If you are a first year teacher, or if you are mentoring a first year teacher, perhaps the second part in our series “Surviving the First Year Teaching” by guest poster and high school teacher Jeremy Rinkel will provide some helpful insights. Be sure to check out the first five tips here to being a better first year teacher here.
5 More Tips for Surviving the First Year
Don’t Be Afraid to Try New Things
Never be afraid to try new things. Every year, I try to implement new ideas and new technologies in my classroom. I always fear that an activity will not work or students will not grasp the concepts I want them to. When implementing technology in the classroom there is always some frustration that occurs. Do not let it discourage you to try new things. Note what works and what doesn’t.
Know There Will Be Critics
I will never please everyone. Sometimes when trying something new or changing the way things were done in the past offends or puts people on the defense. In some cases when things are working for me, others may become jealous. I experienced this at staff meetings when a particular teacher would make various comments about the new things I was trying.
Network…Network…Network
Many opportunities can arise by discussing similar interests when teachers come together. When I attend a conference, I like to meet the presenters and ask questions after their session. Sharing interests can lead to possible opportunities presenting and writing, but also can lead to continued learning opportunities. Online communities are also a great place to network. Two online communities I belong to are The English Companion Ning and the Ebook Educators Group. These sites allow you the opportunity to share thoughts and ideas with other like-minded teachers. Taking the opportunity to network has provided many opportunities outside my classroom.
Don’t Settle for the Status Quo
Do not settle for the norm. Shoot for the stars. Set some realistic goals. Do not become comfortable with lessons. Try and add new things every year. I remember having teachers that pulled their plan book out from ten years ago and the exercises and activities were still the same. Go above and beyond in your classroom. Not settling for the status quo will make you a better teacher.
Seek Out Opportunities, Don’t Let Them Come to You
Look for ways to advance and grow in your professional life. Look for opportunities to share your knowledge. Opportunities will very rarely come to you. You need to seek the opportunities that will advance your career. As stated above, online groups for teachers are a great source. Through researching learning opportunities, I came across Itunes University. Itunes University is a great source of lectures. Attending a webinar is also a great learning opportunity.
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If you could give a new teacher one piece of advice for their first year on the job, what would it be?
* Jeremy Rinkel is a published author and researcher in the fields of globalization, technology, and education. He believes that education is the key to solving world challenges. In addition to teaching High School English and Speech, Mr. Rinkel is an adjunct instructor at Kaskaskia College. With a Masters Degree in Educational Policy, he was chosen by Scholastic to be an Online Teacher Advisor for grades 9-12 during the 2011-2012 school year.
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