Students aren’t the only ones who experience jitters on the first day of school. Teachers—and especially those in their first year—feel it, too. Will the first day go well? What will their students be like? What if the planned lesson does not meet the class period or takes too long? With many first days behind them, veteran teachers are a great resource to answer questions and calm nerves.
Idaho Ed News reached out to award-winning teachers across the state for some tips for newbies. Below, they share what they wish they knew on their first day in class.
Todd Knight
Idaho Teacher of the Year 2022:
- Don’t be a lone wolf. The whole profession is built on creating a community. Find mentors, develop networks, make connections with students, co-workers, admin, grading, parents, EVERYONE! Everyone who is part of education needs this community.
Todd Knight teaches science, engineering and coding at Crossroads Middle in Meridian. You are more than your students’ test scores. Your students are more important than some IRI or ISAT score. The growth they show, whether it’s academic, social, or emotional, says a lot more about who they are and what they’re capable of than a single snapshot of a day’s test-taking skills. Don’t let yourself be put down, discouraged or beaten by these numbers. You know the true story of each of those students.
“Remember you work to live, not live to work… There will always be papers to grade – book, breathe and fully to be with friends and family.”
- Remember you work to live, not live to work. Although the profession is noble and these students are life-changing, don’t neglect yourself and your family. There will always be more to do – put it aside. You can always improve – admit you gave your best and move on. There will always be papers to evaluate – book, breathe and fully to be with friends and family. You can’t reach your children if you haven’t taken care of yourself.
- It’s surprising how much pressure is put on you from different angles and perspectives. It’s hard to quiet the noise and remember why you learn. But focus on that. Do not forget why you chose to be in this profession.
James Ledoux
2021 Pesky Award Winner for Inspirational Teaching:
James Ledoux teaches English at Renaissance High in Meridian. Work on asking great open-ended questions to get kids interested and involved in your lessons. The key is to start by finding out where your specific lesson meets students’ interests. Once students are engaged, it is much easier to lead them to meaningful learning experiences. Enthusiasm is an important element of being a successful teacher, but it will not necessarily lead to learning outcomes. Students must be engaged to maximize learning.
- Concrete examples of how to engage students include showing a short video clip, having them complete a prompt, telling them a related story, going back and talking to their neighbor about the question, even have them draw a picture.
“Students may not remember your great lessons in the future, but they will remember the teachers and classes they loved.”
- Getting to know your students and developing positive one-on-one relationships with each one of them is good for you and them. Students may not remember your great lessons in the future, but they will remember the teachers and classes they loved.
- Avoid negative attitudes and find positive mentors who want to teach, even if they are not your designated mentors. You may even find great role models in different departments and/or those who teach different grades than you. Some of the best classroom management skills I have as a middle school teacher I learned from elementary and middle school teachers.
Talk to each other
2022 Simplot Inspirational Teacher Award Winner:
“It’s a privilege to be allowed to work with these amazing kids and be a part of their lives for 170 days, and often build friendships that will last a lifetime.”
- Most importantly, I want to bring magic into my classroom. My class theme and all the extra planning involved in these activities help me build relationships with my students. The first few months of school are spent having lunch with each of my students so I can get to know them better. Outside at recess, I play games and encourage shy children to walk and talk to me. Some days, I can be silly, dance, sing, or make fun of myself for trying to play with four squares or sharks and minnows. By Christmas, my class will hopefully have a very strong sense of community and be ready to tackle difficult assignments or projects. I involve them in making decisions in the classroom and work hard to communicate with their families. We spend part of the time discussing all of their important decade topics. These relationships help me build confidence so that I can eventually ask my class to try harder, take risks, and not be afraid to make mistakes. It is a privilege to be allowed to work with these amazing children and be a part of their lives for 170 days, and often build friendships that will last a lifetime.
Leigh Wilson
Winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics and Science:
- Your first year can be completely overwhelming! There are so many moving parts to teaching and you won’t know what they are until you start.
Leigh Wilson teaches sixth grade at Potlatch Elementary School. Focus on defining your procedures and routines the first year, from classroom management, to grading systems, to communication with parents and family. Stay flexible and don’t worry about being perfect – make mistakes and learn from them. You will need to grow into your role over time.
- During your first year, don’t worry about taking on leadership roles at your school site. Focus on your classroom and your students. There will be time over the next few years to be incorporated into the larger system.
“Get to know (your students) individually, treat them with love and respect, really listen, but set clear expectations and hold them accountable for their choices and actions.”
- Never stop learning and challenging yourself. Over time, go to trainings, seminars, take additional classes in the teaching areas that interest you. Make yourself a lifelong learner. Both of you and your students will benefit greatly.
I have always lived by the motto, “Be firm but fair.” Don’t try to be friends with your students. Get to know them individually, treat them with love and respect, really listen, but set clear expectations and hold them accountable for their choices and actions.
- Even when I thought I wasn’t doing a good job, the kids still learned! I was very hard on myself and wanted to do everything ‘right’ but looking back I had to be willing to still try hard but give myself grace because at the end of the day, kids need to bond with their teacher, feel safe and loved, and know that they belong.
Colin Donovan
2022 Idaho History Teacher of the Year:
- My advice to a first year teacher would be to keep perspective and never underestimate the importance of your job. The path you have chosen is more than just a profession, but a calling that can touch the lives of thousands of young people. Beginning and veteran teachers alike will experience a myriad of challenges throughout their year, but if you can strive to create and maintain meaningful relationships with your students, colleagues, and community, the results will be worth all the effort.
Colin Donovan teaches history at Coeur d’Alene High. (As a first-year teacher,) I wish I had known that the true measure of an exceptional educator is not the amount of content knowledge or the breadth of teaching philosophy they can cite, but the ability to create meaningful relationships within a rigorous relationship, but welcoming learning environments where their skills can have an impact on students. I think as a new teacher I focused too much on content knowledge and trying to pack my classes with high-level rigor. While this is a key component, it pales in comparison to the importance of getting to know your students, expressing how much you care about them, and working to foster their intellectual curiosity.
“The pursuit of excellence in teaching is a fool’s errand. . . . The best effort (of a teacher) will be sufficient to make a tremendous impact on students who need it so much.”
- I think one of the main pitfalls to avoid is seeing your job as teaching students a bunch of facts rather than helping to impart the critical thinking and communication skills needed to navigate complex ideas that can be used in their next life. I try to remember that our job as teachers is not to teach children what to think, but rather how to think critically. I would also encourage new teachers to surround themselves with enthusiastic and skilled educators who can act as mentors and help pave their way. Finally, I would let them know that the pursuit of excellence in teaching is a fool’s errand and remember that their best efforts will be enough to make a tremendous impact on the students who need them so much.
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