First Year Teacher's Survival Guide

Teaching is an extremely rewarding career. Think about it. Who else gets to help mold young minds and prepare children for the future more than a teacher? Teaching can also be a difficult career. Many teachers say nothing is harder than that first year of teaching, when you are fresh out of college and completely gung-ho about your first job. First year teachers are often excited and ready for anything. What many do not realize is just how time-consuming and challenging that first year can be. Getting through that first year can either be stressful, or it can be fun. What do you want yours to be?

There are many things that first year teachers can do to make that first year a lot less stressful. And trust me, it will be stressful if you let it. The key is to be prepared before that first day of school even starts. After teaching for almost ten years, I have some tips for those of you who are just starting out:

1. Organize, Organize, Organize: Make sure your classroom is completely organized. Have seating charts prepared, have grade books ready to go, have supplies put away and labeled as to where each goes, have your classroom set up the way you want it. Don’t wait until the day before school starts to do all of this. Start doing it as soon as you are allowed into your classroom. Yes, you may have to do a bit of work throughout the summer, but come that first day of school, nothing feels better than having a nicely organized and prepared room. 

2. Start Lesson Plans: Read through each textbook you will be using. Go over district guidelines for what is expected from each grade level. After reading the curriculum, start making lesson plans. Try to plan for at least the first full week of school. Make sure you remember to record in your plans any first week assemblies, etc that may interrupt your day. Brainstorm for future lessons. Think of some fun Get To Know You activities to do with your classroom. If it is successful, remember it for next year. The point here is to be prepared to start teaching the minute school starts. Everything in your class can be a learning experience, if you are prepared.