First year teacher

[Disney_traveler]

My first education teacher in college told our class that, in order to be good teachers, it'd be better if we never had our own children so that we could focus entirely on our students & not feel torn between a personal life & a professional life since teaching is such a "give it your all" type profession.

She was older, had been in the teaching profession for many years, & had "graduated" to teaching college education classes. She had never married & never had any kids.

I dropped the class soon after, but I can't say I didn't remember that advice when I was trying to juggle my classroom's needs & my own kids' needs.

Lol hmmmm maybe she knew or was one of my coworkers at one time.

 

[Aliceacc]

NOT speaking for anyone but myself.

I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that having my own kids has made me a far better teacher than I was before. I 'get it' in a way that I didn't before I became a mom. My policies are a lot more forgiving, a lot more understanding of the life that these kids live than they were before I had kids.

I think there are so many demands on all of our time other than our own kids. My husband spent 11 days in the ICU in April. My mom is 85 and living on her own. I had a mastectomy in 2008. My niece lost her 3 year old daughter the same year. Not having kids does NOT mean that you have nothing in your life to focus on beyond your students.

OK, gotta run. Our just-graduated Seniors are getting their yearbooks tonight at a BBQ. (We get them late so graduation can be included.) Gotta throw on a sundress and join them!

 

[pocomom]

The best teacher we ever had amongst the 3 kids in this house that attended school was a brand new teacher. We loved her so much when the school had cuts the next year and fired all the first -fifth year teachers the kids went before the school board and spoke in her defense.
There is a lot to be said for passion and enthusiasm!

 

[PollyannaMom]

or you takes time and some mistakes. Especially when they give you the troublemaker of that grade. Why would they do that to a new teacher? Ugh!!

In Disney lingo, do you want the Pollyanna answer, or the Grumpy answer?

Grumpy would say that she's low person on the totem pole, so she gets stuck with the problem. Pollyanna would say she's the only one without a pre-conceived notion about this kid, and that just might mean she'll be the one he responds to!!

For the girls, I know all but 2. I will admit, this class list is the best for no drama girls. One of the other classes is going to be interesting. Can't believe the mean girl behavior starts this young, but it does.

You will be so glad for this!! Especially in third.


As for my general opinion, I was never turned off by new teachers. I feel their enthusiasm is a great plus!

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

My first year as a teacher was torturous where as the newbie fresh out of college kid, I got the worst of the worst classes with multiple behavior issues. It was a tough go and I do remember coming home crying some times. I teach high school so kids are more apt to test out new teachers I think. I survived though and am now on to my ninth year as a high school science teacher. The thing that still makes me smile is one of the freshmen that I had my first year, she came up to me during the end of her senior year and said to me, I was really surprised you stuck around after your first year since my class tortured you but I am really glad you stayed. She was one of the better students that I had that first year.

Nowadays, I always tell my student teachers to reach out to veteran teachers in their department when they first start. It is a great way to get help or to get advice when you have an issue. I think the best first year teachers are the ones that are not afraid to ask for help or to realize that there is room for growth. Hopefully your DD's teacher will be one of these.

 

[Tinijocaro]

First year teachers often don't have the worries of a spouse and/or family. They can spare the time to stay and get things completed. I teach in four elementary schools and I know our more seasoned teachers really help guide the new ones quite a bit. They lend an ear and advice when there is a problem. They usually have grade level meeting weekly, that helps keep things consistent for the entire grade level. Most first year teachers are so eager to do well.

Let her know that if there is anything you can do to be of help, you'd love to help out. If you can come in weekly to have kids read to you, do it. If you can get extra supplies, do it. Be a support to her-that is what first year teachers need more than anything. I am not a classroom teacher, I'm a music teacher but I felt very alone without much support from the other teachers doing a similar job.

She won't be perfect but none of us are, even when we have years under our belt.

 

[fly girl]

In Disney lingo, do you want the Pollyanna answer, or the Grumpy answer?

Grumpy would say that she's low person on the totem pole, so she gets stuck with the problem. Pollyanna would say she's the only one without a pre-conceived notion about this kid, and that just might mean she'll be the one he responds to!!

That's funny, I thought both Grumpy and Pollyanna. (I'll admit, mostly Grumpy though).

 

[Scootypuffjr]

My first year was rough, even though I had experience as an aide, sub, and summer school teacher. I had a lot of severe behavior issues and the principal kept giving me any new ones that enrolled because he had known me for awhile and said he knew I could handle them. My mom came and subbed for me one day and said that my class was the worst she'd seen in 30 years of teaching. I'm glad they were my first though because it forced me to be on top of things from the get go.

 

[fly girl]

Update:

DD took it really well.

First, there was a big "ooohhh" whine when she heard it wasn't the teacher she wanted. Another big sigh of disappointment when her bf was in another class. And the huge "oh no" when she read trouble kids name.

But then she read other names and was ok with it all. I definitely played up how cool it was to have the new teacher and that one friend she loved in 1st grade was now back again in her class. That definitely helped.

Fingers crossed it will be another good year!

 

[Shanti]

Well, the class lists came out for the new school year for DD.


DD has the new teacher straight out of college. I'll be honest, I have mixed emotions. I'm sure this new teacher will be excited and eager -- this is what she's worked so hard for. But I also know that first year has to be tough. Any new job is hard, finding what works for you takes time and some mistakes. Especially when they give you the troublemaker of that grade. Why would they do that to a new teacher? Ugh!!


So fellow teachers, how was your first year of teaching?


And fellow parents, how was it when your child had a first year teacher?

Being a first year teacher (15 years ago & I'm still teaching) was a challenging but creative and rewarding year for me. She needs to look past labels like "the troublemaker" to learn to be an excellent teacher. If there is only one difficult child in her class, she should take that as a blessing, anyway.

My son had a first year language arts teacher last year and I was not impressed, because although she did some good work with his writing, she didn't take much time to teach reading at all; she just kind of let them choose their own books and read & respond independently or in small groups, without significant teacher input.

As a struggling reader my son needed a lot more support than that, his performance in reading declined from the year before, and at one point I had to tell her, "He can't teach himself." That teacher is not returning to the school (not because of me- I never complained to administration), and I've already confirmed that his next year's English teacher uses more traditional methods.

Teaching is a very experience-based job, and the best new teachers have a lot of energy and idealism, and also are open to input from colleagues on how to improve. If she works hard and has a positive attitude, I'm sure she'll get through her first year just fine. Then she'll be able to put her feet up and say to herself, "Whew! At least I won't be the "new, first year teacher" next year.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I am not a teacher, but back in the 70's in Jr. High our home room teacher was new. Her very first day. Alot of the kids gave her a bad time. She ended up running out of the class. We ended up having to call the office and tell them the teacher was gone. I have no idea what ever happened to her. She was not back in the class for us any way. I felt bad for her.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

First I work with behaviorally challenged kids and the first thing she needs to do is ESTABLISH herself as an authority figure. If the kids are close to her age...good luck but if it is grade 4 she has a chance. Kids want structure and this is VERY important. Do not come in and say, " This is my first year and we will have to learn together." They look to the teacher as a leader and when you put yourself in the less than confident light they do not feel safe. Kids are like wild animals, you need to establish dominance and respect FIRST and never show your soft "under belly" until they have established a connection to you and then they will live to please you. NEVER let them see you sweat! Trust me there were and are mornings where I stand at the window and pray certain kids will be out for at least a day....it NEVER happens the worst kids have the best attendance record. LOL Firmness, fairness, and consistency are the keys.

Finally, as a mom it is your job to support her but she is a big girl now so let her worry when the time comes and do not be preemptive, I have had the BEST relationship with the "WORST" kids. It's called freedom from routine they feel safe, and do not need to worry about what is coming next.
As far as "them" putting the most disruptive kid in her room as a first year teacher....every year is a new year for ALL teachers so in effect they are first year teachers. You have no idea what went on in the years before so perhaps the "veteran" teachers had extremely disruptive classes in the past and the admin rotates the potential problems to prevent burn out, so if not her then who?

 

[aristocatz]

Well, the class lists came out for the new school year for DD.


DD has the new teacher straight out of college. I'll be honest, I have mixed emotions. I'm sure this new teacher will be excited and eager -- this is what she's worked so hard for. But I also know that first year has to be tough. Any new job is hard, finding what works for you takes time and some mistakes. Especially when they give you the troublemaker of that grade. Why would they do that to a new teacher? Ugh!!


So fellow teachers, how was your first year of teaching?


And fellow parents, how was it when your child had a first year teacher?

I worked with several first year teachers this year & overall, they were awesome! Some better than the veteran teachers! The bonus with first year teachers is everything they learned in school is fresh in their minds & many are filled with enthusiasm & energy, as opposed to some veteran teachers who get bored or start to slack.

 

[cornflkgrl]

I'd rather my kids have a first year teacher than a teacher that has wanted to retire for the last 5 years but hasn't.

 

[cornflkgrl]

Kids are like wild animals, you need to establish dominance and respect FIRST and never show your soft "under belly"

I have had the BEST relationship with the "WORST" kids. It's called freedom from routine they feel safe, and do not need to worry about what is coming next.

Do these kids know they are "the worst"? Do their parents?On parent-teacher night are you like: Its great to meet you. Little Johnny is one of my worst students.

 

[low-key]

My Daughter will be a first year teacher this year, Im really proud

 

[monsterkitty]

I was hired as a long-term sub 2 or 3 days before Winter Break in a middle school. I hadn't even finished student teaching but they needed someone so they asked me. My interview was actually teaching for a day in front of admin and other teachers. It was hard. Trust me, you never want to start a middle school job right before Winter Break.

Two weeks after Winter Break we switched classes for the new semester. I was no longer a long-term sub as they had given me a contract when the teacher I was subbing for decided not to come back after her maternity leave. I thought, hey, new semester means new kids who had never had the other teacher. Great! Things are going to get better! A few days later the principal came in to observe me and she pulled me into the hallway and said, "If you can survive this class you can survive any class!"

Was I tested a lot? Yup. Were there tears? Not the first few years, but the year I had a student stalk me outside of school I had a lot of tears. Some of my roughest years have been the last few because of administration, not students or parents. Next Tuesday will start the second half of my 27th year at the same school I started at right out of college.

Now about that class the principal warned me about - at least 4 of them are in prison for life for murder. Not kidding.

 

[dotfurio]

As a first year teacher - yes, the other teachers dumped on me. It was my worst group of students in 7 years at that grade level. As a new teacher I had a lot of support, though. Administration, coworkers, academic coach, and beginning teacher support provider. Not speaking about myself but just what I've seen in teaching- sometimes a new teacher is better than one who's burned out.

As for having a new teacher from a parent perspective, the only new teacher my kids have had is one ODD had in high school last year. She was enthusiastic and related well to the kids (maybe because she looked like she belonged in high school herself, lol). DD learned a lot and she's one of her all time favorite teachers now.

 

[Vicki926]

Ds18 had a brand new teacher in the first grade, and she was awesome! He had her again in 3rd, her first year teaching 3rd, and he was so happy. At our elementary, it's a combination of the previous year's teachers making recommendations, the new teacher either wanting or big wanting students (mostly based on parents - lol), and parent requests (not allowed, usually fulfilled). I had 5 kids go through elementary, I was a parent there for 14 years, so I was privy to some information not widely known.

In my kids' school:
Previous years teachers make the lists for the next year. The next years teachers have nothing to do with it.
First, divide up the kids that may need to be separated. Not because they're bad kids(though sometimes parents say absolutely no way my child can ever be in a class with so and so-those kids gets separated first) but because they talk to each other way too much, or one is such a follower of another one that she needs to break away, etc. parental requests are done(official word is you cannot request, but a couple do each grade per year, and they're always honored)
All bilingual kids go in one classroom, kids who go to resource are in the other classroom (makes it easier for all kids who have replacement to be together so it's easier to schedule specials, etc.)
Divvy up the high performing kids, divvy up the kids who need may need extra help, divvy up the super responsible, easy going kids, and then just kind of put the rest on the list balancing out boys and girls. And yes, the strict teachers who will quash behavior problems, get those kids who need a firm teacher.

I am an aide. My teacher last year was new. She was great, worked her butt off, was always one of the first there and one of the last to leave. She had no problem with control of the classroom, she was pretty strict.
I loved her working with her, the parents loved her, kids loved her.

 

[klmall]

Not only was I a first year teacher in a junior high long ago but other than only 8 weeks of student teaching I had never stepped foot in a public school before. It was the hardest year of my life; no support from any other teacher or the system as is common place now. What an experience but I was so excited to be teaching and sharing what I loved, social studies! I made many mistakes along the way and shed some tears but I also have some treasured memories of great lessons that hit the mark and gave me confidence to continue. I also caught every cold, every virus and every bug that passed through our 1400 student school. Don't let anyone tell you that primary teachers have it the worst in that department .

Move to 30 years later when I was a coach for first and second year teachers in a large high school, seeing how much better teacher education had become as well as school system in-service and support for all teachers. These brand new teachers still certainly had some rough days but overall, they did so much better than I ever did as a newbie. Their theoretical and content knowledge was well based and most had spent an entire semester or more student teaching as well as plenty of time interning/observing in school situations. Sometimes they taught me!

And as some others noted, becoming a parent myself was an big influence on my being a teacher; helped me understand the demands family life placed on students and I think it made me seem more human to my students and their parents!

And of course DS had first-year teachers, teachers who went on maternity leave, retired mid-year, and one with cancer who returned after a semester but by then all her students had lost a semester of French instruction. Both DH (a teacher also) and I agreed that it wasn't the long-term subs or first year teachers that "dented" his education but instead, it was the lazy, clueless first grade teacher who coasted her way through every year, the Algebra teacher who made content errors and couldn't answer reasonable student questions and an AP teacher who determined student final grades based on their performance the first week in class and snuffed out DS's interest in that subject forever. I think we would have been far happier to have a first year teacher rather than go through his 'worst' experienced teacher experiences.

Yes, DS survived and we survived!