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13 things I wish I had known when I first started teaching

You got certified to be a teacher and now you are excited to start your journey as a teacher. You can’t wait to implement everything that you have learned. In a few days, you will be walking to a classroom for the first time and meeting your very first set of students. It feels wonderful, doesn’t it? That was exactly how I felt the first time I entered the classroom after the who​le process of the interviews, background checks, and demo classes.  I found out the hard way that all those teaching courses, degrees, and certificates teach so much about what students need, but there are things that we all learn on the go. After over a decade of teaching in schools, some of these things have become second nature to me.

 
Nevertheless, I wish I had known these things before I entered my first classroom

 

Comfortable Shoes

This probably sounds silly, but I remember the first day I started teaching. I made the mistake of wearing heels that look nice but
were not exactly comfortable. Don’t make the same mistake as I did. You will probably be walking all day so wear something comfortable. I also keep a few pairs of shoes under my desk in the staffroom to change into.

Not everyone will like you

​Whether it be colleagues, parents, or students, you will always have people who may not like you for whatever reason. Get used
to that! As a rule, I do not accept any lunch or dinner invitations from parents. I once had an interesting experience with a parent who was unhappy with me because I did not attend her child’s birthday dinner. She went out of her way to tell other parents that I was too ‘uptight’ and ‘proud’. Over the years, I have learned to ignore such comments. In the same school, five years later, all the parents got together and held a farewell lunch for me the day after I left that school.

Take time to chat with students

​This one is probably something you already know. Students (even Middle and High School students) will tell you so many things
about themselves if you take the time to talk to them and get to know them. I tell them a few stories about myself too, and this builds a positive relationship. Students like to know that their teachers are also human.

Plan and Organize

​Planning and staying organized is extremely important. It is not only planning lessons and delivering them within the given time, but also keeping track of deadlines, making sure that the classroom resources and teacher resources are there, and the time allocated for everything in the to-do lists. I love colors, and I use different colored sticky notes, highlighters, and pens to color-code my work to keep myself organized. I also have one of those big calendar organizers courtesy of my coordinator, and I put all my deadlines in there. Find out what works for you.

Have Fun

​You’re going to be doing this job for a while, so you may as well have fun doing it. When I first started teaching I was very nervous. I had all these questions like; would I make mistakes, would students like my teaching, would it show that I am inexperienced – the list went on. As
time passed, I understood that this is a learning process for the teacher and the students. We all make mistakes and we move on. Students will like you if they see you as a genuine person. The experience bit takes time. So, the bestwe can do is enjoy the journey.

Ask the students

​It was not until six months after my first time teaching did I remember that there was such a thing as class observations, and it affects my job. It was then that I saw many areas where I could improve if only I had asked the students for their opinions – something I obviously did not think of doing. I learned my lesson there. Now, I make sure to ask them what they think and change my teaching strategies when needed.

Set expectations and  keep practicing them

​Students need to know expectations. We make essential agreements with them, but these rules should be implemented and practiced. Be very clear about routines and practice those routines in every session, so students know what is expected of them. Be very clear about the
consequences of breaking rules and make sure students have consequences when they do something they are not supposed to. Students observe and they take teachers who do not stick to their word for granted. 

​Ask for help

​When I started teaching, I was a little unsure of whether I should ask other teachers for help, thinking that if I do, they would think I was not good enough to be a teacher. After many years, I know that talking to other teachers and asking for help makes work so much simpler. I
ask other teachers for ideas on things like classroom organization, teaching strategies, dealing with behavior issues, and anything else that I need. Asking for help can not only make things easier for you, but it also helps build relationships with other teachers.

Have a bag of tricks

​I learned the hard way that being over prepared is better than being under prepared. Sometimes, classes don’t go as planned. Sometimes students are not in the mood to do an intense class because they just finished an hour-long test and cannot focus anymore. Sometimes, the lesson just finishes earlier than planned. So, I always have a few alternate strategies in case a class doesn’t go too well, and an actual little ‘bag’ with a few things for such emergencies. 

Build positive relationships with the school staff

​The school staff like the admin, secretaries, and even the janitors are your allies in school. Building positive relationships with them goes a long way. The foyer area for the grade level that I am the head of has four classrooms. When we have student birthday parties, I share the food and goodie bags with the two janitors who oversee my foyer area. In return, they offer their help whenever I am decorating my foyer
and moving things around.

Social Media is your friend

​In the age of social media, it is very easy to connect with teachers around the world to get ideas, discuss issues, and just find a place to vent. Being active on various social media sites would help new teachers a lot. I started checking out teacher pages on social media only a few years into teaching. Start earlier. I wish I had. 

Bring your own plates, mugs, and bottles

​The first day I started teaching, I never thought about what I would do when I get thirsty. I did not take a bottle or cup with me to school. Even worse, the cafeteria did not sell bottled water. Luckily, another teacher gave me his spare cup until I got my own. Now, I keep two mugs, a spare bottle, a plate, and a cutlery set in my locker in school, along with my own coffee, tea, and sugar because I personally do not like what they provide. I also have my own pen stand and various other things to make my area feel more comfortable.

Your breaks are important to prevent burnout

​You need to be healthy to teach. That to-do list never gets over, so don’t sacrifice your sleep and food for it. If you are given monthly leaves or half-a-day absences as part of the contract, take them. Drink water frequently and use the restrooms. Eat when you should. True, there
are some days we have to take our work home, but don’t make it a habit. I remember one year when I barely did anything other than schoolwork because I took on too many responsibilities. I have learned to say no when I should. Your sanity matters!

​I know this looks overwhelming. It feels like there is so much to do and not to do. You cannot do everything at once. It is a learning process, and my advice is to try doing one thing at a time before starting a new one. I started teaching by chance but stayed a teacher by choice
because it is a wonderful job!  I am so excited for you and I know that you will be the amazing educator that you are meant to be.

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