I remember being a first year teacher like it was yesterday. In some ways, it STILL feels that way! Doing 15+ months of virtual teaching as the world socially distanced had teachers everywhere throwing away (most of) that university coursework and learning the digital side of pandemic learning alongside students.
First-year teachers, please know: teaching is hard. Every. Single. Year. It shouldn’t be THIS hard, but it is. Being a teacher doesn’t get easier; you get better. And just when you think you know it all, the universe sets you straight. Now that I’m a decade plus into my career, I feel equipped enough to offer some advice. The following teacher tips have made each passing year a little more enjoyable:
Need it for later? Write it down now.
As the years pass, you’ll develop systems. My summers are used to prep interactive notebooks, create student name tags, and do other organizational tasks. After a summer of fun in the sun, you’ll try and log in to your district credentials and get into back to school mode… except you won’t remember any of them. Great. So you’ll click “forgot password” and go to reset the forgotten password only to find out your new password cannot be the same as your last password. ๐คฆ๐ฝโโ๏ธ STUDENTS, TOO, Y’ALL!
TO DO: Create password cards for all the platforms you’ll be using in class and store in a safe place. Keep your logins in one central location so you always have them. I keep mine in the front of my teacher planner.
In the classroom, before COVID, I had paint chip samples on a metal ring with student credentials. Wanting something more secure (and less germy), I later opted for an interactive foldable each student could keep tucked away in the front cover of their individual notebooks. You can grab the student template FREE in my resource library!
Relationships first! People > Policy.
Teaching is personal. Relationships first… always! Kids don’t care what you know until they know that you care. โค Your first few weeks of school should be community heavy and curriculum light. Give students a chance to get to know one another… and you! The first year teaching I tried so hard to keep kids at a distance. I desperately wanted to feel like the big, bad, grown-up adult I clearly didn’t see myself as at 22 years old.
Building relationships from a distance can be a challenge. Genuine connections should be made a top priority. Start the year with icebreaker activities to foster strong, genuine teacher-student relationships. If you’re virtual, it can be even trickier to form those connections. Can you digitize those getting to know you paper activities?
TO DO: Play games! If you’re remote, here’s an idea: have students decorate a virtual locker or bedroom with interests. Create a word cloud of describing words. Have students fill in virtual sticky notes on a PowerPoint Slide for “two truths and a lie.” Make games like “would you rather” and “this or that” into writing prompts.
Highlight reels don’t highlight the real.
I am SO glad Instagram and Pinterest weren’t a big thing when I started teaching all those years ago. I can’t even imagine trying to keep a picture-perfect classroom while trying to keep up with the latest trends while trying to, you know, be a brand new novice teacher. This is a reminder to mind yo’ business and stay in your lane! There’s plenty of flashing lights and sparkly things fighting for your attention, especially on social media. Keep the course. You are doing better than you think!
Most Teachergrammers and Pinterest classrooms stage their photos. There. I said it. I’ve even done it. Please know just out of the frame there are probably stacks of copies, broken crayons, and pencil shavings everywhere. The best classrooms operate in chaos. Learn to say, “Excuse the mess; we’re learning in here!”
TO DO: Save your money, honey! I know you want to buy all the things for your classroom, but talk with your building administrators to see what’s already available and can be repurposed. Less is best when it comes to class decor, especially for students with special needs. Amplify student voices and let them have a say in how your room will be decorated.
Relax. Renew. Reset!
Almost everything works better if you unplug it for a while, people included. PLEASE consider providing frequent brain breaks for your students. Brain breaks are mental timeouts designed to help us stay focused and attend to the task at hand. These breaks get kids moving, carry blood and oxygen to the brain, AND provide necessary processing time for students to solidify their learning.
In the physical classroom, students should ideally have a kinesthetic brain break every 25-30 minutes. On the virtual platform, cut that in half.. maybe even more for the youngest learners. Teach in 10-15 minute intervals. Provide brain breaks for 1-3 minutes to relax, renew, and recharge the mind.
TO DO: Set alarms on your phone or a timer at first as a reminder. Websites like GoNoodle can provide movement breaks to catchy kid-friendly music. Play a quick round of I Spy, Would You Rather, or Simon Says. Practice mindfulness with the Calm app, yoga, stretches, and deep breathing.
