Tortoise Wins!

One thing I had to constantly is to remind myself was that I was supposed to be a bad teacher getting better. Besides a couple substitute teaching gigs and some classes, I had no classroom experience, and I’m sure I’m not alone in that situation. A first year teacher that has student taught at least has a little experience, but it’s still not enough to prepare one for actually teaching. It’s important to remember to go easy on yourself. All teachers make mistakes, and many first year teachers make more than their fair share, but it’s part of our job to find our mistakes and do our best to not make them again.

I came from a job where I was on the top of my game, and it was difficult to come to a job where I struggled. What generally happens to teachers is that they go into “survival mode,” but the key is not to get stuck there. Teachers need to remember that people have their back and everyone wants to see them do a great job. Don’t shut out friends, family, coworkers, and even students want to see teachers succeed and become better teachers. Don’t try to change the rules of teaching on the first rodeo, just do the best to stay on the bull.

Teaching content literacy is important for the student, and one thing they should be taught is to notice when they start making mistakes. The same applies to being a teacher. The first time a new concept or activity is introduced it might fail, but don’t give up on it. Tuck it away for now, come back to it and remodel it for the students. Find some key, easy strategies that work and then, as confidence grows, stretch and try new things. The journey of a first year teacher is really no different than the learning process students need to follow. Question tactics, activities and assignments, and make sure students are receiving the most from them. In turn students will also being to question, analyze and reformulate just as teachers do. Teaching can be monkey see monkey, and just as teachers learn, so shall they.