Celebrate! I am so proud of you!
You’re a first-year teacher!
Take a deep breath, hold it for a second, and when you exhale, give it a good exhale. YOU DID THIS! THAT’S RIGHT, SAY IT!! I DID IT!
Through the coursework, the juggling of life and school, and standing in front of 32 students with no answer to a student’s unanticipated question. It was hard, but YOU MADE IT!!
I absolutely love this for you!
If you’re new here, WELCOME! I’m Jenni – a teacher mentor and coach helping teachers from their student teaching practicum (preservice) all the way through those first few pivotal years of teaching! Grab your guide here. Each week, I’ll share strategies and tips, and every month, you’ll get the latest guides and support from me!
I remember walking out of the interview, making it to my car, and getting the phone call. I had gotten the teaching job of my dreams! All the ideas and Pinterest boards were coming to mind! I couldn’t wait to get started, reading the curriculum, planning lessons, and making the room my own. Shortly thereafter, overwhelm crept in. I wanted the “Jenni touch” on everything – the library bins, the labels, the theme of the room. Oh yes, I wanted to start bare and make it mine. I was putting so much unnecessary pressure on myself. Don’t be like me! BUT instead, let me help YOU get ready for your first year!
It’s the summer before, your very own classroom! If you’re going to want a theme for your classroom decor, pick it and go with it! You certainly don’t need a theme, so don’t let it consume you. I’ve had themes like “It’s great to BEE in first grade” and I’ve done color schemes as my theme (black with neon pops of color – my personal favorite)! There’s no right or wrong, so don’t stress it.
Must Haves
DON’T spend your money on all the cutesy stuff. Go ahead and get some things; we both know that you will! But you don’t need high-priced fancy pencils, markers, and highlighters. Remember, your students are also going to bring in lots of supplies. My top 2 first year teacher purchases would definitely be:
- Excellent Heavy-Duty Sharpener – this will be used many, many times a day.
- Mailbox System – this is key for easy organization of students’ homework, sending communication home, returning assessments, and work.
Bonus Buys
Here are 3 Bonus Buys (these are great but not necessary, you can likely borrow these from a colleague or the main office during the year):
- Electric hole puncher – if you’re a binder lover, this will make life easier for you.
- Electric stapler – nothing sucks up more time than having to collate and staple tons of copies for the week. Speed up the process a little faster with this gem.
- Laminator – posters, anchor charts, and student support materials can also be reused year after year or used by multiple students when laminated (all they need is a dry-erase marker handy). As you become familiar with strategies you visit regularly and activities in the curriculum that are essential, you’ll want to laminate these for longer-term savings of time and money!
Set-up, Layout, and Organization
When the school year nears, teachers are often required to come in and attend school-wide meetings, grade-level meetings, and professional development sessions. For peace of mind, I always handled my classroom setup 2-3 days over the summer so it was just done. It brought me joy – good music, my mom, my boyfriend, and a vision… I was ready to go! (If this is something that does not bring you joy, by all means – don’t do it! I have best friend teachers who decorate and create their classroom environment with their students as the year begins, and it’s completely effective and beautiful, too!)
Whenever you decide to get into your classroom, don’t be afraid to go with a classroom layout and organization system you’ve seen during your observations and student teaching. As you see how your colleagues do it, your style will evolve, AND THAT’S THE BEST PART! But be sure that everything has a home. Homework should all be collected the same way, assignments can be found in the same place each day, writing materials are housed in a writing area, and math manipulatives are stored within the math area. (Don’t fret. These don’t have to be large areas in the room! Us teachers are really good at working the space we got!)
Make Time for Yourself
I will remind you… again, again, and again. Prioritize your mental health and well-being. Do things that bring you joy. Spend time with those you love. Enjoy the calm you deserve in your life. Enjoy your life. You’re doing the best you can, you’re giving it your all, and that’s enough! You deserve balance.
I know you’re probably soaking in all the information you can get! And I see you, I did the same.
Other Reads You Might Be Interested In:
- Dear First Year Teacher Me: An Open Letter to First-Year Teachers Everywhere
- First-Year Teacher Advice: “Dear First Year Teacher Me”
- First Year Teaching, All Over Again
- Mistakes to Avoid as a First-Year Teacher
If you’re looking for additional support and guidance throughout your first year of teaching, let’s chat! Throw time on my calendar. During this free chat, we’ll share a little about ourselves and then focus on your questions!
Your first year teaching will be tough. But it DOES get easier. You will doubt yourself. But you WILL become more confident. The content becomes easier to teach. You’ll manage time and tiny humans better. The first year will test you, but it will not define you. When things get hard– feel those feelings but then move forward! Learn from it and leave it. Get ready for what’s next, knowing you’ve got another experience builder under your belt. Teaching is beautiful chaos but leave it there. Annie Ridgway from Ride Away with Mrs. Ridgway says it perfectly, “Set aside time and space to do grading at home if you must, but make your home life sacred and separate from school.”
SHOUT IT OUT TO THE WORLD! LET US CELEBRATE YOU! If you just got hired and are getting ready for your first classroom, or if you’re in your first year of teaching, tell us what grade you’re teaching and where you’re from!
