The first year teaching is hard. Really hard. As a veteran teacher with 20 years under my belt teaching middle and high school, I often get assigned to become a mentor teacher. As hard as that first year is, there are things you can do and prepare ahead of time that will make it easier. If you can plan out your first month effectively, it will help you save your sanity. Here is my survival guide to the first month of teaching.
1. Drum roll…
You’ve heard it before, but I’ll say it again . . . the most successful teachers have the best relationships with students. The #1 thing I can tell you is to focus on building those strong relationships from day one. The rest of your year will be so much easier if those relationships are solid! Plan activities throughout that 1st month to intentionally build a positive classroom environment. I love using this emoji activity at the beginning of the school year.
2. Set those expectations from day one.
One key example is how you are going to handle restroom requests. Personally, I don’t let students go the 1st 10 minutes or the last 10 minutes of class – or during direct instruction, unless it is an emergency. I simply reply to requests with a simple, “You’ll live – next time go in between classes.” Students figure out pretty quickly that I mean business and I expect them to stay in class. Learn how I address cell phones in the classroom here!
3. Teach routines early and often.
For example, every day for the 1st week I repeat (what seems like a million times) where the pencil sharpener is located, where students need to turn in papers etc. If you train students early on these small things, it will save your sanity later.
4. Absent work.
This is something that drives me (and most teachers crazy). Students will ask you this over and over: “Did I miss anything when I was absent?” Think about your process for this before the year starts. Will you have an absent work folder? Will it be on your website? Communicate this process with students often.
5. Stay ahead as much as possible.
Your first year you will probably just be a few days ahead of the students in terms of everything. That’s ok. Give yourself grace. Plan as much as you can, but know that in the beginning it’s hard to determine how long a lesson will take to accomplish. You will have to adjust. Do your best to stay on your scope and sequence.
6. Make important information visible!
I tape up the following items on the wall near my desk for easy access: School phone numbers (nurse, AP office, counselors etc), Scope and sequence for my content, school calendar. The minute you need these numbers in a hurry is the time you won’t be able to find them. Make them visible. You’ll be glad you did.
7. Get your substitute folder set up.
Get this set up early. It will be a huge relief later on when you get sick. And you will get sick, especially the first year.
8. Ask for help.
Veteran teachers have all been in your shoes. If we can make copies for you and save you a few minutes, we are happy to help. Speak up if you need something. If you need a lesson, just ask. At the secondary level, many of us have more than one prep. You can quickly get overwhelmed. We want to help, we just need to know how we can!
9. Have “filler lessons” ready to use.
That first month of school you will have assemblies, lock-down/fire drills etc. that will throw off your schedule. I always have team building/get to know you activities ready to go. You’ll be surprised how often you need to use them.
10. Reflect each day.
This is the best advice I was given as a new teacher. Take 5 minutes each day to sit down and reflect. How did the lesson go? Any issues with students that you could have handled differently? What is the one thing you need to review before you start your lesson tomorrow? These tiny reflections will help you adjust and improve.
You won’t believe how exhausted you will be at the end of each day. As hard as it will be, you will remember the students you taught your first year of teaching forever. I hope you are excited for this journey and that this survival guide helped ease some of your worries! It is the most rewarding career ever. Now go be a blessing to YOUR kids.
