Did you feel supported as a first year teacher?
Welcome to my first blog! This blog is a course exercise assignment for EDM 510.
I am not yet a teacher. From current teachers in the group, I would love to hear some of your best advice for first year teachers and/or if you found that you were given adequate support and collaboration from your fellow teachers when you first started.
For the others in the group that, like me, have not yet been in the classroom, what are going to be some of your strategies to seek out the support of staff and colleagues during your first years of teaching?
My advice is to prepare for everything. I do not think I was ready after leaving school. During my first week teaching, I feel like I learned more than I did in my four years in college. Stay organized and bring work home. You have to stay ahead of the assessments and school requirements. It can all pile up on your desk extremely fast!
ReplyDeleteThat is definitely good advice! I am worried about being overwhelmed, but I guess you just have to take the plunge and stay on top of everything. Thanks for the input.
DeleteI agree with Shannon, staying organized and ahead (as much as possible) help cut down on stress. I wish more schools had teacher mentor programs. I am lucky to work at a school with very generous teachers who are always willing to help/listen/offer advice. However, I know many teachers are not so lucky. I think you can find these people if you actively seek them out. Another big piece of advice: ask for help when you need it. Nobody has everything figured out people will not judge you for asking for help. Everyone remembers how hard the first year is and most of them are happy to help if approached.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the response. It would be nice to have a "Big Sister/brother" teacher program! I know more experienced teachers will have plenty on their plate as well, but it seems a bit scary to just get "thrown out there." But like you mentioned, everyone has to start somewhere, that's good advice to not be intimidated and ask for help. Thanks.
DeleteI'm in my second year of teaching. Where do I begin with my advice...? School does not prepare you for teaching. A LOT of things you have to learn on the fly. Starting my second year, I know a lot of what to expect, but I still have a good bit of questions. There is only so much planning and preparation I can do to prepare for reading, phonics, grammar, small groups, intervention, math, math small groups, science, social studies and cursive. There is more, but that pretty much covers it :) If I'm not prepared for something, my teacher instinct kicks in and I figure it with my kids. I tell the kids that somethings I'm learning right along with them. I could not have survived my first year of teaching without the teachers on my grade level. We are a small school, so I only have two other grade level teachers. This year we are planning together and that is a huge help. I also received a lot of support from our reading coach. Lean on the other positive teachers at your school. If you can, go to their room and see how they are doing their things. That's what teachers are for! They all had to go through those first couple of years to get here they are. Most of it is trail and error.
ReplyDelete