It will be seven years ago this summer, that I first started teaching.
If I could go back and tell myself what to do, and what not to do. I think it would save me a lot of headaches.
My list of helpful advice to myself:
- Don’t over volunteer yourself.
- Offer a polite “no” instead.
- You are worthy of the best school district.
- Put your needs first.
- Don’t take work home with you(especially emotionally).
- Hold on to your true work friends.
- Don’t worry about write ups.
- Take care of yourself during the school year, so you can enjoy the breaks.
- Just because other teachers are doing it, doesn’t mean you have to.
- Create professional relationships with your students(classroom management 101).
My first year of teaching I was hired to teach one sport, teach two different subjects, and manage yearbook.
When they realized I could do all that pretty competently, they started to ask me to do more. I wanted to make a good impression and prove I was an amazing teacher, so I took on more. But by the end of the year I deeply regretted ever allowing myself to take on more.
At the end of my first year I had taught four different subjects, coached three different sports, become the senior sponsor(had to raise at least two thousand dollars), became the district technology department, mowed all the fields I coached on, and I was threatened into getting my CDL(in which I did). On top of what I was originally hired for.
They also didn’t pay me for completing the yearbook, because I didn’t raise all of the $1,700 required for it.
Long story short, please don’t over volunteer yourself and offer a polite no instead.
Better District
I could have solved most of my first year problems, if I had just waited for one of the bigger districts to get back to me.
But I took the first offer I received and didn’t do my research.
I hope to share more on the other bullet points.
I truly hope this helps you in some way.
1st Year Texas Teachers 