Rewind back to my first year of teaching. It was an epic fail.

Coming straight out of grad school with a not-so-great student-teaching experience, I truly had no clue what I was doing.

I had just moved 800 miles from home without knowing a single person, and my department provided very little guidance on what was expected of me.

I did not even know what my curriculum or assessment tool was until about three months in when an amazing coworker, now turned friend, gave me the lay of the land.

Oh and did I mention on the very first day of school I had a student poop going down the slide? So not only did I have students covered in literal crap but I ticked off the rest of the teachers by shutting down the playground for the rest of the day.

So why am I sharing this with you? Because we all start somewhere. Some of you may walk into a completely set up classroom with a supportive administrator. Others will walk into a completely empty room with outdated supplies or maybe even none. One of you may have a kid poop on the slide.

We all have different teaching obstacles and journeys. I have 10 pieces of advice to help you along your journey.

1) Make Mistakes

We are only human and we all make mistakes. Your lesson plans will fail, you will address behavior in an inefficient way, or you will lock yourself out of your classroom. It’s okay!

Making mistakes is a huge part of learning and growing. They are also one of the best ways to figure out what works and doesn’t.

2) Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

When in doubt ask for help! Between the professionals in your building and the world of social media, there are a ton of people out there (including me🙋‍♀️) who would love to help you on your new teacher journey. Just ask!

3) Progress Over Perfection

Rome wasn’t built in a day people. Do not get down when you make mistakes.

It’s hard to fight off imposter syndrome. Instead of focusing on what went wrong, focus on the small wins. Making it through school time in itself is sometimes just a win.

4) Find a System That works for You

When it comes to classroom routines, staying on top of paperwork, or organizing your room, find what works for YOU!

There are a million ideas floating around out there. You have to find what works for you. It will take some time to figure out and even fail but once you have these systems in place it will make life so much easier.

5) Set Boundaries

Everyone has their own limits. If you want to stay past contract hours, that’s great! If you refuse to stay past dismissal, that’s awesome! Accepting a committee chair, congrats! Declining to take on an extra project, fantastic!

Explore what your limits are and stick to them. Be confident in your decisions

6) Find Your Support system

I cannot stress this one enough. Find your people/person. It can be a coworker, district administrator, or even an online teacher group like the Early Childhood SPED Club.

It is so important to have someone to lean on when times get tough, bounce ideas off of, or even just vent. Teaching is an emotional rollercoaster, and having a good support system from someone in the field makes a world of difference.

7) Quit Stressing About Classroom Decor

Should I go with a boho theme or farmhouse chic? It does not matter! You want your classroom to be functional and accessible. That is your top priority.

The things do have to match! Yes, those Pinterest-perfect classrooms plastered on social media are beautiful, but they are time-consuming and expensive. Focus on building up your classroom systems, management, and student success before you dive into extreme home makeover mode.

8) Interact With School Staff

Now I’m not saying you need to knock on everyone’s door and formally introduce yourself to every single person BUT you do need to make contact with your school janitor/day porter and secretary. I go to these two to help people more than my principal. Need a picture frame hung? A call home to a parent? These are your people! They are part of your team too!

9) Have Fun

Do not be afraid to make a fool of yourself. On any given day, if you were to walk into my classroom, I would probably show off my horrible dance moves or, even worse, animal impressions.

Just have fun with it! Your students will see you loving yourself and all the silliness you bring, making your classroom an even safer space for students to be themselves.

10) Join My Free Resource Library

Being a new teacher usually means you are on a tight budget. That is why I created my Free Resource Library. It is filled with over 50 FREE resources, and I am always adding more! You can find visuals, training, data collection, activities, crafts, classroom labels, and so much more! Click HERE to join!

11) BONUS TIP

If you just graduated or went through an alternative track certification program and are still feeling overwhelmed, I am here to help. In my Foundations of Early Childhood Special Education Master Course, I share everything I have learned from ten years in the classroom. If that sounds too overwhelming and you are just trying to get in the right mindset for the new school year, you may want to check out the Mindset of Educator Mini Course.

Being a new teacher is tough but you are not alone! If you have any questions or just want to chat email me at thealternativewaytoprek@gmail.com or DM on Instagram @thealternaitvewaytoprek.