The start of a new school year is traumatic, not just for students but for teachers, especially the new ones. Not only are they in a new situation with new responsibilites but sometimes they are just a few years older than the students that they teach. They also have the same teaching responsibilities as experienced teachers. So I give you a few pieces of advice before I head off to the first student day tomorrow.
1. Be Polite
This is to all school staff. You are not the most important person at school. Be especially nice to the secretaries, janitors, cafeteria workers, and bus drivers. They deal with many of the same issues that classroom teachers do and they clean up many of the messes that occur. They can also provide a great deal of help.
I cannot stress how uncomfortable school floors are and as a teacher you are on your feet most of the day. The first few years you probably can wear really cute shoes (hey I am a girl, that is important) but after a few years of teaching you really need the comfortable shoes. It is amazing how much your mood can be tied to how your feet feel.
3. Emergency Bag
Have a small bag in your desk. In it have your own emergency supplies. For example I have a nail file, some make-up, deodorant, pony-tail holder, band-aids (Scooby-Doo is my choice it is much better than the boring school ones that are for students) and some change. As a teacher you would be surprised the number of times that you can get stuck at school and need these items. Emergency drink machine money comes in handy.
4. Emergency Food
The first day the cafeteria will be insane and no one will have enough time to eat their lunch. There will be other days when things will happen and your lunch will be cut short or you could just be really hungry. Some ideas to keep on hand granola bars, soup, shelf stable meals, and crackers. These keep for weeks if not months and if you are like me they come in handy on the days you are running late and leave your lunch packed on the counter at home.
5. Ask For Help
This should be easy but as a teacher we often feel that we should know everything and we forget to ask. When you don’t understand a procedure please ask your neighbor, the teacher down the hall, the secretary, but ask someone. It is ok not to know all of the answers. But you should know where to find the answer.
6. Arrive Early
For those that know me, they are all laughing, I am rarely early to anything. But traffic on the first day of school is new levels of horrible. You have to leave at least ten minutes earlier than normal to get there on time. Why? Becuase almost every parent wants to drive their child to school and half of them have no clue how school drop offs work. Traffic will be backed up onto the road in front of almost every school.
What other words of advice would you give to new teachers to help them start the year?
love it!!!
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