Entering the first year of teaching is a feeling unlike anything else. There is an anticipation of what is to come, excitement for all that is to be learned, and joy for reaching the milestone and landing the job. And all of that first-year teacher energy combines to create an inaugural year that other career paths are not likely to be able to replicate.
Everything is fresh and shiny for first-time teachers; the first class list debut, the first day of school, and the first time setting up a classroom just right. All of these milestones, especially passing teacher certification exams like the TExES test are worth celebrating and getting excited about because they symbolize the accomplishment of reaching an ambitious goal. The first year of teaching is a celebration.
And while it is not all sunshine and rainbows, first-time teachers can navigate the challenges of the classroom and balance their life outside of it as time progresses. They have the chance to try different approaches and learn how to set personal and professional boundaries that help them adjust to teaching full-time. That lesson in itself is worthwhile for a career in education.
It also provides the opportunity to learn and grow as an educator and a person. There will be times when it does not feel so exciting, or the stress of it all can bog teachers down. However, knowing that teachers have the opportunity to change the lives of those around them and make a real impact on the students they teach can help get new teachers to overcome the challenges.
Before the trips to supply stores and lesson planning begins, follow this guide to know how to thrive in the first year of teaching.
First-Year Teacher Stress
Nearly every job has something stressful about it. Doctors are under constant pressure to perform and make the right decisions. Accountants have a busy season that can be overwhelming. Working retail requires people to interact with the public and deal with holiday and weekend rushes where customers are not necessarily their kindest selves. But teaching is a challenging and sometimes stressful job in a league of its own.
On top of the stress that comes with standardized testing, lesson planning, finding time to grade, and caring for students in a meaningful way, first-year teachers are experiencing it for the first time. They are faced with the physical, mental, and emotional impacts that educating the future generation can bring, and it can be overwhelming, to say the least.
But there are resources in place to help. While a certain amount of first-year teacher stress can be expected, especially with a new job, veteran educators are there to help. They will be able to recall their own experiences as a first-year teacher and what helped them navigate its challenges. From managing parent relationships and concerns to building camaraderie with their fellow teachers, they will have first-hand insights that can only come from someone who has been there.
And even with as much stress and pressure as first-time teachers can put on themselves, it truly is a time to learn from mistakes and try to improve. That is the ultimate goal of teaching and should be kept in mind throughout the first-year experience.
Is the First Year of Teaching the Hardest?
Unfortunately, there is no formula to help determine when the most challenging year of teaching will occur. But there is a common thread for educators facing troubling times in their first year, which can make it the most difficult for many. Several things can cause this, including:
Difficulty
Explanation
New Responsibility
Even if an educator follows all of the first-year teaching tips available, there is still a level of newness to being a teacher that cannot be overlooked. While school and preparation efforts are valid and helpful in being prepared for teaching, they cannot combat the learning curve in store. And that is okay. New experiences allow teachers to grow, making them better educators overall.
Transition From Student Teaching
Many educators will become student teachers in their senior year of college to get used to being in a classroom setting. However, that experience is vastly different from being the lead teacher in a classroom with all the associated responsibilities. That transition can be overwhelming and identify gaps students were not aware of when student teaching.
Gaining Confidence
From behavioral issues to limited supplies and reduced funding, there are many factors outside of lesson planning and time management that first-time teachers must navigate. That process can be demanding because there are mandated approaches required by school districts that can impede progress or fail to align with the best way students in the classroom actually learn. Figuring out how to manage this is an ongoing and valuable lesson.
Regarding tips for first-year teachers, the focus should be on trying their best. Doing what is considered correct can go a long way and help manage first-year teacher stress. It also helps educators feel more confident in their instincts and approaches to challenging situations, which can be the source of a lot of hardship in the first year.
How to Transition from Student Teacher to First-Year Educator
Many teachers are student teachers before entering a classroom of their own. This approach provides first-hand experience teaching with direct feedback from a teacher with years of experience and allows future educators to grow their confidence in the classroom. There is also the opportunity to become skilled in things like parent-teacher relationships and behavioral issues and identify how different teaching methods work for various groups of students.
Transitioning from a student teacher role to a first-year teacher can be a challenge on its own, though. Instead of being able to lean on the lead teacher and manage only part of the classroom responsibilities, first time teachers must manage it all. There are, of course, a few ways to prepare while still in a student teacher role:
Take Notes: While there is no need to write down a recap of every single day as a student teacher, make physical notes of lessons and insights to reflect on later. Categorize these as time passes and create a teacher reference guide that can help enlighten future scenarios that are in a similar vein.
Ask Questions: A great way to get better at teaching is by asking questions. Clarify unfamiliar or unclear topics, ask for feedback and what can be improved, and truly soak in all of the knowledge to make the future transition to lead teaching for the first time easier.
Network With Other Teachers: When serving in a student teacher role, it is natural to bond with others doing the same job. However, branching out to first-time teachers and tenured educators can help build a network of knowledge and support that will pay dividends down the line.
After student teaching is complete, keep the following in mind for the transition to teaching for the first time:
Rely on Basics: There is no need to approach the first year of teaching as an opportunity to try everything under the sun. Stick with basics, such as learning common core standards, and ensure the class gets taught the necessary material first. Then, slowly incorporate more creative activities as confidence levels rise.
Use Professional Networks: Now is the time to take advantage of relationships with experienced educators and pick their brains. Whether that is leaning on relationships from student teaching or building new relationships with teachers at a new school, there is a lot to gain from others' experiences.
Advice for First-Year Teachers
While it is important to acknowledge the known hardships educators face, there are also plenty of resources full of advice for first-year teachers. Transitioning from life as a student to a student teacher to a full-time teacher is a path that comes with its own challenges. It can be difficult to manage the stress levels, the time necessary to do well in all areas of life, and the availability to plan for the future in and out of the classroom.
However, striking a balance that works for new teachers is possible and is a healthy part of the process. Eventually, educators find a schedule that works for them and encourages productivity while still maintaining a level of relaxation time and the option to live a life they enjoy.
And when it comes to where to seek out advice for first-year teachers, there are a few dependable resources to go to:
Current or Former Educators: With years of experience under their belts, it is no wonder they have advice and wisdom to share about the teaching field and how to handle complicated or challenging scenarios. Also, be sure to ask advice from diverse educators as well in order to get a range of perspectives.
Second-Year Teachers: Having just completed their first year of teaching, second-year teachers have the experience fresh in their minds. They just went through the process of teaching for the first time and can be a great resource to young educators.
Friends and Family: While they may not have hands-on experience with teaching, friends and family can be great sounding boards for interpersonal dynamics or challenging work situations. They are also ideal for venting and providing a listening ear.
The advice for new educators will vary from person to person. Some schools or districts may have regulations that make certain subjects or topics challenging, or they may pose other specific concerns for teachers. Regardless, being a sponge and absorbing as much information and advice as possible during the first year of teaching in the classroom is a sure way to improve professionally and strike the right work-life balance.
Here are a few common pieces of advice new teachers may receive in their first year.
First-Year Teaching Tips
Although there are not any universal first-year teaching tips, new teachers will find that the following suggestions can help as they navigate their inaugural year:
Stay Organized
While this will mean different things to different people, finding an approach to organization is vital for educators. Balancing everything can be overwhelming if teachers do not take the time to prioritize work and personal life experiences in a way that pays off for them. Be open to digital and physical techniques for organization, too. Try making a daily or weekly to-do list, blocking time to focus on specific tasks, and creating naming conventions to keep files straight on computers or tablets. The extra effort is well worth the time.
Be Prepared for the Unexpected
Although planning for the upcoming week, month, or year in education is an essential aspect of a teaching job, things do not always go as planned. Try not to let these fluctuations become more significant than they really are. It is valuable to be adaptable and flexible enough to accomplish priority tasks without being too stringent.
Lean on Networks
Take advantage of break rooms and lesson planning days to carve out time to chat with other teachers. Keeping frustrations, challenges, and other hardships to yourself will make the year feel more daunting, but talking through situations with others in similar roles can make it less of a struggle.
Have Patience
People are not always the best versions of themselves, which applies to everyone in an educational environment. From the principal to the students, parents, and even teachers, there will be interpersonal aspects of teaching that are less than ideal. Try to practice patience whenever possible and approach things as calmly and professionally as possible. Retaliating or being negative will only escalate situations and will be something others in the school remember as time passes. No one needs that reputation, especially not first-time educators.
Identify Areas of Improvement
If students do not respond to a lesson well or a staff member in the school provides negative feedback, do not take it to heart. Instead, thank them for their feedback and adjust based on their suggestions. Whether that entails switching up strategies in future years or pivoting on the same day, first-year teachers who are aware of their shortcomings and create plans to grow will set themselves up for success much more than their colleagues who do not.
The beauty of breaking into education is that tips for first-year teachers will also appear naturally throughout the year. From first-hand experiences to stories from tenured teachers chatted about during lunch breaks and training, there is so much to learn in the first year. It really is just about soaking it all in as much as possible.
Teaching Strategies for First Time Teachers
Approaching the first year of teaching and effectively instructing students on relevant information is a challenge every educator faces. Several teaching strategies can help streamline and make it a simpler process to figure out.
Define Expectations
Being clear about what students are expected to accomplish is a great place for first-time teachers to start. Whether it is related to class participation, submitting work, or generally paying attention during lessons, having well-defined classroom requirements is helpful for students in retaining information and excelling in the class.
Adapt and Optimize Strengths
Something first-time teachers have to learn is what styles of teaching work best for their students and the strengths they have. Some classes will thrive with interactive learning, like games related to the lesson. Others will find that repetition and visuals are more valuable. Try out different approaches to see what sticks and try to incorporate those approaches whenever possible, knowing things may change.
Promote Collaboration
Even if students succeed with the more straightforward, traditional learning format of sitting and listening to a lecture, instructors occasionally need to switch it up. Put students in groups or have them pair off on their own and incorporate active learning and collaboration to solve problems. Many students will learn a lot from their peers and see how others approach questions or scenarios, which can reinforce the work done by teachers.
Provide Practice Opportunities
Creating practice exams can be a fantastic resource for students when major exam dates are approaching. Ask questions similar to the topics covered on the test and encourage students to complete as many questions as possible. Then, show them how each question is answered or highlight where they can find the answer to help them prepare. Remember that studying is a skill that students can develop, so providing tools that help students succeed is a great teaching strategy.
The great thing about education is that things are constantly changing. Teachers should challenge themselves to explore novel things and get feedback from their students to understand what they did and did not like about new approaches. This can help create a collaborative and successful classroom environment where students feel supported.
Professional Development Goals for Teachers
Remember that goals can be influential in providing motivation, and creating attainable goals are among the best first-year teaching tips. The great thing about goals is that they are unique to the person making them and can cover boundless topics. A few aspirations to consider aiming for include to:
Improve Lesson Planning: Establish an excellent starting point for the academic year by setting a goal to improve classroom basics like lesson planning.
Be Organized: If staying organized does not come naturally, consider making it a goal to boost organizational skills by preparing planners, calendars, and other reminders for the year ahead.
Grow Confidence: Being a teacher is a people-focused role. Teachers have to stand in front of groups of students and present information with confidence, but many people would find that intimidating. Aiming to build confidence throughout the first year is a respectable plan.
Create Work-Life Balance: It is relatively easy for teachers to be so passionate about their work that all of their personal time disappears, which can ultimately lead to teacher burnout. Focus on finding a balance to ensure everything gets accomplished. It will ultimately help make teachers more successful because they are not solely living for education and its related responsibilities.
Of course, individuals will find goals that work best for them. However, combining these goals and implementing them with the tips for first-year teachers above can make for a great foundation to build upon throughout a long career in education.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good goal for a first year teacher?
Teachers should seek to learn as much as possible in their first year of teaching. Whether it's related to classroom behavior, lesson planning, or time management, there's a lot to gain from the first year in the classroom.
Is the first year of teaching the hardest?
For many educators, the first year is the hardest. The role is new and transitioning from student teaching or college to being a lead teacher comes with its own responsibilities. That isn't to say new teachers will all struggle, but there's a lot of opportunity to learn in the inaugural year as an educator.
How can a first year teacher be successful?
First-year teachers can find success by putting their experiences to use from student teaching and their educational background. Asking for feedback and leaning on the network of available experienced educators can help new teachers understand what works and what doesn't.
What do first year teachers struggle with?
The first year of teaching comes with its challenges because things are new. First-year teachers often struggle with being overwhelmed and balancing their personal lives with work, student behavioral issues, and classroom management.