First-Year Teacher Tips
Posted by Debra Liverman on 04 Aug 2008 | Posted in: Classroom Management, Holiday and Seasonal, Inspiration and Motivation
As I was reading through the comments that were posted in response to “Thinking Summer or Back to School?”, Tennith’s comment took me back in time! She mentioned the excitement she felt as a first-year teacher preparing for her very first class. I distinctly remember that feeling and I too had many sleepless nights before that first day of school. She also asked for some tips for getting her through the first year. So I walked around the office today asking a few of the editors what advice they had for first-year teachers. This is what they’d like to share…
“Be a good listener! Take time to listen to other teachers and be sure to really listen to your students.” –Hope Spencer, Managing Editor of Grade 1 and Grades 2-3 Teacher’s Helper
“Read through some books for tips on classroom management. Find the ideas that you’d like to implement and then stick with them.”–Kim Murphy, Managing Editor of Preschool MAILBOX
“Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions! No one expects you to have all the answers.”–Tina Peterson, Editor
“Be proud that you have such an extremely important job. And remember the students are likely just as excited and nervous as you are!” –Diane Badden, Editor at Large
“Always remember to give your students enough thinking time after you ask a question. Most of the time they really need it!” –Sherry McGregor, Managing Editor of The Mailbox BOOKBAG
How about you? Do you have any words of encouragement for Tennith and all the other first-year teachers who are preparing to enter the classroom for the first time?
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One thing that has helped me was the realization that no matter how nervous I was, the parent or student saw me as a professional. As long as I faked confidence, they would never know my butterflies.
I have taught middle school for 20 years and now have 5 children of my own. The best advice that I can give a new teacher is to TRY to treat the students at school as your own children. That’s a difficult thing to do at times.
I am in my 15th year of teaching Pre-K and the advice I have for first year teachers are ….
1. Be patient
2. Be flexible
3. Respect the children and in turn they will respect you
4. Have fun with the children
5. Be organized
I hope everyone has a great year!
I have been teaching 2 and a half years and I read a quote one day that changed the way I look at things at 5:00 pm after a long day at school. It was: “Your work may never be done, but you can be done for today.” Sometimes you have to tell yourself to be done for the day and have some time for yourself, or you will burn yourself out.
Relax!@ You’ll do just fine!
The kids need to know you are the boss. What you say goes. They need to know that you mean business. Avoid idle threats.
Kids were always the LEAST of my problems!
Learn to laugh!
All the requirements the administrators dump on you cannot humanly be done. Not many people will tell you that. Often their bosses are fabricating the tasks.
You have to learn what is important, essential and be willing to adjust. Don’t get too far ahead on paperwork etc. because they WILL change it.
Just when you think you have everything under control, a new student will arrive at your door!
Oh and sign up early for the tv and vcr so you can use it on Friday afternoons!!
I read one time you will learn from every teacher at school. The choice is yours. From the positive teachers things you want to adopt and emulate and from the negative teachers you learn not to listen to their gossip or emulate their negativism.
I have been teaching Preschool for 7 years and have learned a few things that work and a few that don’t work. The best thing to remember is to have fun, if you are stressed out the children will feel it and that will make things harder for you in the long run. Find a organization technique that works for you and be creative when all else fails try it if it doesn’t work try something else. To many people get burned out because they want things to go their way and when it doesn’t work they give up. Observe the children to find interest and that will make planning alot easier.
Any comments for a first year male preschool teacher? But first, I must say the statement of, “oh your a male you will be snatched up quick when you start to interview!” While I was in school is over-rated!! I spent two years looking for a prek teaching position…but after working so hard to make a name for myself and not giving up I’ve finally got here. First year teaching headstart and More at Four. I agree with everything thats been posted above, thanks.
After being in early childhood for 34 years and teaching preschool for the last 20, the best advice I can give a new teacher is view each new year as a fresh start, a clean slate to try new ideas, and surround yourself with lots of idea resource books. Go into school prepared with lots of activities but expect to plan more than you need. Smile and greet every student as if he/she were the most important child in the world. Each year’s group of students is different with different needs and abilities. What may work one year may fall flat the next. And as those before me have said - be flexible!
I am entering my 10th year of teaching and thought I was reading about myself when I read Amy’s comments- I, too, taught 4th grade and LOVED it and last year was placed in Kindergarten. It WAS really hard, all through the year, but I had fun and had a great class- I wouldn’t go back to 4th grade now! My advice like others is BE FLEXIBLE! I can’t say that enough, especially with kindergarteners. And being organized is a must!! Most of all be positive and laugh a lot- they respect you so much more when you respect them! Oh, and I’m nervous, too!
I print feet prints on the floor to get my children to learn how to stay in a single flie line i just trace their feet on different color paper and cut them out and put them on the floor covered with contact paper,the children love it they go around saying my feet no my feet. I love it because they stand in line.
I am entering my 9th year of teaching. I have taught 4th grade and now teach Kindergarten. It was very hard the first few months. . . okay the first year. I actually cried. I could not believe it. It was very hard adapting to the age difference. It was me and 24 four year olds and no additional help. It was very stressfull. Here are a few tips that got me through it all. Oh and by the way I love Kindergarten now.
* Take a deep breath at every chance you get. It really helps relax the nervous and cuts down on the stress.
* Plan ahead!
* Be organized have and know what is next while the children are in midst of step 1.
* Be ready to alter your plans. In other words be flexable.
* Have fun. If the children see you enjoying what you do they will too.
Great comments! New teachers really benefit from colleagial collaborations that allow them confidential room to grow…we have a responsibility to support our new colleagues.
Read, The First Six Weeks of School. It is a great book and really helped me to get started in my Kindergarten classroom last year!
This will be my first yr. I taught preschool last year, I was a third in the room and to my surprise, I was made a teacher one this year. I must admit I am a bit scared. But I know with all of the info I got here that those first few days will go easier because of all of you thank you….
I just have to remember that I get to go home after the end of the day and the children go home to their parents. lol even though I’d like to stay and play lol..lol..
I am starting my fourth year of teaching and the best advice I can give is be organized and prepared, but be FLEXIBLE. Be willing to adapt your room, lessons, and behavior plans to meet the needs of your students. Don’t let adapting things stress you out. Finding something that works for YOUR students will make both you and them happier in the end. With whatever behavior plan you choose… be consistent. And remember to have fun and laugh each day.
I am starting my 39th year of teaching 1st grade Every year I feel like it is my very first day of teaching. I got shopping for all the new “stuff” for the classroom. I have all the before school dreams, worry I forgot how to teach, that the kids won’t listen to me. So I say to all of you, be relaxed, get enough sleep the night before and take a couple pair of shoes to school with you and change them at noon. Have mouth “suckies” available because your mouth will be dry, drink lots of water and have a special lunch. The day will go fast, so enjoy the journey.
I am in my 10th year of teaching and every year feels like the first time. I get nervous because of new kids, sometimes even a different room, new staff members, and worrying to make this year better then the last, ect. I pray daily for the children I am teaching and that I may be of positive influence to them and hope they can learn one thing that will make my job worthwhile.
So, besides praying, my advice is have your class rules, management and expectations ready to implement from day one. Day one/week one sets the tone for the year. Good luck to all and have a safe & great year.
I’m starting my 29th year, and my advice would be to put together a file box with 3×5 index cards and several dividers: 5 minute fillers, active games, quiet games, chants, song favorites, silly stuff, group bonding activities, story starters, etc. When things get hectic or your students need a change, or it’s gray and rainy or your lessons take far less time than you expected, or it’s almost, but not quite, time to go to the gym, you can pull out a file card, (or have kids who have finished early choose one.) By going through books and magazines, asking veteran teachers for their favorites and jotting down fun things you’ve enjoyed, you’ll have a great collection of ideas before you know it. I especially like gathering the kids around and starting with something like, “Something that I’ll never forget is..” or “The funniest thing happened…” The kids get going and don’t want to quit!
After teaching for about 30 years, here’s some tips for a first year teacher:
+ Have a behavior plan in place for day one–book “One, Two Three Magic” has good ideas
+ Take students on a visual “tour” of the room–shows them what is there and brings up lots of questions and answers about your classroom…
+ Find a mentor teacher that you can talk to and bounce ideas off of…
+ Keep a file of good teaching ideas that you see in Mailbox magazine for future reference…I cut them out and use a plastic pages sticky photo album to keep ideas in..I also keep a file of pages to photo copy when needed….
+…I like to lesson plan for a week at a time..this lets you see where your lessons are headed..put them in pencil though so they can be changed if you move slower or faster than you expect
+..Learn new things to try every year…if you are bored with the same lessons, the kids will be bored…
+..Use lots of multi sensory learning to bring in interest…videos, hands on, drama, games…fun ways to build interest…
+…take care of yourself so you don’t get burned out
Also a veteran of 17 years, start a bulletin board scrapbook. After the completion of a bulletin board, take a picture and put into a scrapbook with a label and date. Over the years, you will look back and see how your bulletin boards will mature and change. It is also a great way to get a ‘new’ idea when at a loss for for a new bulletin board. You will find you will make changes to that original bulletin board when using it a second time. I think this is also a great piece to add to your professional portfolio.
Thanks to all of you for your wonderful comments. I am a first year teacher and I am starting to freak out. I just want to be a good teacher and a good role model. Im starting to have dreams about my first day and they are not too pretty.What should I do in my first day? work? activities? games?
I am going on my third year of teaching, and I absolutely love it. My advice to all first year teachers is be consistent and make sure you have a behavior plan the minute your walk in the door. Children come from all different walks of life and it is important to be open minded and get to know each and everyone of them. It is important to be a good listener and be there for your students they need to know that they can rely on you. Relax, take a deep breath and enjoy it, and remember to have fun the year goes fast.
I am beginning my 10th year of teaching and my advice would be get to know your students. When you really know them you are a team. If you take an interest in their lives then you will have their respect. Be consistent and be fair!
As I start my 30th year teaching preschool I think not to stress, relax, and enjoy your class. The year goes by so quickly and when june comes you will wonder where the time went.
Have lots of fillers ready and quick attention getting tricks.
Your smile and your positive attitude will speak volumes of the person you are. Relax and have fun with these children. I ditto all the comments before me.
My advice would be…remember to take care of you. Don’t “live” at school all day, every day. Take time out to get a drink of water, go to the bathroom, and get a drink during your planning periods. Don’t take work home every night. Be prepared, but know when to say “it just never all gets done!” Don’t forget you have family and friends outside of your teaching life. Take care of yourself, and enjoy these first days of school!
I am starting my 18th year and the best advice I can give to a first year teacher is you can never be TOO organized and prepared - especially those first weeks of school. Your classroom management begins day one, minute one (and students pick up on it instantly)! Plan thoroughly and completely (having extra activities you can plug in when you find your students with time to spare). Judging how long things will take comes with experience - not to worry- it may go quicker or slower than you planned!! Organize all the materials you and the students will need before the day begins, know where they are, and be able to reach them easily. Running through the day’s plans in your mind will help calm your nerves. And Remember… this day is a milestone for YOU… embrace and enjoy every moment… you will never have “your very first day” again!!! Have someone take your picture by your classroom door for that scrapbook!
I am starting my 20th year of teaching. I am so ready for the new year!!! I guess my advice to new teachers would be to have fun and realize that you do not have all of the answers. That’s okay. Look at everything as an opportunity to learn and grow. Kids will appreciate the fact that you are a “student” too.
As a veteran of 21 years, you make a difference in the lives of so many children. Respect the children and where they are coming from and they in turn will respect you.