You are young and full of energy. You have worked hard to enter this profession. You are trained well and are full of ideas. You love your job, your students, and the thought that you can make a difference.
The school year is just a few weeks old. It starts with the excitement of all new things, as shiny and full of promise as a box of new crayons.
Sometime soon, reality will hit. The world is conspiring to beat you down.
You will feel the pressure for your students to perform well on standardized tests.
Parents who don’t know you or trust you will make unreasonable demands.
You will struggle to fill out all the paperwork and collect all the data.
You will read an article blaming teachers for being unable to help students succeed, though it won’t mention the poverty, violence and lack of medical attention many students live with.
Your one and only prep time is taken- again.
The students, no longer on their best behavior, are testing your limits.
Your friends won’t understand why you have to stay home and grade papers- on Saturday!
The voices in the teacher’s lounge have you questioning your judgment.
You start to question everything- your lessons, your philosophy and maybe even your choice of profession.
Don’t give up or give in.
Trust your instincts. Do what you think is best. When in doubt, choose what is best for the students.
Find your kindred spirits- there are colleagues who are upbeat and positive. You might have to look for them; they aren’t the ones complaining in the teacher’s room.
Find a trustworthy, experienced teacher who will give you good advice when you need it. It’s OK to ask for help.
Remember what brought you to this profession. You have a job to do. Though you may never know it, you will impact the lives of your students. You will help students learn, and you will help them to be better people. If you do your job right, you can’t help but make a difference.
If you have to, close the door and then teach your heart out. Know that you are not alone. In schools all over the country, teachers are quietly going about their day, working magic in a minefield of demoralization.
Don’t worry too much about messing up. What you lack in teaching skill and technique you will make up for in relationships. Kids will cut you some slack when they know you care about them.
When you are doing it right, you will get feedback in a hundred little ways. You’ll get notes from a student, an improved score, a better essay. You will feel the silence of a classroom engrossed, and the groans when you tell them it is time to stop. You’ll feel the energy when they are excited to learn. Pay attention, because that is your reward.
The great teacher Ralph Waldo Emerson said “nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” Smile. Throw yourself into the task at hand with everything you’ve got. Stay the course.
Because as long as you have stars in your eyes, you’re going to make it.
Keep shining,
Love this!! I just got done writing something about my own sons teacher, who sounds very much like the teacher you described above! And you are so right! I pray she doesnt give up or feel beaten down a few months from now, because she is awesome! Great article!
Hi Nicole, thanks for your comment. It really does help teachers when parents are supportive and encouraging. Thanks for being THAT mom!
That is an awesome post! If I ever actually use my teaching degree that I have had for 15 years but just keep having babies instead I will go in being less naive than the average young teacher. I will be a seasoned old mom of 7, but i can only imagine how i would have been.
Crystal, as a mom of 7 you would bring great experience to the role of teacher. There is no reason why you can’t go back to teaching someday if you decide to. We’ve taught people of all ages, including a couple of retirees who had always wanted to teach and did so when they retired!
What a lovely and encouraging post!
Thank you Leslie.
Definitely do what you feel is best for your students. Teach the way you would have want to have been taught. Make it fun and interesting; the kids will respond. Most “professionals” don’t have it right so trust your gut and have fun with those kids. They will respond!
Hi Mama Carmody, to teach like you would want to have been taught is great advice. As for professionals, we would disagree that most don’t get it right, but there are always some that don’t. Thanks for your response.
These are very true words. I have heard this from a number of teacher friends, but our son has an amazing newer teacher, and I try to encourage her as much as possible!
Leah, I am sure your son’s teacher appreciates your encouragement more than you will ever know!
I love this article because it is exactly what new teachers need to hear. Starting in your first teaching position as a new teacher, you want to incorporate all of the great teaching strategies you learned in your undergrad and you are excited to start making a difference – but what they don’t always tell you is there is a lot that can beat you down. The state wants higher test scores. Parents want to see more grades and homework as proof of learning. Veteran teachers want to see you manage behavior and discipline in the same way they do. Some students will love you, but some students won’t. It’s easy to feel discouraged and want to fall into the rut of doing what others expect, not what you know in your heart is best. It’s so important to stay true to yourself as a teacher and teach the way you know will reach your students. At the same time, the pressure of being great and reaching students can make new teachers dig themselves deeper and deeper into trying to reach unachievable greatness, spending more and more hours at school grading papers and designing extravagant lessons and less time with their loved ones or for themselves.
Don’t give up or give in, and keep those stars in your eyes – these sentiments are SO important. Thank you for the reminder!
Hi Elaine, you understand this situation so well. Being a beginning teacher is fraught with potential pitfalls and landmines, and when you are new it is hard to know which things to ignore and which things to pay attention to. I always think that if you go back to your heart and your gut, you will know what is right for you. There are always struggles, but the pay off is great. We are so happy that you still have stars in your eyes!
Great post! I will share this with every new teacher! 🙂
Thank you Alicia, and thanks for stopping by to read!