The First Year
I am going to be completely honest here.
When I graduated college, I thought to myself, "I'm ready for my classroom." I thought that the classes and two semesters of student teaching had prepared me to be on my leading and teaching a group of students. My goodness, I was so naive. Don't get me wrong, I had the best experience in student teaching. I was blessed with a wonderful mentor teacher that taught me more than my brain could handle. But there is nothing like standing in front of your class, next to your desk on the first day of school thinking, "Well, what do I do now?". There comes a time where you have to swallow your pride and admit that you need some help. And I did that before day one even happened.
Allow me to review my first day of school. I got there at seven with coffee. No amount of coffee could prepare me for this. I was literally shaking. Before the bell rang, I was running around like a chicken with her head cut off. Not sure why, but I know I was. When the bell rang, my heart dropped. I went to the door to greet incoming students. They had no idea what they were in for and neither did I. Parents walked some down and wanted pictures and my teeth chattered from nerves while I smiled. I went to sit down at my desk after announcements and I missed my seat falling straight to the ground. I peeked above my desk, and I saw a lot of little eyeballs staring and trying so hard not to laugh. When I started laughing, they started laughing, and that's when I knew this was going to be an interesting year.
The two things I have struggled the most with: self-doubt and finding my place. It's a struggle to feel like your input is not meaningful because of your age or the lack of experience. I encourage you to speak up, even when you feel like no one is listening. Your thoughts are valid, your ideas are wonderful, and it all matters. The best thing in this job is having a team. Be a part of the team. Don't isolate yourself because you feel like you're not good enough. This isn't an uncommon feeling, but it's one that is important to work through. At the end of the day, you do what is best for you and your class. What works for you may not work for the person next door and that's okay.
Follow those teacher Instagrams. Get some ideas from them. Look to them as role models. Don't compare yourself to them. I know it may seem like they have it all figured out in their perfect looking classroom with their beautifully curated worksheets on TpT. I can assure you they have struggles within the walls of their classrooms. It is not all sunshine and rainbows like it seems. They take the good and they post it because that's what keeps us going in this job, the wonderful moments. No one expects you to be perfect. Not in your first year or year twenty. You learn as you go. You self reflect and you get better. You learn with your students and for your students.
When I was starting the school year, I had plenty of people reaching out to me and wishing me good luck. But the one comment that crushed me the most was, "Just get through it. They may not learn a thing.". I understand the intention, but I took it as a challenge. And I ran with it. Those "lightbulb moments" are my favorite moments. Once things click, they are there with me and we are moving forward. I will admit, there are plenty of, "What am I doing wrong?!"moments, too. Write it down and come back to it. Your students will learn something in your first year. Don't let anyone tell you differently.
I am going to leave you with a piece of advice that my mentor teacher taught me throughout the entire year I was with her. Build those relationships. Do you learn well from a stranger? No. Do you enjoy classes with a professor that shows up, lectures, and leaves or do you enjoy classes with a professor that makes you feel valued as a student? Make your students feel valued. Learn about them and what they love. Share stories with them. Make them feel comfortable enough to tell you anything. That's when the best learning is going to take place. They aren't just learning math and comprehension skills. They are learning how to be humans. Teach them how to be kind. Encourage them to make good choices. Be the best role model. And have fun while doing it.
When I graduated college, I thought to myself, "I'm ready for my classroom." I thought that the classes and two semesters of student teaching had prepared me to be on my leading and teaching a group of students. My goodness, I was so naive. Don't get me wrong, I had the best experience in student teaching. I was blessed with a wonderful mentor teacher that taught me more than my brain could handle. But there is nothing like standing in front of your class, next to your desk on the first day of school thinking, "Well, what do I do now?". There comes a time where you have to swallow your pride and admit that you need some help. And I did that before day one even happened.
Allow me to review my first day of school. I got there at seven with coffee. No amount of coffee could prepare me for this. I was literally shaking. Before the bell rang, I was running around like a chicken with her head cut off. Not sure why, but I know I was. When the bell rang, my heart dropped. I went to the door to greet incoming students. They had no idea what they were in for and neither did I. Parents walked some down and wanted pictures and my teeth chattered from nerves while I smiled. I went to sit down at my desk after announcements and I missed my seat falling straight to the ground. I peeked above my desk, and I saw a lot of little eyeballs staring and trying so hard not to laugh. When I started laughing, they started laughing, and that's when I knew this was going to be an interesting year.
The two things I have struggled the most with: self-doubt and finding my place. It's a struggle to feel like your input is not meaningful because of your age or the lack of experience. I encourage you to speak up, even when you feel like no one is listening. Your thoughts are valid, your ideas are wonderful, and it all matters. The best thing in this job is having a team. Be a part of the team. Don't isolate yourself because you feel like you're not good enough. This isn't an uncommon feeling, but it's one that is important to work through. At the end of the day, you do what is best for you and your class. What works for you may not work for the person next door and that's okay.
Follow those teacher Instagrams. Get some ideas from them. Look to them as role models. Don't compare yourself to them. I know it may seem like they have it all figured out in their perfect looking classroom with their beautifully curated worksheets on TpT. I can assure you they have struggles within the walls of their classrooms. It is not all sunshine and rainbows like it seems. They take the good and they post it because that's what keeps us going in this job, the wonderful moments. No one expects you to be perfect. Not in your first year or year twenty. You learn as you go. You self reflect and you get better. You learn with your students and for your students.
When I was starting the school year, I had plenty of people reaching out to me and wishing me good luck. But the one comment that crushed me the most was, "Just get through it. They may not learn a thing.". I understand the intention, but I took it as a challenge. And I ran with it. Those "lightbulb moments" are my favorite moments. Once things click, they are there with me and we are moving forward. I will admit, there are plenty of, "What am I doing wrong?!"moments, too. Write it down and come back to it. Your students will learn something in your first year. Don't let anyone tell you differently.
I am going to leave you with a piece of advice that my mentor teacher taught me throughout the entire year I was with her. Build those relationships. Do you learn well from a stranger? No. Do you enjoy classes with a professor that shows up, lectures, and leaves or do you enjoy classes with a professor that makes you feel valued as a student? Make your students feel valued. Learn about them and what they love. Share stories with them. Make them feel comfortable enough to tell you anything. That's when the best learning is going to take place. They aren't just learning math and comprehension skills. They are learning how to be humans. Teach them how to be kind. Encourage them to make good choices. Be the best role model. And have fun while doing it.
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