1) Connect with your students- Set aside time for each of your students early on, interview them. Find out what there interests are and capitalize on it. When you talk to them be in the moment. People who knew St. Mother Theresa would say that whenever she spoke to you you felt as if you were the only person in the world that mattered. Why not make your students feel that way?
2) Learn from everyone- Seek out and listen to advice from your mentor, colleagues, and administrators. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable. You don't know everything. You know it and so do they. It's ok! Build your teaching skills by pirating ideas from everyone you can. If you are on Twitter, try some of the chats dedicated to new teachers such as #ntchat.
3) Plan but don't over plan- Planning ahead is key. Discipline yourself to set aside time to plan for the coming week. Some teachers like Friday before they leave for the weekend. Others prefer Sunday night at the comfort of their home. See what works for you. Keep it simple. These two questions should guide your planning; 1.What do I want for my students? 2. How will I know if they are getting it?
4) Communicate with parents- There are many ways to communicate with parents. You can go with the traditional route of weekly newsletters or updating your website (which are good). You can also use innovative tools such as Twitter, Facebook, etc. (check your districts social media policy). Remind (formerly Remind101) is a great and safe way to communicate with parents and students. Classroom blogs are also a good way to communicate. Whatever you choose keep it simple and be consistent.
5) Don't get discouraged- Teaching is an amazing profession and is very rewarding. However, you are going to have many tough days.You are going to make mistakes. You are going to have epic fails with lessons. You are going to feel like quitting. Don't! You were called to this noble profession! This vocation will allow you the privilege of shaping young minds and hearts. You can do it! Be gentle with yourself and persevere.
6) Read Teach Like A Pirate- This book is chock-full of wisdom from an experienced educator, Dave Burgess. I have learned much from it as an administrator. This is one of the books I give to all my staff (veteran or new). Here is a link to the book: #tlap
7) Be yourself- You have a unique skill set and personality. A school full of robot teachers where everyone teaches the same way is not going to happen (and shouldn't). Learn from others but be yourself! You have a lot to offer! Good luck and enjoy the journey!
