Unfortunately, however, the challenges of the classroom and the profession can discourage new teachers and wear them down before they gain the experience to become great teachers and lead their students to be the best they can be.
The Center for American Progress dedicated its February 2005 issue to teachers and education. The center listed these statistics: "The U.S. Department of Education reports that over the next decade, more than two million new teachers will walk into a classroom for their first day. Unfortunately, as the National Center for Education Statistics found, 666,000 of those new teachers will leave sometime during the first three years of teaching and one million of them will not make it past five years."
In order to successfully pass on wisdom to students, teachers must first be content with themselves and their situation. Here are a few tips to help new teachers navigate the sometimes rough waters they have jumped into by answering the call to help, to share, to educate.
Suggestions for Dealing with Students
Teachers have to both control a classroom whilst keeping the atmosphere open, so that learning can occur. In this sense, a teacher is like a tightrope walker, having to successfully balance or fall.
Lynn M. Fisher, an award-winning teacher and counselor who is now retired, offered these tips for dealing with students.
- Spell out classroom rules relating to behaviour and class work. Make it clear what is acceptable in the classroom and what is not. Make sure classroom rules are in accordance with district and campus guidelines. Hold firm to these rules. Ease up later, if needed. .
- Do not try to be a “pal” to students. Teaching is not a popularity contest.
- Teachers who are asked questions they cannot answer should admit they do not know the answer. Be willing to try to find the answer. Students are often underestimated in their intelligence when it comes to figuring out their teacher is not being up front with them.
A classroom is a unique exercise of mingling personalities, sharing knowledge, and building trust. Standing by their principles and being firm and honest, yet kind, is the best way for teachers to establish from the start an atmosphere conducive to learning.
Suggestions for Dealing with Colleagues
Being able to successfully collaborate with and get along with colleagues is essential for a successful teaching career.
Lynn M. Fisher also offered these tips for cultivating successful relationships with colleagues.
- Ask questions about anything not known or understood. Most schools are now assigning experienced teachers to mentor new teachers. Remember that everyone was a first-year teacher at one time, so do not be afraid to ask.
- New teachers should remember they are teachers, not bulldozers. New persons who comes in – especially inexperienced ones – and who immediately start in with “ways to do things better” will probably find themselves met with more resentment than enthusiasm. If there is something that could be done better or more efficiently, offer a suggestion of change, not a demand.
- Be enthusiastic and helpful. Certainly, weekends are precious to those who work five days a week. However, occasionally volunteering time outside of regular hours will be remembered favourably.
Teachers have many challenges to juggle and they must balance relationships with both students and colleagues. Being honest, hard-working, and open to suggestions will help ensure success.
Tips for New Teachers on How to Go the Extra Mile
TeachersFirst.com, a teacher-dedicated website, offers some specific as well as general tips from a 16-year teaching veteran and frequent teacher mentor.
These suggestions explain to new teachers how to empower themselves by going above and beyond expectations. More general tips for success also are offered along with more specific tips.
Specific tips include:
- Use the school's, college's, or university's library. Use this resource not only to expand knowledge but also ask for space to put up a back-to-school bulletin board, displaying ambition and an eagerness to help.
- Maintain availability to students, parents, and colleagues. Go in early to work and be willing to stay afterwards, even if it is only for 10 minutes;
- Focus on solid preparation and well-written plans;
- Be helpful. This suggestion goes on to explain that new teachers can show their eagerness and abilities by offering to tutor, grade papers, or make copies during recess and lunch hours; and
- Dress as professionally as budget allows.
While these specific tips may be nerve-wrenching and seemingly too much to remember and try to accomplish, remember that more experienced teachers also have attacks of the nerves. This simply demonstrates caring and that the mission of being a successful teacher is deep in one's heart.
These hints and tips for dealing with students, colleagues, and how to go the extra mile are meant to help new teachers, not intimidate them. As long as teachers work from the heart, they cannot help but succeed. This is perhaps the foremost thing that new teachers should remember, because anything done from the heart is done truly, willingly, and well.
Sources:Phone interview with Lynn M. Fisher on 15 August 2009.
TeachersFirst.com.
The Center for American Progress.
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