An Open Letter to First Year Teachers

As a teacher enjoying her first summer off after her first year of teaching, I'm coming to you with fresh eyes and immediate perspective. I'm not naive, I know that I don't have all the answers, but that isn't what this is about. Here are some things I learned just recently while experiencing my first year teaching.

A little back story: I graduated from Olivet Nazarene University with a degree in Elementary Education in 2016 and immediately started teaching kindergarten for the 2016-2017 school year. It's a small town rural school in Central Illinois and I am spoiled beyond belief here! That being said, your first year even in a fantastic school has its fair share of challenges!

Teaching can be overwhelming at times! You have to plan, communicate, prep, clean, nurture, discipline .....the list goes on! Don't get lost in the details! Enjoy the times you have with your coworkers. Laugh when a child says something hilarious. Appreciate the parents who contribute to your class rather than getting fixated on the parent that complained .

Things won't go as planned. That's life! Welcome to being human! Don't let the negative details overwhelm you, take them as a chance to learn. It can be hard, but surround yourself with people who will intentionally seek joy with you! It is a truly incredible feeling!

This was something I didn't learn until it was too late. I could have been outsourcing my cutting, prepping, laminating, stapling, copying, etc. Send home a nice little letter that asks parents if they want to help. Give them the choice to help from home. I sent home this fun note waaaaaay too late into the school year, but once I got parent volunteers, I sent home all my mindless cutting and freed up HOURS of time for me to relax with my husband. SO FREEING!

If you're teaching in a grade level or district that parents don't seem as involved in, I urge you to try to find at least one parent to help! If not, find friends and family members that would be willing to help! The amount of times I've had friends over to hang out and ended up enlisting their help to cut out decorations or centers is ridiculous. But I'm grateful they helped!

I asked my fellow Kindergarten Team so many questions this year. Use your colleagues. I was fortunate enough to have another newbie in kindergarten with me, and we often shared the "I don't know what's happening" look. Just ask your colleagues. They're experienced in the grade, school, and district. Their vast knowledge will save you time and time again.

I also found it incredibly helpful to ask my principal questions. I received so many documents, emails, and notes that I didn't understand. I just went straight to my principal with these questions. My principal appreciated that I wanted to understand everything before presenting it to parents or my students.

Heck, I even asked my coworkers about the printer. They're the experts! Just ask them before you waste your time! It isn't a hit to the pride and ego, I promise!

It's your first year. Your first classroom layout may not be your favorite. Change it. I changed mine like 5 times throughout the year!

Your first color scheme may not be appropriate, change it.

Your lesson plans may not go according to the plan, embrace it. Embrace the unexpected learning opportunities. Be honest with your students when things don't go according to plan. They need your example of how to positively embrace a challenge.

Teaching will never be the same. You'll move classrooms, buildings, districts, and grade levels. Principals and other administrators will change. Colleagues will come and go. Curriculum, standards, the list goes on. Start early embracing change, so you can find a healthy balance of organization and adaptability.

You won't admit it, but you've already accumulated a lot of stuff. If you're anything like me, you collected stuff for all grade levels throughout your undergraduate career. Now that you have a specific grade level, let some of it go.

I've seen so many veteran teachers that are hoarders. You don't want that to be your future. If you need that one thing you let go of later in your teaching career, chances are you can buy it. You don't want all your cabinets, shelves, and table tops cluttered with useless junk (This includes stuff that was left for you in your classroom!) Just let it go, and trust me, you'll feel all the better! AND it makes room for more things that you and your students will use.

Pro tip: It helps clear the conscience if you offer it to your fellow teachers first. Just write "FREE" on a sign and watch it go! I also like donating to Goodwill rather than contributing to landfills! But if it isn't quality, trash that sucker!

I know this one seems weird. Really, what it should be is "Find your cut-off point." Give yourself a time that you will always leave school by. It's easy to stay late. If I wanted, I could stay until 7 or 8 pm every night. Don't do it. It isn't healthy. Give yourself a set time that you will always leave school by. For me, it's 5 o'clock. Nothing good happens past 5. Leave work at work and give yourself some time to unwind, fill that wine glass full, and sit on a couch that's actually made for an adult sized body! Your emails, prep, organizing, and grading can wait until another day! An important part about working is finding time to rest.

This goes with finding your breaking point: with that time you're giving yourself intentionally seek something you enjoy. Find one thing that you can have just for you. Maybe it's reading. Maybe it's spending time with friends and family. Perhaps running. Maybe it's treating yourself (#treatyoself!) to a bubble bath and a glass of wine. Whatever it is, find that one thing that brings you joy; find that one thing that is yours. Make this your priority; you can't be an enthusiastic leader without first taking care of yourself.

I hope these tips help you out! You are entering into the most rewarding career and I hope you enjoy every second! Good luck this year, you've got this!

~Tiara

#teaching #teachingtips #firstyear