Teaching is the most wonderful job. You get to spend it with students who are funny, all unique and full of character, plan and teach creative lessons and actually have fun at work!
After a decade in the profession, I sure learnt many lessons both the hard and the easy way.
I now look back at my first year as a teacher and think wow, I really didn’t know that at the time and just WISH someone had told me.
So, if you are a new teacher, here I am saving you the hassle of having to work these things out by yourself!
Relationships with parents are the most important ones to make
These people are your biggest stakeholders! If the parents are on your side, you are in. I didn’t realise this when I first started and there were a few instances where I made decisions and changed things around without telling the parents about it.
I had no idea that I would need to – why do they need to know if I changed a group round for guided reading? Why did they need to hear that the break times had changed?
Because if you don’t tell them, the children will!
And if they find something out from their children, they are going to want to know about it through you.
Be honest and tell them if their child is struggling. They want to know the truth so they can help. Don’t be scared of them.
Let them know how much you care about their kids and they will do the same for you.
You do not need to be perfect
Probably one of the most difficult things as a perfectionist!
But when I think back to the HOURS I spent laminating, colour coordinating and cutting round the edges of every single resource, I can’t help but think how I could have used those hours far more wisely.
I spent so long writing in the most beautiful handwriting to mark the children’s books and make things for the displays that I feel I wasted quality time where I could have been far more efficient.
My classroom was immaculate though! I definitely take pride in that. However, perfection doesn’t necessarily mean anything in the teaching world – especially when you have 350 other tasks to do!
Your modelling is everything
All eyes on you. All. The. Time.
Your children will be watching your every move. Be warned.
Your behaviour, your appearance and your professionalism will be imitated by your biggest fans.
There have been a number of times on playground duty I’ve caught children playing schools and using the exact language and tone that I’ve just shouted at them in (I’m going to take as a compliment).
The way you write things, the way you form your letters, how you join your writing, how you say things, will all be things your students will pick up on.
Be professional and model in the right ways so they can learn positive behaviours and skills.
Get your worksheets/resources ready the night before
Erm OBVIOUSLY.
Well it may seem obvious but it’s quite amazing how easy it is to NOT get your work ready the night before because you haven’t finished the other 27462974 jobs you needed to do.
But you absolutely cannot rely on the printer working the morning of, so get your resources and lesson materials all set up the day before.
Set yourself a rule – you won’t leave the building until your worksheets are all laid out/until your books are all set up – and stick to it!
It’s okay to say NO to taking work home.
Unfortunately for us teachers, the job becomes a lifestyle and impacts many elements of your life.
Just make sure to be clear on your boundaries.
I wish someone had told me that you’re human and so it’s totally fair enough to not take work home with you every night. And, yeah don’t worry about not getting xxx done this week! It’s fine – the school won’t burn down!
So, whilst yes, you may be saying goodbye to socialising in the week and hello to 9pm bedtimes & 6am alarms, you absolutely don’t have to be (and shouldn’t be) filling your evenings with work.
Children are way more resourceful than you may think
I used to think I had to do everything myself or I’d get in trouble.
But no, children LOVE a job. They will do anything to be your little helper.
I gave 2 very special children each week a VIP badge. This meant they had very important jobs to do and my GOODNESS did it make my life easier!
They handed the books out, tidied the classroom, cut things up for me & organised piles of things.
And you know those days when you just have no energy and can’t be bothered to stand at the front trying to get the class quiet, well get your little helpers to do it for you – sorted!
I hope someone can take something from this and you don’t have to go through 10 years of teaching to find similar things out. If you have any more ideas, please do share them in the comments!
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