Times change. The advice experienced teachers offer early-career teachers should evolve, too.
Some trusted tips are timeless, but others can be shaped by the ever-changing K-12 education landscape. In 2021, we asked experienced educators on Twitter to share their best tips for new teachers; this past month, in response to a second query, they
Find support in veteran teachers
Mentors matter. They can make a substantial difference in helping early-career educators find their footing and encouraging them to stay. In 2021, 91制片厂视频 Week Staff Writer Elizabeth Heubeck wrote about the most effective components of mentorships to benefit new teachers.
Among experienced teachers, former mentees, and current mentors鈥� answers: Ensuring that mentors and mentees stay in close contact, that mentors are 鈥渋mpartial鈥� and 鈥済uide from the side,鈥� and that new teachers choose their own goals.
The article cited on teacher retention and mobility, which found that a very high percentage of first-year teachers who had mentors鈥攎ore than 9 in 10鈥攔eturned to the classroom for a second year.
EdWeek readers responding agreed with the importance of mentorship:
鈥淪eek out a mentor teacher now.鈥�
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鈥淔ind veteran teachers that care. They can be your greatest treasures and cheerleaders!鈥�
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Check out what characteristics our social media followers say comprise the best mentors.
Set boundaries
A 2022 nationally representative survey of teachers found that the typical teacher works about 54 hours a week, promptingconversations about 鈥渜uiet quitting鈥� and not working outside of contract hours.
Many commenters pointed to learning how to set solid boundaries as an essential skill for early-career teachers.
鈥淲ork will be there tomorrow.鈥�
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鈥淭ake the mental health day.鈥�
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鈥淚t鈥檚 ok to say no.鈥�
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Set yourself up for success
Novice educators must learn to be theiown advocate. This can be in the form of remembering you鈥檙e the expert when it comes to your classroom or getting ahead of your retirement planning.
鈥淜now your professional worth.鈥�
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鈥淎lways document, know your rights.鈥�
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鈥淪tart saving for retirement now.鈥�
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Keep a positive mindset
Keeping an optimistic outlook can be helpful for anyone struggling to push through those tough days.
But educators should make sure that doesn鈥檛 tip over into toxic positivity 鈥攐r the papering over of legitimate feelings of anxiety, stress, or despair with saccharine, out-of-the-box phrases like, 鈥渓ook at the good things you鈥檝e got.鈥� Thatdoesn鈥檛 promote resilience in children or adults, said Marc Brackett, the director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence in a 2021 EdWeek article.
鈥淒o not take anything personally.鈥�
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Look for the good.
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鈥淵ou will learn. Have patience.鈥�
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鈥淥ne day at a time.鈥�
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Respect your team
From paraprofessionals to bus drivers, schools rely on many different roles to run smoothly. It can be incredibly rewarding and helpful to connect with colleagues both inside and outside the classroom.
鈥淏e nice to support staff.鈥�
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鈥淢VPs are the secretary and custodian!鈥�
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鈥淭reat all staff as equals.鈥�
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Remember your why
鈥淚t won鈥檛 get any easier. It will get better, though, because you will get better,鈥� wrote Justin Minkel in a 2019 91制片厂视频 Week Opinion essay.
Teaching is not an easy profession, but showing yourself some grace, and remembering what drove you to teach can help make it a rewarding one.
鈥淎lways remember why you teach.鈥�
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鈥淭oughest job you鈥檒l ever love.鈥�
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