have bare walls in your first year or so. Lovely post
Jill says
I think these are helpful to homeschooling moms too. So often I hear from moms that they don’t think they can teach their kids, when in reality they teach them so much every day. Over planning is over rated in my world view.
ShootingStarsMag says
Love this! I’m not a teacher, nor have I been, but I used to think about becoming one. Teachers have some of the most thankless jobs – and they definitely don’t get paid enough, so it’s great that there are people that are willing to help first time teachers. I like the idea of keeping the walls empty and then filling it up wit things from students.
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Currently August 2017: 10 Years Blogging
Dee says
I’m not a teacher but very happy to read about their side! Teachers always seem so put together!!
Sumer | Grace, Giggles & Naptime says
I’m not a teacher, but this is such a great letter to 1st year teachers. I’m sure it can be SO overwhelming walking into that classroom the very 1st day. I give all the praise in the world to the amazing teachers out there that care for and teach our children. Such a good letter with great advice!
Sumer | Grace, Giggles & Naptime recently posted…Rainy Day Fun with Shape Mags
Kimberly Airhart says
Great post for new teachers. Last year my son’s 2nd grade teacher was brand new out of school. That must have been so scary. Tips like this will help those new teachers. xxoo
Sheryl says
I think so many people do not think about the anxiety of a new teacher. I always say a prayer at the beginning of the year for students and teachers as they begin a new year. Great resources and thoughts.
Sheryl recently posted…The One Minute Rule: Try This At Home
Charlotte says
This is wonderful, Divya–such useful advice to first-year teachers. I can’t imagine the stress if little eyeballs and curriculum planning and being responsible for instilling lessons and shaping young minds but I admire your passion so much <3
Also I love the tip about leaving the walls empty so students can decorate and customize the room together with the teacher 🙂
Rebecca says
I love what you wrote about having bare walls to start with. I agree that sometimes classrooms can’t be overloaded with visuals and this can be more of a distraction.
Laura Beth Brown says
This is such a great post! My mom has taught for over 30 years and always mentions how nervous first year teachers are! I’ll definitely recommend to my first year friends!