First-Year Teachers
Posted by Hope Spencer on 30 Jul 2009 | Posted in: Inspiration and Motivation, Meet the Mailbox®, Professional Development, Relationships and Team Building, Teachers and Teaching
I don’t have to tell you what a busy, exciting time of year this is. But it is an especially thrilling time for first-year teachers. My first year gave me some of the most wonderful, terrifying, and humorous memories of my life! This is such an important topic that I’ve decided to run a short series aimed at first-year teachers, with memories and tips from those of us who’ve been there. For the first blog, I’ve asked my good friend, editor Krystle Short Jones, to share some of her thoughts with us:
At the beginning of the school year, I always found myself overwhelmed with too many tasks and thoughts. I would make a daily list of all the things that needed to be accomplished and rank the tasks in order of importance, so I knew what had to be done that day! Each day, I checked off each task as I completed it. I know it sounds funny, but seeing that list with all the checkmarks at the end of the day made me realize just how much I had accomplished. This allowed me to focus on what I had accomplished and not what I had left to accomplish. I had to remind myself that Rome wasn’t built in a day!
As a new teacher, I had the misconception that I was the only teacher who was nervous. Every teacher tosses and turns the night before school starts. We are just as nervous as the kids. That will never change, no matter how many years you teach! That is the fun of it all. Each year you will be both excited and nervous. Personally, I believe that is what makes great teachers!
Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice. Visit veteran teachers and ask for suggestions. Sometimes more seasoned teachers may seem standoffish, but it isn’t because they don’t want to help you. They understand how much you have going on and don’t want to bother you. So go to them. There is nothing wrong with asking for help. Who knows? Talking with you might be just the inspiration they need too!
Here’s to a great year!
Krystle
Congratulations to Diane Fangmeyer, Director/Teacher of Covenant Kids Preschool, Covenant Presbyterian Church; Omaha, Nebraska! She is the winner of a copy of the Big Book of Monthly Ideas, PreK-K.
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38 Responses to “First-Year Teachers”
More Comments Pages: « 1 2 3 [4] Show All Comments
More Comments Pages: « 1 2 3 [4] Show All Comments
One thing I learned at the beginning of my teaching career is, Don’t Over Plan, and expect to get everything done each day. I had my lesson plan book filled in and expected the first few days to follow my plan……my advice, be flexible and don’t get upset if you don’t accomplish all you had planned.
Make those first few days in preschool relaxed and fun. Everyone will benefit.
I’m so unorganized. Will try this idea and hope for better results!