7 Tips for New Teachers Starting the School Year

As the summer is coming to a close, and school years are starting – we wanted to welcome all of the new teachers that are going to be starting this fall. The experience can be overwhelming, so we wanted to pull together some advice from different teachers that new teachers can use as they begin their teaching careers.

 

1. Make personal connections with your students.

Making personal connections with your students will help you to better understand where they are coming from. Get to know your students, and let them get to know you.

 

2. Work to maintain work/life balance.

Set a few personal boundaries, and stick to them. We don’t want you to burn out, so it’s important to set boundaries early. Oftentimes, if you spend too much time and energy in your classroom, that can become the expectation. Setting boundaries is healthy, and it helps to make sure that you are able to do the things you love outside of school, therefore making you enjoy your time in school more as well.

 

3. Make sure you take care of yourself – your mind and your body.

Taking care of your own well-being can help ensure the likelihood of your success as a new teacher. Take care of your body by getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, drinking enough water, and exercising when you can. Make sure that you are taking care of your mind as well by finding time to do things that you really enjoy, getting enough rest, spending time with loved ones, finding a mentor, and talking to a mental health professional if needed. Taking care of your overall well-being will help to keep you from feeling burnt out and help to make sure that you are enjoying your time at school, doing your best as a teacher, and helping your kiddos.

 

4. Find a mentor and get support from other teachers.

This one is essential as your colleagues will know exactly what you are going through. Build strong relationships with other teachers, and help each other out when you can. Having a strong, consistent mentor has been shown to help teachers stay in the profession longer and also has an impact on student outcomes as well.

 

5. Ask for help, and learn from your mistakes.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. The other teachers at your school have been in your shoes before and understand exactly what you’re experiencing. This is where finding a strong mentor can be especially helpful so you have someone to go to with any questions you might have.

 

6. Never stop learning!

Take advantage of professional development, and keep up with the times. It can be inspiring to learn from other adults that are excited about education, and keeping up with the latest teaching trends and forms of technology can really help you to connect with your students more.

 

7. Write down your vision for yourself as a teacher.

What is your goal as a teacher? Why did you become a teacher? Write out your answers and keep this somewhere you can refer back to. Having your intentions written out can help you to stay motivated during difficult periods of time.

 

Best of luck to new teachers and veteran teachers as you begin the school year!

Feel free to visit rockdigi.org to see some of Rock Digi’s sample lessons to teach students about social emotional learning, mental health resources, substance abuse prevention, and other life skills for success.

 

We plan to release some new items in the near future, so make sure to follow us on any of our social media for updates on new releases!

Visit rockdigi.org for more information and free trial lessons.