Tell me about your first year of teaching!

[SDFgirl]

I'm a first year teacher (actually, I'm a first-month teacher!) and I find that I am an emotional roller-coaster.

I feel so thrilled when I get hugs and pictures, and I know someone "gets it."

On the other hand, I feel anxious and embarrassed when I give a test and they don't "get it."

I've been waking up with a knot in my stomach all month, and I'm wondering if the feelings of low-grade anxiety and panic are normal.

Things are definitely getting better - I've actually been able to not be a nervous wreck on some mornings! - but I still feel this constant fear of failure.

Tell me - were you a WONDERFUL teacher right off the bat, or did it take awhile???

 

[monsterkitty]

I am so glad that I will never have to be a first year teacher ever again! I started my career in January seventeen years ago, so while it was a long time ago, I remember it well.

First, it is very difficult to start mid-year, reagardless of the circumstances. I took over for a pregnant teacher who was well loved by her students. So I had those expectations to live up to. My sister on the other hand, also began her teaching career in January, but was the 5th teacher the students had had that year. Both of us wondered if we would ever survive! We did!

It seemed at times that everything I learned in college went out the door when I started teaching. In fact, I would say that 90% of what know now I learned that first semester of teaching. I learned a lot of what not to do in the classroom!

I would go home from school with terrible headaches. In fact, my back muscles got in such a knot they pinched a nerve. Every breath I took felt like I was getting stabbed. Thank goodness for Advil!

Some hints I have:
- never be afraid to ask a more experienced teacher questions. While you may not agree with their answers, take what will work for you and go from there.

-Make frequent phone calls home - both postive and not-so-positive. The more you keep the parents informed, the happier they are.

-Always have a back-up plan in case a lesson isn't going well. There were times when my kids just weren't getting it, so I moved on to something else. I would then evaluate what happened during my planning time or that night and make adjustments the next day.

Most importantly, have very clear expectations and consequences. If a child feels they are being punished unfairly, do not argue with them. Tell the child you meet with them at another time to discuss the situation. As soon as there is a discussion in front of the other students, you have lost a little bit of power. I say, "bummer that you don't agree with me. We can discuss this later. But for now you need to (fill in the blank)." I will also give the student a "refocus" sheet that asks them how they feel and what they did, etc.

Finally, (yes I know you got more than what you asked for), never be afraid to make a mistake. Yes, there will be times when you "fail," but it is important to admit the mistake. If I make a mistake and a student catches it, I give them a certificate that says something silly like, "Caught the teacher making the first mistake of her life." The kids love it.

Remember, the kids will learn no matter what. I look back on my first few years of teaching thinking that I learned a lot more from my students then they learned from me.

Good luck!

 

[taramarie]

I agree 100%.

It is very hard coming into the year midway. The kids aren't following "your" rules they are someone elses etc....

I just think you need to stick to it this year and get your feet wet so to speak. Then next fall you can start fresh with your own routine. Starting in the fall is NOTHING like starting in the SPRING though. I don't know what grade you teach but they have already been broken in by the time you got them. It is a whole new can of worms.

In preschool (which is what I teach) it is like night and day from August to January. They know the routine, can function on their own, etc....

It will get easier...just don't forget to ask for help. You will not seem weak or like you don't know what you are doing. Pair up with a buddy teacher and have fun!

Tara

 

[hmp2z]

What grade do you teach? I'm a middle school teacher, but I started my career as a lateral entry teacher, without having taken one single Education class. I came in at the beginning of 4th quarter, and I taught a class that had run off three teachers in the past 6 weeks. It was a NIGHTMARE! But I made it through, and, like everyone else is saying, it is like night and day when you start the year with your own class. That first year, I was a terrible teacher. The second year (my first full year), I had taken a semester of Education classes, and I wasn't great yet, but it was noticeably easier. After that, it kept getting better and better. I'm in my 5th year now, and I loved it enough to stick around and to get my MAT degree. The first 3 years are the hardest; I wouldn't make any decision to quit until I'd taught at least 2 years. By then, you have had some experience & you've gotten familiar with the rhythm of the school year - it goes in cycles.
Good luck!
Heather W

 

[Sonya]

Oh my! I'm so glad I am not 1st year again. I remember drinking coffee to keep awake b/c I wasn't used to getting up so early and working so hard! And all the time chewing pepto bismal tablets to keep from throwing up! I am mentoring a 1st year now, and I think he is doing better than he thinks he is, so you are probably doing much better than you think! Yes it's heck, and the hardest thing you proabably ever done, but you will make it through and be a great teacher. Really.

 

[SDFgirl]

Thank you all for your kind words. It really helps to know that other teachers have experienced the same things as me.

I'm an Arts and Humanities teacher for the entire school. I never thought I'd be a special area teacher, but here I am! There are things about it that I really enjoy...I love teaching art! However, I'm having a hard time fitting in all of the core content before the testing in March. I'm worried sick that my kids are not learning all of this stuff. The assessments I've given have just been so-so. I don't know if it's me, the kids, the assessment, or what.

Sometimes I feel that the kids don't take the academic portion of this class very seriously, I think they see art as an "easy", almost non-academic class. I must admit that is how I remember art classes.

I'm trying to go easy on myself and remember that I'm NOT going to be perfect, and that I'm definitely still learning. I never knew teaching would be this emotional - I lie awake, thinking at night about what I can do better. I can't eat breakfast in the morning because I'm queasy. I just hope things get easier...