What First Year Teachers NEED to Know

Usually on this blog I only address substitute teachers. Since a lot of you who are substitute teaching now will potentially get jobs as permanent teachers in the future, this advice might still apply.

Today I am going to talk about one of the biggest problems I had during my first year teaching. I have seen other teachers fall into this same trap over and over again and have often shared my feelings and experiences with them having seen positive outcomes. I hope there are some things that I can share with you today that might benefit you in your teaching career.

First I would ask you, what makes you most happy? Write down at least five things or people that contribute to your happiness as a person. Remember these. Post these in your classroom. I am going to assume this list probably includes people as well as a few hobbies.

It's essential that we next establish the fact that you aren't a teacher. Yes, you read that right. You are not a teacher; you teach for a living. You might wonder why I would want to establish this distinction and think it probably doesn't matter.

I will say to you, it makes all the difference in the world.

You teach for a living. Think about what that phrase means. You teach so you can live. In other words, you teach so that you can fund your life. And your life includes those things that you listed earlier that make you happy.

Remember this. You teach to fund your life, not the other way around.

The first thing you should know about teaching is that there is never a finish line. You will never get caught up, there will always be something else that needs to get done. Learn during your first year how to set small goals now and achieve those and then walk away.

Walk away on time. Don't stay late. Don't be at the school until all hours of the night. Go home and live. You teach to fund your life.

Some might think that I am suggesting not to give the students you teach 100%. I am suggesting the opposite. It is ESSENTIAL to give the students 100% of you, but only between the hours of your contracted time. You owe it to yourself and your family to leave and go home and live. At the end of the day, your family members are the most important people you are required to take care of.

It's important to give the students 100% and you will be unable to do that if you stay late grading papers and fine-tuning an already good lesson plan. You will wear yourself out. You will be too tired to arrive to school on time the next day.

I challenge you, during your first year teaching, to figure out how to get things done during the school day and don't stay late. I know you can do it and I know it's possible!

You should also know that if you are having a hard day, it's okay to ask the students to compliment something about the lesson or the class. The students aren't going to give you compliments because they live in a very self-centered world, but they will if you ask for them. Tell them you need feedback on how things are going. You are also teaching them how to step out of their self-centered worlds.

Just as you need compliments and praise on difficult days, the students you teach also need compliments and praise on days that are difficult for them. And every day is a difficult day for a high school student. Praise them often. Show them your appreciation. Help them to know what they did right, instead of being another adult that tells them what they do wrong. They hear that enough.

Contrary to popular belief, you are not a teacher; you teach to pay for the things that you love most. And the things that you love most should always remain your spouse, children, other family members, friends, and other things that make you, who you are.

The minute I started teaching to fund my life was the minute I became better at giving my students 100%.