Teacher Talk Tuesday

Today I’m going to list some of the things I wish I had been told as a new teacher….

❤ No one can do it all. There will always be those teachers in your building who seem like Wonder Woman. Don’t judge your success based on the efforts of others but on the achievements of your students.

❤ Organize your life, your brain will thank you for it. I know there are plenty of teachers who are great at what they do and can do it even if they have piles teetering all over the room, but I am not one of them. And as a new teacher, your world needs to be manageable. So find a system that works for you and stick to it. Duplicating the procedures of others isn’t necessarily going to be the best fit for you, and that’s OK.

❤ Don’t lose sight of your vision and purpose. When you are up to your eyeballs in paper work, data, parents, meetings, and professional development it is easy to forget why you chose this profession.  I have to constantly remind myself of what is truly important, and that all these little annoyances are meant to help me reach my goals as a successful teacher, even if they don’t seem like it.

❤ Be open to change. It never fails…. Educational policy always changes just as soon as you think you’ve got a handle on it. Take it in strides and save your stress for the things you CAN change.

❤ Your professional team can make or break you. Make good working relationships with those around you, and use those relationships to your benefit. Understand that everyone has something to offer (even those fresh out of college) and that knowledge is meant to be shared. You are part of a village that is responsible for nurturing your students. It takes everyone to make the ship sail, and only takes one bad attitude to sink it.

See other new teacher advice at Blog Hoppin'