Checking In With First-Year Teachers
Posted by Hope Spencer on 25 Aug 2009 | Posted in: Classroom Management, Inspiration and Motivation, Meet the Mailbox®, Teachers and Teaching
A few weeks ago, I asked editor Krystle Jones to give us some ideas from her first year of teaching. Because the first year is such an important experience, I’ve asked two more editors from The Mailbox® magazine to share memories of their first days in the classroom.
I was beside myself with excitement that morning as I entered the classroom that my assistant and I had spent many long hours preparing. The lesson plans that I had perfected over the weekend were in my supersize tote bag, which contained everything except the kitchen sink and my lunch (which was still sitting on the kitchen counter). After I set down my bag and massaged my aching shoulder, I checked the room one last time to be sure everything I needed for the day was in just the right spot. Soon, my little ones began arriving. We had a great day getting to know each other, touring the school, playing games, and reading favorite stories. My youngsters all left with smiles on their faces that told me their first day of school was just as great as mine. As I reflected on the day, I realized that I had only completed about half the things from my perfect plan. Every activity took longer than I anticipated, plus we had several unexpected guests and interruptions. I quickly learned the importance of being flexible because some days are just not going to go the way you plan.–Tina Peterson
I’ll never forget my first year teaching! The bulletin boards were colorful, my lesson plans were detailed, and everything was in its place! I was nervous and confident all at the same time. I was wearing a lovely, professional, long yellow dress. At the sound of the bell, I expected to hear the pitter-patter of little feet…and instead I heard loud voices, rolling laughter, and pounding feet. Oh my! I had envisioned greeting each and every child as he entered the classroom but instead quickly moved aside as the mob rushed through the door and took their seats. Okay, so began day one!
It didn’t take long to learn that respect is a mutual necessity in the classroom. I showed respect for my students and, thankfully, they responded in kind. (Caution: It took longer than one day!) Then I realized how much children love to learn, even when they don’t show it. I used this to my advantage! When your students feel good about themselves, they perform better. I can say the same for myself too! With respect, genuine care, and persistence to teach the skills in a variety of ways, there is no limit to what can be accomplished! I wish you the very best as you welcome the pitter-patter or the pounding of students’ feet; they are counting on you!–Lynn Drolet
Congratulations to Jamie Jo Hampton of Friendship Kids Preschool in Greenwood, Indiana. She is the winner of a copy of the Early Childhood Ultimate Plan book.
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I am starting my 2nd year teaching preschool. I am so thankful for the wisdom and advice of the veteran staff that I work with! It is such a blessing to have the resources of those who have lived it!
This is now my third year teaching preschool and I have to say I love it. Like everyone else I have butterflies the first day or two but those soon fade as we all become comfortable in class. I teach in a Christian school and look forward to seeing 13 smiling faces that reflect the love of God.
Like everyone, I always have things planned out in my plan book but I learned very early on to be flexible , you will probably never accomplish everything you wanted to do and I have found myself saying ” never again” to some of the things I did do.
Anyway, good luck to all the educators this year. The Mailbox is awesome , I couldn’t possibly make it without you!
I enjoyed reading all of your first day experiences.
Being a mother of five and also a teacher,I truly
thank you for recognizing that flexibility is the key
to success. Your stress level,will be minimized if you are confident in yourself and organized. But the big key is flexibility. Your children will come and go and before long they will be coming back to you with their children saying ” I remember when…stories. I had a Great time in your class Thank you”. Great Job to all of you! The world needs more dedicated teachers like you. thanks for not giving up.
I have been in the same situation as Linda. I have always started in the middle of the year, or in the first months, and it take real effort to get it to be “your” room when someone else has had the students for awhile. I hope that next year I can get hired before school starts and be able to prepare for my room. It has definitely been a learning experience. I could not get things ready without my husband, fellow teacher, and the Mailbox Back to School editions!!
I agree with Katie that getting advice from a Veteran teacher makes all the difference. I am in my second year. During the first year, I was the only fourth grade teacher at an elementary school. I received little guidance, resource, or help in a room with 30 plus students. Luckily, I had teachers I had met at the school I did student teaching in. At the first of the year, I was very intimidated and unsure, but by Christmas, my principal said I was a “pro” and seemed like I had been teaching for years. The advice gave me confidence, so even though I didn’t feel I was doing well, the principal’s comments boosted my confidence and I sailed through the rest of the year. Advice is free for the asking and so worth it!
My first year of teaching wasn’t really a “year.” I entered my school in January as a new teacher, in the new 3-year-old-room. I started with 2 children and my class grew throughout the rest of the year. starting with only 2 children, you would think that my beginning of teaching was a piece of cake, however, my small class did not take much time to get through our lessons. I would teach for about 10 minutes, my two cuties would complete the work, and then it was back to playing at centers again. I was confused…all the other classrooms seemed to be hard at work all day and every time my supervisor came down to my room to check on me, my students were always at centers. I was afraid that she thought all we did was play! Finally, my class started to fill and my lessons were being noticed! I am happy to report that this will be my 4th year teaching the youngest 3’s class and my roster is FULL!!
Without the help from veteran teachers, I would have been lost. I am about to start my 2nd year teaching, and have learned to use every resource available. Thank goodness for the internet and The Mailbox!
This year is still a little intimidating, and I have been careful to keep all kinds of notes on what activities worked and which didn’t… though I am sure each year will bring a new set of adjustments with each group of children
It is exciting and you quickly start learning along with your students. If we start the First Days with respect, you and your students will have many days of learning together.
It is my first year and I’m definitely learning new things every day!
Last year was my first year to teach Pre-K or anything for that matter. I was nervous and excited all in one. My class listed fluctuated from 5 to 9 kids ever changing all year long. Also, the skill level of my new kids was all over the board all year long. It was a year of being flexible. I learned a lot and was grateful for my small class size. There are a lot of things I want to improve on this year. I am once again nervous and excited all at once.
My first year of teaching was the most exciting of my career. After 20 years I still get butterflies the first day. But I now never over plan or over prep for it. I always look forward to meeting new first year teachers and helping them out. Why do I do it?? I remember the wonderful teachers who took me under their wing and helped me out my first year as a teacher.
This year we have two first year teachers added to our group. I will just try to keep in focus how I felt being a first year teacher and offer to help in any way I can. Sometimes all you really need is and ear to listen!
I teach pre-k and i have 20 children and let me tell you it is no piece of cake. I go in with my schedule all made out for the week and have everything laid out to do and i never get everything completed. Just once i wish things would go as they were saposed to.
My first year teaching was a whirlwind. I was hired 3 days before the start of school. I made all the beginning of the year meets but had very little time to prepare my room, which had all the “extra” desks piled in it. Somehow it got done. Each day things did get better. Sadly as numbers go I was not needed the following year, so I was job searching again.
Year 2 I was hired on the Friday, school started on Tuesday!!! It was a different grade level so year 2 was like my first year all over again. New school, new grade and very little time to prepare. With the support of my new colleagues the first day went surprisingly well. Things grew from there. This year I am still in that very same school. Yet it feels like year 1 again. This is the first year I have actually had time to prepare for the first day of school and I really wonder how I managed those first 2 years, it seems like I still did not get things as ready as I expected. The first day was successful and each day just gets better!!!!
I like how Jamie (post #1) compared the 1st year teaching to marriage! So true. I’ve always thought it was like your freshman year of college. The first semester you’re totally awkward and stressed out, staying late at school every night and hardly sleeping. And by 2nd semester, you’re a pro! And you don’t even remember those stressed out days from the past
I wish everyone who’s starting as a new teacher the best of luck!! I hope you all find good teachers at your school to help!
I’m graduating with my Elementary Education degree in December, so I’m hoping to be a “first-year teacher” in January - if that works out for me! It’s great to hear that every first day isn’t scary or completely overwhelming, and that everything gets better day by day.
My first year of teaching was in 1980. I remember feeling very excited and very inadequate compared with the teachers across the hall. There were so many decisions to make…desk arrangements, posters, bulletin boards, lessons, etc! I felt overwhelmed!The lesson I taught flew by because the kids had knowledge of the prerequisites, so I had to think how I would fill up the rest of the time. We couldn’t just look at each other! Every day got better and better that is for sure! And I’m still teaching and excited that my daughter will start her first year of teaching this year! I’m sure we’ll have daily chats to compare ideas. When teachers support each other, it makes our job so much easier and more enjoyable. Just like all the wealth of ideas we get from Mailbox!
After 6 years of teaching small groups of students as a Title 1 teachers, I began my “first year” all over again when I became “the librarian.” I had forgotten those feelings of inadequacy and exhaustion that often accompany first year teachers. It is now my 3rd year in this position and when asked by other new librarians what it’s like, I tell them it is your “first year” all over again, with all the excitement and anticipation, but also with the wisdom from experience.
My first day so exciting, and scary! I was very prepared, or so I thought! Kind of what they say about marriage, the first year is the hardest. This year I feel like an old vet, I have easier plans, know what works, and field trips are much less stressful!