Welcome to your first year of teaching! Over your career, you will find ways to give back to fellow teachers. But this year is yours to learn, grow, and seek support. My best advice for you is to find a generous mentor. Someone who can give you tips (this is how you set up folders for each child), tricks (print extra class lists to have on hand for quick checklists), and hacks (those crate-chairs are an easy DIY!). A true mentor helps you find your voice in the classroom. P.S.-You can repay them by surprising them with coffee during American Education Week!
From the field:
Mine was Katie Yingling! She was a great model and mentor. We planned together and she was readily available to answer all of my MANY questions. ~Gina DiLeggeThat's so nice Gina! I don't feel like you ever really needed any help! You were always so confident in what you were doing.: I'm glad to hear you felt that way because I was pregnant that year and was truly doing everything in power to just get through it. ~Katie Yingling
Looking in the Mirror
Your first year is filled with reflection… from, “Wow! My students really got it today and were so engaged,” to “Okay, next year, I'm doing that completely differently!” Many voices will critique you during official evaluations, but it's the day-to-day reflection where your mentor comes in. Mentors are sounding boards. The best mentors hear you, offer some bite-sized additional ideas or suggestions, and ultimately, cheer at your successes. They also help you laugh at your failures (we all have days where our reflection seems like it's in a fun-house mirror!).
From the field:
My mentor and consulting teacher, Mattie Wynne, helped me tremendously my first year of teaching. She was always a kind face to turn to when I needed a helping hand. She furthered my understanding of the best practices of teaching, and she ultimately encouraged me to be the best version of myself in the classroom. I owe much of my success during my first year of teaching to my hard work coupled with her unending support! ~Kaleigh Field
In This Together
“I love children. I believe in teachers.” Debbie Miller, reading guru from Colorado, said these simple words that just touch my soul. Take away the endless data collection, the new district initiatives, the report cards, and good teaching comes down to loving the children we are entrusted to teach. I implore you to find a mentor that shares this philosophy with you… and that isn't hard. Our schools are filled with teachers who love children. I hope you find one (or a few!) in a classroom near you.
