#1 top tip
Join your union
Rest during your holidays. Don’t fall into the trap of doing marking & planning. Teaching is the kind of job where you could work 24/7 and there will still, always, be something else that “needs” to be done. So, when those term breaks come around, put all your teaching paraphernalia aside and just rest, recharge and relax!
Join the union. You never know where or why you’ll need them.
Ask for help when you need it! You won’t look stupid, no one expects you to know it all.
Really take the time to get to know your students. Find out their interests, understand their point of view and build positive relationships because it will help you decide how best to support them to learn and grow as people. If they feel like you “get them” they will be more willing to work with you and you will feel like you are making a difference for them. This sense of purpose greatly helps in working out which parts of the noise and chaos of teaching life you cannot change and should not take up your precious time. Try to always remember why you wanted to be a teacher in the first place and know that you’ve got this!
The IEU is there and is worth every cent (in all honesty I was in my fifth year of teaching in my third diocese before I knew and promptly joined, thanks to a vocal school rep).
Enjoy one of the most enjoyable, challenging, creative, worthwhile, life-changing and necessary careers you could ever take on. Not every day is gold, but every day has that opportunity. Our children deserve you!
Ask for help because you don’t know all the answers and it’s perfectly normal. Be kind to yourself.
Join the union.
It’s not a sprint. It’s a marathon.
It’s OK to say no. Don’t burn yourself out.
Don’t be afraid to try new things.
This too shall pass – it won’t always be this hard.
Get in good with the office staff – they’re the ones really running the school – and if you’re lucky enough to have a learning support officer, value them and their expertise properly by using them to support students.
No question is stupid. When you ask for advice, listen and apply it. There’s a good chance the experienced teacher who gave it knows it will work. It takes six weeks to develop good habits with students and only two weeks to lose them. Be consistent!
Write down every funny thing that happens. When you retire, this could be the basis for a book.
Find a great mentor, build rapport with your students while setting, supporting and expecting them to meet high expectations; connect and collaborate with colleagues; understand that there will be challenging moments and try to focus on what you are thankful for; understand that there may always be something more you can do, but prioritise what is important as well as self care and balance; be curious and flexible in evaluating your practice (Ask yourself: Is what I’m doing effective, efficient and necessary? If not, change it); remember that teaching is part of what you do but not all you are, so make time for activities/hobbies you enjoy outside of work; and understand your professional rights and responsibilities – your union can help.
You are there to learn and grow too. Tread softly and with kindness to yourself and to your colleagues. Find your people. Join the union. Read a lot but read with intention. Ask questions. Most importantly, learn to see your teacher self as only part of who you are, have a creative outlet.
First thing I did as a beginning teacher was find the union rep for a membership form. Also, understand the power of saying ‘no’.
You don’t need a Pinterest-worthy classroom and you really don’t need all the stuff. If your routines are simple, you will follow them and the class will remember them. You are not there to be the students’ friend. Don’t mistake boundaries for unkindness – by having boundaries and holding them you are being kind. The students will respect and like you, don’t be afraid they won’t like you if you are tough. You’ll never get it all done – learn to live with that feeling, it’s icky. Know that you make a difference – priceless.
Remember why you are there and what motivated you to become a teacher. Find time each week to talk to each one of your students. Get to know them and their passions. Watch out for their ‘a-ha’ moments. And yes, say no to extra work without removing something else from your plate. Look after your health! And yes, join the union.
Be nice to the office staff. They are skilled professionals and you’ll need their help and support.
Find a good mentor after joining the union!
Join. Your. Union.
Don’t expect perfection from yourself or those you teach.
Be brave and say no to doing extra things and ask for help if you feel like you’re drowning.
Use the library and library staff, they can assist with resources. Be kind to yourself, know your workplace agreement, and if you’re asked to do extra, ask what can be taken away from you. Sit back and observe the workplace. Remember that students are your students and not your friends.
Support assistants are there to assist but they are not mind readers.
Be happy to be ‘good enough’ - chasing perfection will kill you and you could always plan a better lesson.
Join the union.
Ask for help when needed.
This is how you say ‘no’: “I’d be happy to add that task to my to-do list, however I’ll need your advice as to which of these A,B,C … tasks I should delete from my schedule to cater to this new request”
Have home life and work balance.
Getting something done is better than doing it perfectly