Before we dig into this article, this 22-year educator wants to welcome you into one of the most rewarding careers you can pursue. There are only a handful of careers where you can impact so many people in many ways every day you go to work.
And now, in this first year, you will be challenged by classroom management, learning your curriculum to teach, parents, emergent bilingual students, special education procedures, accommodations, PLCs, before and after school duties, inputting grades, and dog paddling as fast as you can!
Two major pieces of advice we share with first-year teachers come from an instructional coach I worked with that reminds most people of Dr. Emmett Brown and one of my college professors. The instructional coach would tell first year teachers that you have one goal: to become a second-year teacher. Studies show teachers, in general, move from survival mode to helping others sometime around year three. So, in the first year, do the work, learn the work, and become a second-year teacher. Ironically, we have the same conversation with our freshmen each year.
The second piece of advice comes from a professor I had during college. This likely took place during our senior year of college, but another teacher program student and myself were playing golf with Dr. White one day, and he told us: “That first year, just shut up and do your job.” I share this with our new teachers every year, and the point is similar to the instructional coach above. Come in, be where you are supposed to be, watch those around you (good and bad), be willing to ask questions, and listen to advice. By doing this, they will learn to trust you, and you will be learning simultaneously.
Why First-Year Teachers Need Good Time Management
First-year teachers need good time management because the list of what you will be exposed to above is just part of the list. College teacher programs and alternative certification programs do a good job of getting your feet wet of what to expect before you get into the classroom. Then reality hits, maybe as soon as the first day of school when students come in.
It is important that you have a plan of how you will approach your first year.
Establish a Routine
Whether you are coaching in addition to your first year of teaching or teaching only, getting into the rhythm of school and having a regular time as possible for certain duties is important. For example, some teachers will make each Wednesday during their conference time to plan for the next week. Many schools ask for lesson plans to be due on Friday before the next week, use that to plan for yourself.
During your lunch, take your lunch! This might be the only chance you get during the day to have lunch.
Perhaps one of your conference periods during the week can be used for administrative purposes. Do you need to turn in anything to the office? Do you need to fill out a form for the principal, return special education forms to the office, etc.?
Is there a day or two or week you need to schedule tutoring for your students after or before school? Have this set and posted for all to see.
Is there a day of the week you should stay after school for a while (more on this in a minute) and make sure all papers are graded, etc.?
There is no tiredness each year like “first week tired.” You will learn how to adjust your mind and body to the pace and rhythm of school.
Maintain Work-Life Balance
Another main point we have for first-year teachers is the importance of balancing work and family/time at home.
The first thing we ask is to set some barriers on time simply. For example, don’t stay at school past 6 p.m. ever! Open house and other events can be negotiable but have a limit so that you can go home at decent times to get to eat dinner with your family, work out, and get to bed at a reasonable hour.
When time can be flexible, finish your work at work so that the weekend can be the weekend.
Plan Some Feedback Opportunities
As you go through the first years, set aside a conference time or two to go observe other teachers. This will give you a chance to watch other veterans in their element so that you can steal tips and tricks from them and immediately use these in your classroom.
Have some veteran teachers come in and watch you also. Build a couple of these opportunities into that first year so that you have someone giving you feedback that is not your appraiser.
A Time to Grow Will Come
Some of you reading this article may be wondering when you will get a chance to reflect, catch your breath, and learn the art of this great profession. Rest assured you will! Fortunately, in this profession, we have some days at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring Break to catch your breath and get somewhat reset for when you go back to class.
When you get through that first year (note my confidence that you will), the most growth you will see will be during that first summer. After a few weeks off, you might be sitting on your back porch, beside the pool, or on a hike in the mountains when suddenly you realize how silly that second lesson was during that second unit of the semester. Or you will realize how great that lesson was on algebraic equations and how that can be done again in a different lesson.
Most first-year teachers realize how they can greatly improve their classroom procedures after their first year.
Be patient, survive that first year, and truly, once you get past that first year, you are a veteran now, one that is equipped to help the new teacher down the hall from you!
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