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My first teaching job was an hour and fifteen-minute drive from my house (one way). While it was quite the hike, I was just tickled to death to have a job as an English teacher, especially since it was one of the most challenging subjects to get a job in. Apparently, like me, every bookworm out there wants to be an English teacher, Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society or Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Minds. I always preferred Pfeiffer – maybe because of Coolio’s incredible song, “ Paradise.”
I’d wake up at 4:45 every morning and grind it out as Mark Cuban says. I’d go to the gym, then make my way to Caesar Rodney School District, cruising down Route 1 in my yellow, 2003 Dodge Neon. Even though the ride was long, I enjoyed these mornings.
So often, I’d sip my Wawa coffee and energize myself for the day. Give myself a pep talk so I could enter the classroom with confidence and enthusiasm. I was a 24-year-old teaching a bunch of 17 and 18-year-olds, so my nerves were heightened.
Supporting new teachers is not just a nice-to-have; it's an absolute must for the health of our educational system.
Thankfully, I was not going it alone and co-taught with two incredible teachers. I watched and learned from them, strengthening and refining my skills. I recall one of them in particular provided the coaching I so desperately wanted.
Having these teachers as my mentors was a gift. Reflecting on my first year and the many new teachers I have seen as an administrator, it’s clear that there are some common threads to success.
In this post, I’ll review why we must support new teachers, especially during their first year. Then, I’ll provide five guidelines for first-year teachers to follow to ensure their success this fall.
The First-Year Teacher Question
Supporting new teachers is not just a nice-to-have; it's an absolute must for the health of our educational system. This should come to no surprise to any teacher, but research consistently shows that without proper support, new teachers face a high risk of burnout and attrition, which can negatively impact student outcomes and school culture (Ingersoll, 2012).
We should not be complicit and allow this to happen.
New teachers leave the profession at alarmingly high rates. According to a study by the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly 44% of new teachers leave the profession within the first five years (NCES, 2018). This revolving door is not only costly but also disruptive to student learning. Imagine building a house with a rotating crew of carpenters – not exactly a recipe for stability and success, right? You’d probably have warped floors and mismatched stairs. No, thank you.
Teaching can be stressful, and new teachers are particularly vulnerable. A study by the American Federation of Teachers found that 61% of teachers often feel stressed, compared to 30% of the general workforce (AFT, 2017). Stress can lead to burnout, which in turn can lead to higher attrition rates. This is why new teachers must immediately connect with others within a supportive, joyful learning environment (Smith & Ingersoll, 2004). Let’s face it – we all need that colleague who can share a laugh and a coffee when things get tough. ☕
New teachers often enter the classroom with a solid theoretical foundation but need practical, hands-on experience to thrive. While some universities have extended year-long student teaching practicums, we all know that one year isn’t enough.
A supportive school culture is essential for retaining new teachers. When new teachers feel valued and included in the school community, they are more likely to stay. This means fostering a collaborative environment where teachers share resources, strategies, and moral support.
Stress can lead to burnout, which in turn can lead to higher attrition rates. This is why new teachers must immediately connect with others within a supportive, joyful learning environment (Smith & Ingersoll, 2004).
According to a study by Johnson and Birkeland (2003), teachers who feel part of a professional learning community are more likely to remain in the profession. Remember, no one likes to feel like the new kid in the cafeteria – let's make sure our new teachers have a seat at the table.
When we put the proper supports in place and provide new teachers with the right resources, they can thrive. And when our teachers thrive, so do our students. Invest in them and share the five guidelines below so that they have a successful first year. Our new teachers deserve nothing less.
5 Tips for Being a Rocking Success Your First Year as a Teacher
No one wakes up in the morning wanting to fail. We all want to do the best we can. But sometimes, doing the best we can is super challenging. That’s why I’ve pulled together these five guidelines for any new teacher to follow to ensure a level of success in their very first year:
1. Find your people
You will unequivocally need to find your people. Who are your go-tos? Who is highly respected? Who knows how to navigate the toughest of parent conversations? The mentor you're assigned will be one of these people, but search for others.
Gathering multiple perspectives and hearing various thoughts and feelings on a topic can lead you to the answer. Strengthen your ability to sift through views so that you arrive at what you think is best in a given situation. Limiting yourself to one perspective would be myopic. Broaden your circle and start connecting.
While it might be hard as the new kid on the block, gather the courage and fortitude that landed you the job and forge relationships. These connections will get you through the best of times and the worst of times (I 💗Charles Dickens).
Learn how to say no and stand by your values. Hold true to who you are. When working with peers, have the confidence to share your perspective with conviction.
2. Be firm, fair, & friendly
Now this is a two-parter. The first is probably obvious…. your students. Years ago when I was interviewing for teaching jobs, I asked my aunt (a veteran teacher) what advice she had for a new teacher.
"That’s easy," she said with a smile. “Be firm, fair, and friendly.”
This simple mantra has stuck with me because it rings true. As a teacher, you must establish routines and expectations with your students. You must also provide them with discipline that encourages them to become productive human beings.
Now the fair part does not mean you treat everyone equally. You should treat everyone equitably. You consider that specific child, their history, personality, strengths, and needs and make a decision.
Finally, you must be kind, loving, and exude positivity. No one likes a sour puss 😠 and neither do your students. Not every moment will be bubbly and filled with rainbows because we’re human, but the majority of your days should be marked with joy.
Now, being firm, fair, and friendly also applies to your relationships with the adults in the building. Learn how to say no and stand by your values. Hold true to who you are. When working with peers, have the confidence to share your perspective with conviction.
Be fair in your treatment of others and recognize that we all have our own stuff. Every individual is trying to do the best they can.
Finally, when you walk down the hall, exude happiness and friendliness. “Be the Reason Someone Smiles Today.” I try to live by this statement and if you choose to do the same, you’ll not only fill your life with joy but be a bucket-filler for someone else who just might be in need.
3. Ask for help
As a first-year teacher, you must, must, must ask for help. Do not be afraid to fail forward. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. As a building administrator for eight years, I am here to tell you that any administrator who tells you not to ask for help or appears annoyed when you ask for help, shouldn’t be a school leader.
Asking for help shows strength and a willingness to be the best version of yourself. None of us is as smart or capable as all of us. When you find your people, make sure you ask them for assistance.
The moment you stop asking for help and wanting to improve and grow is the moment you fail and do not succeed. Find the courage to lean into the perspectives of the valued veterans around you.
4. Take care of yourself
Self-care, self-care, self-care. I can not emphasize it enough. I tell my new teachers that being the first to arrive and the last to leave is not a badge of honor. I want and need you to have a life outside of school. I appreciate the passion and drive, but if you grind it out day in and day out, you will get burned out.
Take a day off every now and then. Engage in activities that ease your mind, body, and soul. If you have a family with little ones, spend uninterrupted time with them. You are replaceable at work but not at home. 💗 🏡
5. Have fun!
Whether you are teaching 5 year olds or 18 year olds. You must have fun every single day. You have the privilege of knowing and impacting thousands of lives throughout your career. Find humor in the random things kids say and do.
When we have fun at what we do, we will feel energized each morning to come back. With your people and your students, connect on a human level. Not everything has to be curriculum, curriculum, curriculum. There is priceless value in the connections we make with every individual within our school community.
One Last Thought
When you walk into that school building on your first day, notice your surroundings. What gives life to that brick building is the people within it. The learning that occurs. The love that emanates throughout. The joy and smiles of the children within it.
You’ve been given this opportunity for a reason. And it is not just because you interviewed well. There is a purpose for everything that happens to us. You may not ever realize it, or it might hit you decades later.
What is within your power are the choices you make from day one. What you choose to do. Who you choose to be. So as you enter your classroom for the first time this fall, remember that while you might not fully realize why you are where you are, you have the choice and power to make it a fulfilling and incredible school year.
References
American Federation of Teachers. (2017). 2017 Educator quality of work life survey. Retrieved from https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/2017_eqwl_survey_web.pdf
Darling-Hammond, L., Hyler, M. E., & Gardner, M. (2017). Effective teacher professional development. Learning Policy Institute.
Ingersoll, R. M. (2012). Beginning teacher induction: What the data tell us. Phi Delta Kappan, 93(8), 47-51.
Johnson, S. M., & Birkeland, S. E. (2003). Pursuing a “sense of success”: New teachers explain their career decisions. American Educational Research Journal, 40(3), 581-617.
National Center for Education Statistics. (2018). Teacher attrition and mobility: Results from the 2015-16 teacher follow-up survey. U.S. Department of Education.
Smith, T. M., & Ingersoll, R. M. (2004). What are the effects of induction and mentoring on beginning teacher turnover? American Educational Research Journal, 41(3), 681-714.
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