2 Pieces of Advice for New Teachers

 Don't Take it Personally & Own Your Classroom Style

1. Don't take it personally......This is something I learned when I was first on a school board and is advice that I embraced as a new teacher. Of course, I was a grown up when I started teaching in a classroom. I had worked in a variety of jobs, was married, and had some children of my own that were in high school. I had my license for many years, but one day decided to start putting it to good use. Fortunately for me, I had some life experience in my back pocket- not that it prepared me for what I was about to experience as a new 5th & 6th grade teacher, but it was something.

I remember some of the children challenging my authority. I was appalled! I had no idea that this was something kids did in elementary school. Needless to say, I had to muster up all I had to not let them get to me. I would get in the car, and on the way home I would reflect on what happened, and why, and gather ideas for combatting the issues the next day. And no matter how tough the kids were or how much they tested my patience- I refused to cry about it. I just didn't want to let them get the upper hand. You know how I did it? Well, as the title says- I just didn't take it personally. 

It bothered me. It irritated me. It frustrated me. But- it wasn't about me really (except that I wasn't prepared to manage my classroom properly). It was about the students pushing the boundaries and looking for guidance. So, as long as I realized that it wasn't because they didn't like me or respect me, it was about my ability to keep my cool and to change how I handled it, I was ok. I was in charge, and they were not. It is definitely easier said than done, but if you keep learning as you go and ask for management tips from colleagues- you will get there. 

2. Own Your Classroom ....Embrace your style. Organizing your classroom for the first time can be overwhelming, to say the least, and it is nice to have some ideas from others about what works and what doesn't. Sometimes you just have to do what the last teacher did, so you can figure out what works and what doesn't. Then you can begin to shape your own design. However, it is critical that you also know and accept your comfort level.

Let's take lesson planning for example. The last teacher used Planbook for lessons and plans, but you have never used it and have no idea where to even start. Perhaps another teacher in the school uses Google Docs, but you get overwhelmed with the organization of that and are afraid of things getting lost. You, however, have always been a pen and pencil planner. It is familiar and although some might consider it "old School," it helps you to feel confident in the system. Just do it! No one else will do your planning for you and if you stick with what you are comfortable with to start, it will be one less thing to stress about. You can always change systems down the road. 

Creating your physical classroom space is also something that you really need to own. I, for one, take a minimalist approach to my classroom. I start off the year with mostly bare walls and then add to them as the year progresses. I personally don't like clutter, so I don't have clutter. I also like my students to sit at desks so I change their seating arrangement throughout the year. Sometimes I am jealous about how well others organize their classrooms, but at the end of the day- I just don't have the same priority or wherewithal to maintain that level of planning at my grade level. 

Let's face it folks! Teaching is a scary profession when starting out. A lot of people will freely offer you advice on everything from when to have snack to the best way to arrange the tables in your classroom. Just remember, you can listen to all of their advice, but you don't need to take it. Hear them out and then take what you want and disregard the rest. It is your classroom, and you need to live in it 175 days a year. So, make it your own. In addition, know that teachers can be extremely helpful and open to sharing ideas, curriculum and shoulders to lean on. Don't be afraid to be honest with your peers as they can help you to look at things from a different perspective, after all- everyone was new once and it's not something that is ever forgotten- no matter how many years they have under their belts.