Feel Like You’re Doing Everything Wrong?
You’re not. Are you looking around your classroom at the end of every day, feeling defeated, confused, and exhausted? It’s okay. As a matter of fact, you sound like a really wonderful teacher. No, I am not jumping to conclusions (I know that’s what you’re thinking) well-perhaps I am, but if you are feeling defeated and frustrated that means you recognize that things are not working like you expected, and that means that you CARE. That, right there, is a teacher. We all thought we were going to fly out of grad school and change the world on day one. Admit it, you were ready to make the biggest difference in the lives of 20-30 tiny people and inspire them to live a better life, all before the end of your first 180 days of your career. Now that you think about it, seems a bit unrealistic doesn’t it?
I felt this way, too. It was a brutal fall from cloud 9 as I came crashing down among the disarray of my first classroom- an unorganized, un-managed, unsupported mess. I felt like the biggest failure ever. Six years later, as I look back on that first year, I’ve realized that I was in good company.
The thing is, teachers really aren’t prepared for the realities of day to day teaching. We are educated on practices that are all “the best” … in a vacuum. By now you’ve seen first hand that there is WAY more to teaching than you thought, more than you were taught, and maybe even more than you think you can handle! I promise you, though, you’ve got this. If you are reading this that means you care enough to spend time figuring this teaching thing out.
To start you off, I’ll say this:
First, it’s hard to be a BAD teacher. Sure, you may not provide the most memorable, life-changing, technologically advanced year for your class, but they aren’t leaving you dumber. If you are doing something in that classroom, those little monsters are learning. Take comfort in the fact that you ARE teaching them something, and they are learning from you. (I’ve seen students pass despite being in a classroom where the teacher was doing far less than what I presume you are doing.)
Second, there is a lot of truth in the saying, “They may not remember what you said, they may not remember what you did, but they will remember how you made them FEEL.” If your students see that you care about them and are invested in them, then you are a true teacher, because…
Teaching isn’t hard.
I mean, not everyone can do it, but once you are one, you realize it. You just spent 4 + years in school learning how to teach, and ironically that’s not the part you need help with. If you are meant to be a teacher, the teaching comes naturally. The love, the patience, the creativity- all of that is par for the course for someone who truly loves to teach.
HOWEVER…once you are in your first classroom, you realize that there are so many facets of teaching that were not covered in those graduate courses. For instance, I never took a course on Lesson Planning. Sure, there were portions of courses that required me to write lesson plans. But those were typically ridiculously long, pre-made templates that are pretty unrealistic in the real world of teaching. I’d spend 6 hours creating a 45 minute lesson. That ratio won’t get you past your first week. Did you ever have a semester of “How To Deal With a Student Who Talks Back?” or “How to Organize your Copies?” Yeah…me neither.
Allow me to propose the schedule that should be required in teacher-prep programs:
Technology 600: Using the Copy Machine (note this is a graduate level course because it requires lots of technology prerequisites that you didn’t realize you’d need to work one of these danged things)
Data Management & Analysis 312: (prerequisite: Statistics 101) How to organize and analyze academic and behavioral data for 20-30 tiny people over the course of 10 months.
Data Management & Analysis 313: A course specifically designed to ensure that the teaching candidate understands how important this data is and how to use it.
Seating Charts 101: How to effectively create a seating chart (that allows each student to thrive and do their best work with no distractions) in less than 5 hours.
Psychology 102: Understanding and navigating school politics
Differentiate-ish 101: How to differentiate daily in your classroom, but still prepare each child to take the same state standardized tests, and why this makes sense. Schedule TBA: there is still no professor available who can actually explain this…
Unfortunately this teacher-prep program is not currently available. 🙂
Luckily, though, I have the next best thing for you! Out if frustration with my own first year teaching experiences, plus the lack of real and honest dialogue out there, I wrote a book. It’s a short book, but it gets the job done! (And, there will be more to come…)
The title So This Is Teaching?, came honestly enough as I ask myself that question almost weekly. This book is a humorous, honest, sometimes raw look at the first few days in my career.
And…
…it also is chock-full of some really great TIPS and ADVICE to ensure that you totally rock your first year! Starting with your interview and taking you through that limbo period between getting hired and the first day of school.
Here’s a snippet of what I share in the book…
Ya’ll, you don’t even know the half of it! When I say my first year was rough, I mean it nearly broke me. I was very close to becoming a statistic because I was so overwhelmed and under-prepared.
Simply stated– I don’t want anyone to feel as lost as I did during their first year teaching. Through the New Teacher Survival Guide, we have covered some important topics that will help you as you embark on the next chapter in your career. This was supposed to be the final installment is this series, and instead it has taken on a life if it’s own!
So This is Teaching?: The First Days of School is book 1 of a series that will help guide and encourage you through your entire first year. Future topics include:
- Behavior management
- parent/teacher conferences
- PLC’s
- co-teaching
- small group instruction
- and all of the other topics that I haven’t thought of yet, but will pop in my head along the way!
Now picture me, standing with the Miss America sash and crown, saying, “I just want to help people!”
I mean, I want world peace and all that, but I’ll start with a smaller scale. I really want to help New teachers, specifically, because I don’t think there is enough good support out there.
So This Is Teaching? is like one of those gourmet meals you get in a fancy restaurant in NYC- smaller than you think you want, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in quality. You will leave the book satisfied and (I hope) wanting to come back for more!
Check it out!
I love this! Such real, hands-on help for teachers!
Thank you!
I love your ideas for courses! Even other educators (anyone who works with kids really) could use that “how to deal with an overbearing parent” course??♀️
Haha I think we should really create a more “real-world” college, don’t you think? ?
Lol, yes. Teacher ed classes are utterly useless and so is 90% of staff development you will take in your life. I got annoyed with it and starting writing PD courses as well. Keep at it!
I am glad I am not the only one who feels this way! I need to take YOUR pd courses!
Haha, I’ll contact you.
Congrats on writing your book! I felt the same way as a freelance music teacher. We had exactly one class in all of our four years of education that even vaguely discussed the business side of running a music studio. To say I was unprepared is an understatement.
Oh my goodness, that’s crazy! I’m glad it wasn’t just me that felt this way. College was great and all, but I need some “real life” courses in there haha! Thank for the encouragement on the book, I’m very excited about it, and more to come! I’m really hoping it will help some of the new teachers to feel not AS unprepared for the craziness as we felt!
Your honesty is very much appreciated – and the excitement about the new school year is there too 🙂
Thank you!
This is awesome 🙂 I would have loved to have read this before jumping into my own classroom! As much as we learned in grad school, there really is nothing like the learning you get from getting your hands dirty and jumping right in.
I know, there’s NOTHING we can say to help prepare new teachers completely, but at least I can offer a bit of honesty and support 🙂
How brilliant! I know so many teachers at my school who would benefit from this. I will send it their way.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate the encouragement and support!
I love that you are sharing about the things you have learned throughout your first year of teaching. I know It can be quite the hard job but without you the youth of America would suffer. so thank you! I love that she wrote an e-book about it. I want to share that with my Teacher friends
Thank you so much for your sweet words! It means a lot. 🙂
I just literally laughed out loud! They totally need those courses and the copy machine is absolute graduate level. I learned how to take that bad boy apart and put it back together again and I have no idea how to change a tire. When I mentor new teachers, I am always saying “Now these are the things you really need to know.” Like what to do when mom and dad start arguing during Parent/Teacher conferences and how to make your bulletin board last. Your book is going to help so many new teachers!
Haha I am so glad another teacher saw the humor 🙂 I was worried maybe it was only funny to me! I am embarrassingly honest in the book, but I just feel like it all needs to be said. While there’s no way to prepare new teachers for everything, I certainly would have appreciated some real talk! Thank you, I hope it does help some people- that would make my little teacher heart happy 🙂
As you said, the teaching part is easy. It comes naturally when you love it, but there is sooo much more to the job. Real talk is what every new teacher needs!
My sister has been a teacher for a few years now. This gives me a better look on it. Thank you.
Now you know why she may have been going a little crazy! 🙂
What a great resource for teachers! So much real life experience info!
Thank you!
Wow, I never realized how stressful being a teacher can be! This looks like a great resource for new teachers! 🙂
Lauren
Haha it is very stressful, but equally rewarding. Much of the stress stems from being unprepared, so I am hoping that these resources will help some of the new teachers who are just starting out! Thank you!
This sounds like a great resource! I think I would even enjoy reading it as a homeschool parent. I’m not a teacher by training so I’ve had to learn a lot “on the job” and it’s been quite a learning experience. Some days I feel like I have no idea what I’m doing!!
Oh, I still have days I feel like that! On the job training is the best kind, but it never hurts to have a little insider knowledge ahead of time! 🙂
HAHA! love your outline of courses. Pinned your post <3
Hehe ? thank you!!
I’m not a teacher, but this sounds so interesting! There’s so much that goes into teaching – it seems like a challenging career for sure.
Thank you! It is challenging but so rewarding and so worth it! There is just a lot that can slap you in the face as a newbie, and it can easily rattle you to the point where you feel like you aren’t a good teacher. I am hoping to help that first – year struggle be a bit easier!
This sounds so awesome! As a mom of there elementary school daughters, I don’t know how you do it. But THANKS YOU!!! I can only imaging how challenging being a teacher can be. My girls have been blessed to have some awesome teachers so far and as a parent I try my best to support those teachers any way I can.
Thank you! It’s a challenging career but it’s so rewarding and worth everything. I love it! Thanks for all of your support ❤️
This post is so helpful! As an assistant professor, the first year can be challenging!
~Jessica
Thank you! That means a lot coming from you!
My mom is a teacher, so I’m sending this on to her. She will love this!!
Aw really, I knew I liked you- Teacher kid! Thank you I really appreciate that 🙂
Definitely copying some tis for my dad, he is a teacher too and that is for sure such a hard work xo
http://www.theninebyivana.blogspot.com
Thank you!
Your book sounds great! I would have loved something like it my first year of teaching. Your course suggestions need to be submitted to every college in the nation ASAP!
Hehe thank you, wouldn’t it be lovely if this was the curriculum?!
We have lots of teachers in our family so I can relate just from listening in on their conversations. One new class that needs to be added is incorporating fidget spinners into the classroom! Lol
Hahaha! Oh goodness I forgot about that one! Ugh those darn fidget spinners!
This is so helpful for teachers. Also fidget spinners!
Oh yes, can’t forget those fidget spinners!!
What a great resource! I’ll have to share it with my teacher friends!
Thank you!!
Another course suggestion: Facial Control 101: How to keep a straight face when your principal announces some ridiculous new policy.
Right????!!! I totally need to add that one! ??
Lovelovelove the classes that you would teach! ? They look like they’d be SO useful!
Haha I think so! ?
So cool, I love it. looking forward to going back and reading some of your older post.
Hey girl!!! Thank you, I really appreciate that! I love connecting with other like-minded educators! 🙂
Teaching is definitely hard. The skills and patience both. I am sure teachers will find your practical tips useful.
❥ tanvii.com
Thank you, I certainly hope so!
This is amazing advice! As a former teacher, I can relate too all of this!
Thank you! You know from experience, I’m sure! ?
Congrats on writing your book! I was a teacher for thirteen years and I still haven’t figured out the differentiation and standardized test question! You raise some good points about what colleges should cover in teaching programs! Best of luck to you!
Wow that’s an awesome teaching career! It’s a crazy world in education right now, but hopefully soon we can start to align the preparation with the reality?
This is awesome, you are so on point. I’m just starting my 3rd year and FINALLY feel like I have things somewhat together. Each year brings new challenges, but dang that first year (and especially first week!!) was so rough!
Congrats on making it through hehe! I’m telling you, that first year beat me up! I am glad it’s not jut me that felt this way, either. So much to learn! I hope you have an awesome year 🙂