What I Wish I Knew My First Year of Teaching

As the new school year begins, I can’t help but think back to my first few years of teaching. What I wish I knew my first year of teaching seems like an excellent idea for an article. Looking back after many “first weeks of school” have come and gone, there are a few things that I wish I had known when I was a beginning teacher.

What I wish I knew my first year of teaching

I started brainstorming and “brain dumping” (as some bloggers and writers like to call it). This is the list I wrote. Now I’m wondering how to organize it so that I can discuss each one with you. But maybe each one doesn’t need detailed explanations; if they are self-explanatory.

• don’t take things personally
• if Admin dislikes you, it will be a hard year
• where I wanted to live
• communication skills with colleagues
• copy machine is your worst enemy
• laminate all student name tags AFTER you write the names
• your work day doesn’t end at dismissal
• self-care is necessary
• cliques exist in the faculty
• pleasing Admin over student issues – to keep job
• stay out of a toxic teacher’s lounge
• classroom management is a must
• get to know kids and show them you care
• financial business end of things
• you will fall in love with 25 kids each year
• often it’s WHO you know, not what you know
• tons of paperwork
• amount of crap to do that is not teaching
• some teachers are a__holes
• it can be really political
• how to play the game

Before I get into the details about this brainstorm list, I wanted to offer you a FREE downloadable list of “101 Teacher Tips.” You can get this list right away by filling out the form below and I will zip it right over to your email.

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What I wish I knew my first year of teaching about other teachers

In an attempt to organize this “brain dump” a little, let me explain a couple that are about your colleagues. Faculty members are people just like in any other work environment; with just as many different personalities as other places. There will be cliques, there will be a __ holes, there will be people who misunderstand what you said or wrote and you won’t even realize it. An important thing to remember is “don’t take things personally.”

But on the flip side, there are many wonderful, hard-working colleagues who will step up to the plate to help you out any time you ask. You might also meet a few teachers who become your best friends forever (BFFs). And other wonderful teachers that you will remain in contact with over the years, especially with social media.

A personal experience from my first year

I remember my first year teaching there was an investigation being done on the principal because of teacher complaints the previous year. I really didn’t know what was going on and just wanted to stay out of it and keep my head down. During the weeks leading into this investigation, the teacher’s lounge was a fairly toxic place so often I avoided it and ate in my classroom.

During the investigation I said I didn’t have any issues with the principal (since I really didn’t know her very well and hadn’t had any issues). I also mentioned that I felt uncomfortable in the lounge many days. Well, to my dismay, that statement about the lounge got back to some teachers and I was treated differently the rest of the year. Thankfully, I was transferred the following year to a neighboring school because of enrollment. I learned my lesson with that one. YIKES!

School districts are political just like any other company or business

When you are going into the teaching arena right out of college, you may not realize that school districts are political – unless one (or both) of your parents are/were teachers, then you might know about this.

Here are a few of the political ones: you will need to please your administrator….especially if you are on probation. In most school districts beginning teachers are considered probationary for the first two to five years (depending on the state). Be sure to join your union if the district has one, you may need their help or advice if things get difficult.

I don’t mean to say you have to do anything and everything asked, but use your judgement. Don’t rock the boat; don’t sign controversial letters from the group, be on time to work, be prepared and try your best.

If you think the Administrator is being unfair to you speak to a teacher who has worked there awhile (or your union rep) for advice on what to do or how to move forward. If this is the case and you are called in for a conference, take a union rep with you.

Financial/Business part of School Districts

Often new teachers (whether young or old) don’t realize that many decisions are made at a district level due to financial or business details. Many states have set law on when to notify teachers of positions for the following year and other personnel items. Permanent teachers have more protections than probationary teachers. Often the number of students per teacher is determined per statute or law.

Districts are required to budget three years out into the future. And they are required to retain a “contingency/emergency” fund. I bet in many districts currently they are dipping into this fund because of Covid-19 concerns. These are a few examples of “behind the scenes” information that new teachers often don’t know.

Where I want to live

If you are single when you begin to apply for teaching jobs, consider where you’d like to live. Be sure to look at all the things that affect the living conditions such as cost of living, distance to loved ones, things to do in the area. Many of us don’t really have a choice where we decide to live, but if you do, then my advice it to go for it. Go somewhere you’ve been eager to live, how fun would that be!!

What I wish I knew my first year of teaching -that in the beginning the work is endless

There is so so so so so much extra work that teachers have to do outside of instruction and classroom management. All the extra paperwork, reports, tasks, committees, parent communications, and on and on.

Your work day will NOT END AT DISMISSAL. It took me over five years before I was able to leave within an hour of dismissal. Most days I was staying around 90 minutes past dismissal during the beginning years. Which is why I suggest that you look through this blog for tips on how to get organized. Here are a few articles

12 Reliable Survival Tips for First-Year Teachers

Teacher Organization – How to PREPARE and Stay Focused

Organizing Tips; 12 Steps to an Organized Elementary Classroom

The Good Things

I want to end this article by discussing the good things. First of all, teaching can be one of the most rewarding jobs out there. You are making such a difference in the lives of so many students. Every year you will FALL IN LOVE WITH 25 NEW STUDENTS! You will get to know many different personalities over the 10 mnths that they are with you. Many will touch your heart.

One piece of advice, if you can do it, is to write down some of the sweet, or funny things students say or do. I wish I had done this. Many stay in your memory, but so many sweet memories will slip away as the years go by.

Finally, I want to INSIST that you take care of yourself. Teacher self-care is such an important thing you need to do. Teachers who don’t spend some time taking care of themselves often burn out and leave the profession.

Well that’s about it for now. I hope you found this list interesting and/or helpful.

Until Next Time,