| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Timestamp | What do you want to tell future educators? | Your name (first and last ... or only first if you really want) | Position (what do you do in education) | Location (city/state if U.S. ... add country if outside U.S.) | ||||||
2 | 8/22/2024 8:03:04 | 1) Don't grade everything 2) Don't take work home every night--you'll burn out | Jansen Wilhite | Teacher | Merkel, Tx | ||||||
3 | 8/22/2024 8:03:35 | Your basket will always be half full. Don’t worry about that. Just get what needs to be done for that week. Don’t look too far ahead because it will seem overwhelming. | Jen | 6th grade Math and ELA teacher | Smithtown , NY | ||||||
4 | 8/22/2024 8:06:39 | It will get better. Plan you classroom management. There are behaviours that are predictable (homework not done, gum chewing, uniform not well worn etc) plan your reactions so you are not emotional in everyday management. Take the time to establish the classroom atmosphere, rules, routines and teach them explcitly, that time invested in September will be a gift in May. | Melanie Bronsard | Instructional coach | Montreal, Canada | ||||||
5 | 8/22/2024 8:07:15 | Get out of your classroom occasionally. Eat lunch with other teachers and have conversations about sport, plumbing, WWII, gardening, and movies. Connect with local and virtual teacher groups for your discipline. Find other teachers who share your faith and touch base regularly. Develop a 60-year vision or Deep Hope for where your students can be. | Bryan Crump | HS Teacher | Auburn Hills, MI | ||||||
6 | 8/22/2024 8:08:54 | It is more important to care for the student than it is to teach the content. That is not to say content isn't important. Content is important, very important! It is just to say that students learn best when they are cared for first. | Nicki | math teacher (grades 5 - 12) | St. Louis, MO | ||||||
7 | 8/22/2024 8:11:16 | Meet students where they are. Love unconditionally. | Katrina Finch | Media Coordinator | Hope Mills, NC | ||||||
8 | 8/22/2024 8:12:22 | I wish I had known to prepare my heart. I wish I had known how much so many of my students would come to mean to me and how hard it would be to say goodbye to them. I wish I had known how much I would hurt when they were hurting. I have watched my students lose friends to tragedy, lose homes to fire, lose families through divorce, lose parents to illness. I have sat with students while they cried because of past trauma or cried because of intolerance from their peers. But I've also celebrated with students when they've gotten accepted to Duke, scored 4's on all three AP exams they prepared for all year, got their driver's license, got asked to prom...the list is endless. No college course in education teaches you this. So my lesson to future educators is to prepare your heart. Prepare it to expand beyond what you thought capable. Prepare to share tears of both joy and sorrow with and for your students. It will change you, and it will do that for the better. | Tracey Budworth | High School English Teacher | Prescott, WI | ||||||
9 | 8/22/2024 8:12:58 | You must take care of yourself. You do this mentally by not working around the clock "for the kids". This will help with the issue of future burn out. You do this physically by not ignoring doctor's visits, proper nutrition and exercise. You do this financially, by investing with a 403 or some other long term investment in addition to the basic retirement savings you have. It is imperative that you start this with your first paycheck. | Stephen Krawczyk | Director of IT, MLP, and Testing | Spartanburg, South Carolina | ||||||
10 | 8/22/2024 8:14:57 | Think ahead… 10 years from now….Consider getting your masters/ doctorate because when and if you want to leave the class for another position in education, you’ll need to be competitive and have a masters for a leadership job or administrator. | :) | Educational Consultant | Florence, AZ. however, I travel for this job. | ||||||
11 | 8/22/2024 8:15:29 | *Don’t sweat the small stuff, instead take the time to relax and get to know your students! *Regardless of the grade level, brain breaks / unified activities are needed- dance, deep breathing, read alouds, joke of the day, 2 truths and a lie etc. if you can laugh together, you can learn together! *nobody expects perfection from you- make mistakes and own up to it in front of your kids-they’ll be more willing to take risks of you do! *October is hard, you will make it through! *Observe your peers (and their reactions and conversations) and get yourself into a POSITIVE AND UPLIFTING group! *Every year, after summer, you’ll feel like a new teacher again! *Try out new tech with the kids, some of it will be amazing and some will stink! YOU don’t have to be an expert-the kids will help you figure it out! | Cindy Hilton | 5th grade RLA teacher | The great city of Houston, Texas! | ||||||
12 | 8/22/2024 8:21:54 | Allow yourself to try new things and don't let failure stop you. Many of my best lessons came when I took a chance to do something new and those that weren't so good. . . well, I didn't repeat them or found ways to tweak them. Keeping things fresh for yourself and your students makes for a dynamic classroom. | Beth Feest | High School Social Studies Teacher | Kenosha, Wisconsin | ||||||
13 | 8/22/2024 8:23:17 | Don't be afraid to try something new. Or just do it scared! Going from being a teacher in the regular classroom to a virtual environment in 2015 was scary, but I knew I had to try it for my family. I was a new mom with 2 babies under 3 years old. I needed a better work-life balance. I didn't know if virtual teaching would give me that, but I took the risk and it worked out. I have been teaching virtually for 9 years now and it has been a blessing. | Larisa Black | Virtual Science Teacher | Rock Hill, SC | ||||||
14 | 8/22/2024 8:24:13 | It is important to know your subject area, but if you really want to be successful you have to care about the students. If you do, that will show and half the battle will be won. And, like someone told me, teenagers lie! Inspiring? No. True? Yes. Don't take it personally. Their world revolves around them and social media and they are into self-preservation. | Eileen O'Connell | I have been teaching high school religion for 30 years. | Villa Hills, KY | ||||||
15 | 8/22/2024 8:25:00 | Set boundaries with students, parents and admin. Take time for yourself. Look for grants to do special projects. Grade with love. Do professional development that interests you. | Kelly G | Spanish teacher | Beatrice, NE | ||||||
16 | 8/22/2024 8:26:25 | Keep a "happy file" (electronic and hard copy). There will be tough days and being able to go back and see messages, cards, etc. from students and families who appreciate you will go a long way toward keeping yourself grounded and remembering your purpose. | Chris H. | Long-time high school social studies teacher but currently serving as a long-term permanent guest teacher. | Bloomington, Indiana | ||||||
17 | 8/22/2024 8:28:09 | Join your local teachers union | Megan Forti | Teacher | DeKalb, IL | ||||||
18 | 8/22/2024 8:29:21 | Set Boundaries for yourself. Take your lunch. Say no when you can't take on one more thing. The world will not come crashing down if you don't accomplish everything in the day. This one I discovered later on in my career. Create a beginning of the school year list at the end of each school year. This allows you to start the school year with your ideas organized and makes it so you can enjoy the most of that refresh over the summer. You will probably forget that you did it and when you start to warm up for the school year you will thank your past self for looking out for your future self. | Jessica Dennison | Library Media Teacher | Kettering/Ohio | ||||||
19 | 8/22/2024 8:34:07 | It's ok to make mistakes, always be willing to learn and try new things, never be afraid to ask questions, and finally RELATIONSHIPS, RELATIONSHIPS, RELATIONSHIPS | Cameron Ross | Digital Learning Leader | Melbourne, Australia | ||||||
20 | 8/22/2024 8:39:50 | Always buy a yearbook! Kids will come back to visit during your career and sometimes it is hard to recognize them. Looking at their picture in the yearbook will bring back lots of memories. | Amy Harpold | High School Assistant Principal | Rockville, IN | ||||||
21 | 8/22/2024 8:40:55 | Students don’t care what you know until they know you care. Building the class culture and climate can be ” Unit 1” | Wendy Wolfe | 7-12 Social Studies & PK-12 Technology Integration | Minneapolis MN | ||||||
22 | 8/22/2024 8:44:43 | There is no better job than teaching. It gives your life a purpose. Relationships with your students are the MOST important part. If you have positive relationships it will keep you going when things get hard and you want to quit. If you have positive relationships with your kids they will learn! They will learn a lot! So spend as much time in the beginning of the year and throughout the year getting to know everything about them and their families. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Laugh. Have fun. Make a plan for self care. What does that look like for you? A massage? A daily walk at lunch? Acupuncture? Meditation? Getting your nails done? Watching a funny show? Take care of yourself first. If your cup isn’t full you can’t take care of your students. You matter! Teaching is importance but it’s a job. No one wins an award for staying at school late. | Lauren | 4th grade | Superior, CO | ||||||
23 | 8/22/2024 8:46:13 | As you are going to college, get a degree in your subject area of choice & add on your teaching classes. I have loved teaching & just started my 36th year but so many feel stuck because they only have a teaching degree. Sometimes I needed a summer job that wasn't related to school or I needed to know that if teaching didn't work out that I could still make a living doing something. | Lori | Science Dept Chair/Instructor | Kansas | ||||||
24 | 8/22/2024 8:51:42 | Letting your students go at the end of your time together is a lot harder than you think it will be. | Amy Jackson | Gifted Specialist | Dothan, Alabama | ||||||
25 | 8/22/2024 8:52:37 | Do lots of jobs, or take a few years to work outside of a school. If you specialise eg science, go and work in a science field, work in a lab, do ecology or geology etc. Just workign and dealing with other people and developing experiences that can be used later in the classroom. It will enrich your teaching life, rather than school, uni, school. | Karen Rusten | Science teacher high school | Regional Queensland, Australia | ||||||
26 | 8/22/2024 8:53:48 | Don't worry about your clothes, water cups, or room decorations! Focus on being an expert in your content area, building an outstanding curriculum full of engaging and PURPOSEFUL lesson plans, and growing student relationships! Be a "student influencer" instead of an "instagram teacher"! | Amy | I teach 7th grade Literature | Salem, Il | ||||||
27 | 8/22/2024 8:55:00 | Sometimes you never get to know the impact you had on a student, but if you ever do, it is the best feeling in the whole world and you will never forget it. It is absolutely worth everything you will ever go through as a teacher. Live for those moments and hold on to them. If a teacher has impacted you greatly, give them that moment, too. | Amy Jackson | Gifted Education | Dothan, Alabama | ||||||
28 | 8/22/2024 8:55:17 | Oftentimes teachers are asked by principals in their interviews whether they want their students to like them or respect them. I don't like that question because it makes it seem like you have to sacrifice one to have the other. But, that's not really true. Teaching is about building trust and relationships with students as you guide them through the learning process, and when a teacher does that well while being passionately committed to providing the best education possible, the result is often that students respect AND like you. | Kendra Sue Finch | Director of Institutional Advancement | Augusta, GA | ||||||
29 | 8/22/2024 8:56:50 | First, make sure you love working with kids. Make sure you get plenty of practicum experiences with students in the classroom before graduating. Second, know that you are not going into education for the paycheck- you're not going to be a millionaire. If you want all the extras you'll probably need a second job. Find the scholarships/grants-- don't be afraid to work in underprivileged schools-- you would be surprised what schools qualify. Use your mentors as resources- reach out to anyone and everyone- create that network because you never know when you will have an issue that you need help with and that one person may have the answer/idea that works. Teachers are guilty for putting in extra hours- decide what you are comfortable with outside of your required contract time and stick to it-- you need to step away from everything (including email/class dojo etc) and take time for you family and self. Time flies- depending on your retirement system, make sure you invest on your own as well- when you're young you may feel poor and can't put in much but anything is better than nothing. It's ok to have a lesson fail- someday you will laugh about it. Always have a backup plan of activities ready to go- whether its for you or a sub. Writing sub plans SUCK whether it is planned or not. Find simple things that the sub can do with your students- don't expect them to replicate what you do in a day- most subs are not actual teachers- help them survive and don't stress out about being gone (it's different if it is a long term sub situation). Have a sub folder prepared with basic activities that can be done anytime of the of the year- again for an unplanned absence- keep your schedule, map of the school (make sure names of important rooms are labeled), classlists (with pics if possible) and ER procedures are inserted. Don't go into education for the summers off or to coach-- there are plenty of other careers that you can do and they will allow you to come coach or take the time off. Make sure ALL of your kids feel loved- even the big smelly ones. :-) | Dawn Timerman | Currently K-5 Cross-categorial Special Education Teacher. In the past have been a Director of SpEd, but went back to teaching 7 years ago. I have taught SpEd at all levels, includent college teacher prep. | Moline, IL | ||||||
30 | 8/22/2024 8:57:47 | Teaching is hard. It's constantly evolving and changing. It takes a lot of work to keep up and be the best for your students. BUT if you have the heart to do it, then it is all worth it. | Amber Williams | SPED Teacher | Hattiesburg, MS | ||||||
31 | 8/22/2024 8:59:30 | To show your students the passion and joy in teaching. You can have fun at this job if you have the passion. You can joke around with your students and you show them that you are human. Be honest with your students. | Ms. Mickey Warner | Special Populations Coordinator | San Antonio, Texas | ||||||
32 | 8/22/2024 9:01:06 | A veteran teacher told me when I was just starting out, make sure you're ready for the next day before you leave school, every day! More recently I've learned you have to meet students where they are, as we don't know where they are coming from or what happened last night or this morning. | Stephanie Orr | Former 5th grade teacher, K-5 Counselor, current long-term sub | Ottawa, KS | ||||||
33 | 8/22/2024 9:17:19 | Live in the future. Not the present or the past. If you stay like a dinosaur, you will never evolve and only be buried. Rejuvenate by going to as many PDs as you can to learn about what you are teaching. You are not limited to what or how you teach. Be open-minded and welcome new ideas. Teach students as if they are NOT your children. Once you master a standard, it is time to move on. Challenge yourself and teach as many grades or subjects as you can to keep the fire burning. AI is here to stay. Again, AI IS HERE TO STAY. Work with it. Make it as much yours as theirs. Always remember who you teach will be your future care takers, engineers, doctors, nurses, scientist, etc. You don't want to fail yourself. | Sheng Yang | English as a Second Language 6-9 | Hickory, NC | ||||||
34 | 8/22/2024 9:18:32 | Teaching is a calling to those who love people and seeing them think and achieve. At the same time, you love learning and by nature, learn every day. You are not happy if you are not teaching wherever you are. You have high standards and encourage children to strive to reach them. Connecting with children at an educational level is watching their future unravel in front of them. Once I had a student who reminded me of me. As she learned words in our Spanish class, she would begin applying them and learned them well. When I told her that she reminded me of me, her eyes got big and it seemed to spark something. She went on to study language in college and today she is an archaeology professor. She had a desire to learn other cultures, and in our class that was an every day adventure. | Colleen Roan | Spanish Teacher | Warren, NJ 07059 | ||||||
35 | 8/22/2024 9:19:58 | Always ask why. Whether it’s to elicit a deeper thought process to an academic question or to find the reason behind a misbehaviour or a missed submission, it’s important to ask why. I’ve learned to trust that students want to do their best, and I have discovered that students value being heard (& not judged). | Lin Tan | I am a lecturer in a polytechnic (pre-university) institution of higher learning. I teach Diploma students. | Singapore | ||||||
36 | 8/22/2024 9:20:36 | Your students will love you, so long as you sincerely love them. Build trusting relationships with each student and you will never have "behavior" problems. Your students may have behavior difficulties but they will have NOTHING to do with you. Teaching is teaching and you will do just fine. Learning to understand your students and finding out what makes them unique is just as important as "teaching". | Kathy Stewart | Special education teacher | San Antonio Texas | ||||||
37 | 8/22/2024 9:20:53 | When I first started teaching and was nervous to start, my mom said "don't worry - you have the answers in the teacher edition'. Now, we all know that teaching and education is much more complex than that - but in that moment in time, it made me feel safe. Along the way (and not shockingly since here is where I'm sharing this story) I ditched the textbook and searched for my own resources, lessons, and activities that better suited my style and my students' needs. I was able to do this because I became a connected educator, I learned and grew and although it didn't happen in the super early years of my career, when I did put myself out there, it was a game changer in my teaching identity. So my advice is as follows; don't be afraid to take risks and try new ideas, even if it means veering from the status quo (a little #tlap reference here), get out there (in your school, in the world wide web, and go to conferences) - read, join social media PLNs, share your journey and successes and also listen to stories from all kinds of educators. You will not always get to know the impact you have on kids - but I promise you, you will have an impact. | Kristin Daley Conti | 7th Grade Science Teacher | Fiskdale, Massachusetts | ||||||
38 | 8/22/2024 9:27:25 | We are better TOGETHER! Being a team player will make all the difference in the world. Collaborate with others and share your ideas and instructional resources. We all want the same thing--for our students to learn and to leave us as kinder humans and more prepared to be a productive citizen! | Laney Park | Digital Convergence Specialist | Gainesville, Georgia | ||||||
39 | 8/22/2024 9:28:55 | As an educator, your most vital responsibility is to foster the development of critical thinking in your students. Critical thinkers not only challenge the information presented to them, but they also examine their own thought processes and biases with the goal of improving their reasoning. Dr. Richard Paul and Dr. Linda Elder emphasize that 'critical thinking is self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and, most importantly (in my opinion), self-corrective.'" (Paul & Elder, 2020) ~The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking (Concepts and Tools). | Tina M. Evans, Ed.D. | Instructional Design and Education Consultant | Chesapeake, Virginia | ||||||
40 | 8/22/2024 9:30:19 | Things in education change often and without much warning and cycle back. But after 24 years, what I’ve noticed remains the same, is that kids need us! And they need to feel welcome, confident, connected, and that it’s ok to make mistakes. | Gina Stabile | Reading Specialist | North Royalton, Ohio | ||||||
41 | 8/22/2024 9:31:48 | Error on the side of compassion... Toward students, families, staff, YOURSELF. Be human, it's ok to fall down, hit some bumps. Give yourself grace, and then get back up. | Cassie Kulibert | I was a classroom teacher for years. Now I'm an Educator Enrichment Coordinator. Fancy, right? 😂 May main role is providing PD to educators. | I work all over the state of WI. When I'm not traveling, I am in Neenah, WI. | ||||||
42 | 8/22/2024 9:43:16 | Relationships must come before content. | Denise Harts | Retired Teacher currently permanently subbing | Sterling, Illinois | ||||||
43 | 8/22/2024 9:49:51 | Your 1st year will be the roughest year of your life. Don't be too hard on yourself, and certainly don't give up and quit. You can do it. You already feel competent in your subject area. It will take time until you feel competent as a teacher of that subject. It took me 4-5 years to get into my groove. Be patient and give yourself time. You will want to, but do not give up on yourself and do not give up on your students. | Scott Schrader | Teacher - ELA | San Antonio, Texas | ||||||
44 | 8/22/2024 9:52:49 | This should be in every college's teacher prep course: a) build a support system, b) create and stick to boundaries for yourself and others, c) surround yourself with people who want to grow, d) ask for help when it's minor or major- there's someone who WANTS to help, and e) teach in a way that feeds your soul- other people's way may not be yours. | Carol Marcolini | Instructional Technology Coach | Newport News, Virginia | ||||||
45 | 8/22/2024 9:55:29 | Be yourself. You will be taught all kinds of methods, procedures, etc. You need to listen to veteran teachers and leaders, but make it your OWN. We are unique and what works for one person/teacher, may not work for another person/teacher. | Vanda Harvey | 9th grade English (32 years in education) | Orlando, FL | ||||||
46 | 8/22/2024 9:56:25 | No matter how much people would try to discourage you, this is the Best profession! | Alejandra | ELA teacher | Colombia | ||||||
47 | 8/22/2024 10:04:47 | There is no such thing as a bad kid, only a poor choice. Don't get caught up in a downward spiral of negativity based on one situation with one student. Force yourself to focus on the positive interactions you had throughout your day instead of just the one poor choice. We must CHOOSE joy! | Brandy Woodrey | 8th Grade ELA Teacher | West Alexandria, OH | ||||||
48 | 8/22/2024 10:05:59 | Becoming an educator may not happen immediately. If you feel like you need to do something else in the meantime before entering the classroom, that's perfectly okay. Patience for the right time is imperative as a lifelong learner. I didn't enter my first classroom until 2014 at the age of 45. As a result, I have the blessing of advanced technology as well as tons of life experience to make my classroom come alive, sincerely relational, and real-time relevant. | Ruth Joslyn | EdTech Coach & Instructor | Oxford, Michigan | ||||||
49 | 8/22/2024 10:06:13 | Be patient, positive, and consistent. Make learning engaging and fun. | Kelly Bratcher | CTE Teacher | Floyds Knobs, IN | ||||||
50 | 8/22/2024 10:07:59 | It’s a great profession but the 1st year is hard! Around your self with knowledge people and you will grow and learn quickly. Also classroom management is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. Build relationships with your kids as much as possible it will pay you back 10 fold. | Kimberly Skinner | 6th grade | Phoenix Arizona | ||||||
51 | 8/22/2024 10:08:24 | Sounds like a great presentation in the making! 📚 One piece of advice: “Build relationships first. Trust and connection with your students lay the foundation for everything else.” It’s the heart of effective teaching. ❤️ | Donna Spangler | I retired after 35 years in the public school classroom. I was a classroom teacher for 29 years, and an instructional coach the last 6. I now am a virtual coach and executive director. | Pennsylvania | ||||||
52 | 8/22/2024 10:09:58 | 1. Don't take anything personally. If a student comes to class with an attitude, it is about THEM, not YOU! Ask how they are doing or if you hurt them someone. Then, move forward with the 34 other students who need you. 2. Understand what will annoy you, and teach students not to do it by putting in policies. 3. Be consistent - Even when it is hard. 4. If you see a student doing something that is against your policies, EVEN ON THE FIRST DAY, correct them with this statement, "I know you do not know how this classroom operates yet, but what you did is not allowed in here." 5. Be firm but kind 6. Be direct; To be unclear is to be unkind. | Adria Smith | AP Art History teacher; Special Projects Director; (have been an assistant and head principal) | Edmond, Oklahoma | ||||||
53 | 8/22/2024 10:14:25 | Get to know the administrative assistants and custodians within your building by name and appreciate them for what they do. These people literally keep the school running and can make your daily life so much easier from Day 1. | Sonya Land | Adjunct professor teaching middle and high school math methods courses | St. Louis, MO | ||||||
54 | 8/22/2024 10:21:38 | If you feel like you're drowning in the first few weeks-- stressed and exhausted-- it will get better. You don't know it, but even if it's good energy, it's still energy-- and your body and brain just need to build stamina, as if you're training for a marathon. You're making hundreds of decisions every day, or maybe even every hour! Your body is constantly on high alert. You will build stamina, and just like if you started a running program, everyday you will get stronger. So, POWER THROUGH these first few months! You are strong, ready, and capable. You got this! | Colleen Hagen | Instructional Coach | Nampa, ID | ||||||
55 | 8/22/2024 10:26:38 | Teach b/c you want to see those light bulbs go off above their heads. Ask for help. Take time for yourself. | Sydney | High School Librarian | Bedford, VA | ||||||
56 | 8/22/2024 10:27:11 | Try everything! In my 17 years as a "trained" educator (and for many years before that), I immersed myself in all types of teaching, coaching, learning, and collaborating that I could get. You might enter the field of education thinking you want to work with a specific age group or teach a certain subject area, but as you learn and grow, you will very well be led down a path that is completely different than anything you could have dreamed. Be open and courageous to trying these new experiences. My university teacher education program was for secondary school music, as I had my heart set on being a high school choir teacher for the rest of my life. Over the next 17 years, I taught elementary school music, grade 3-12 girls choirs, grade 2/3 classroom, then moved into administration and ran an academy for elite gymnasts before becoming a middle school principal and now Director of Learning for a K-12 online school. I could have never fathomed the career path I have been on, and I would have been incredibly nervous and intimidated to think of the entire journey all at once. Stretch yourself one step at a time outside your comfort zone, and you will be amazed at how much you learn and the potential you have to help others. | Dr Karen Roeck | Director of Learning, Heritage Christian Online School | Langley, British Columbia, Canada | ||||||
57 | 8/22/2024 10:27:16 | It's okay to not know the answer to every question asked. That's human. Now be the teacher and turn it back to them with a response something like, "That is a great question, and I don't know the answer. While I think it might be . . . , why don't we research it together. Will a week be long enough to see what we each come up with?" | Helen Rose | Teacher | Kenosha, WI | ||||||
58 | 8/22/2024 10:28:06 | Enjoy the students as human beings. Show up to their activities outside of school, and show interest in their lives. Take time in class to get to know them - not just focus on content. They will remember it, and so will you. My first year I was in survival mode, and I think I missed out on multiple opportunities to bond with my students. I try not to repeat that mistake. Attendance questions are a great way to start a class - especially for older kids. As the year goes on they will reveal more about themselves voluntarily because they know you care. | Heather Olvey | AP Literature/English 12 Teacher | Little Rock, AR | ||||||
59 | 8/22/2024 10:28:41 | When you get into it, the day to day of education might not be exactly what you imagined it to be. That's okay though, because you still have your WHY for doing what you're doing, so let that continue to inspire you. | Kaitlin Kohn | Innovative Technology & Learning Coordinator (& former teacher) | Wheaton, IL | ||||||
60 | 8/22/2024 10:29:54 | Be sure to ask questions - and not just content questions. Half of your job is creating connections, so asking questions (and LISTENING to the answers you get) is a great way to start. Think of how much we would learn if we listen to what (or how) our students think or see things. | Helen Rose | High school teacher | Kenosha WI | ||||||
61 | 8/22/2024 10:30:19 | When your to-do list gets too long, your lesson flops, or you had a bad day, go back to the basics and realize that as long as your students felt safe and cared about in your classroom that day, you did enough. You can create that super engaging lesson tomorrow! Focus on the connections you make with kids and everything else will fall into place. We have a lot of expectations placed on us, and it can be overwhelming. Just remember you're there for the kids. | Lisa Montognese | 7th Grade Science Teacher | Huntley, Il | ||||||
62 | 8/22/2024 10:33:03 | I've done a similar keynote ("Dear Me: A Letter to My Former Self to Avoid Burnout"), and included these: 1. Have Fun 2. Spend time learning about yourself 3. Understand and how to manage stress 4. Learn how to have difficult conversations 5. Believe in belief 6. You are enough, not alone, and making someone's day. Every day. 7. You are exactly what you've been waiting for. | Matt Weld | Regional SEL Coach | SW Illinois | ||||||
63 | 8/22/2024 10:35:43 | Get to know the folks in the school building who are cornerstones of day-to-day operations: not just your administrators (who are critical), but your school secretary/bookkeeper, your receptionist, your data manager, your custodians--having a good rapport with these folks goes a LONG way when you need something only they can provide/help with! | Marlee Bourey | Instructional Technology Facilitator | Lillington, NC | ||||||
64 | 8/22/2024 10:39:17 | Classic line heard by many teachers, and as I'm finishing up my last year of teaching I can attest that "It's the hardest job you'll ever love!" Not to mention the pension is beyond worth it, retiring earlier than expected. Consider you're pension, time off, and benefits all part of your salary, along with the enjoyment of working with and blessing others with your skills and knowledge. | Heather Forcey | Computer Technology Teacher | Mesa, Arizona | ||||||
65 | 8/22/2024 10:40:32 | Parents have to be treated with kid gloves and when you have criticism you must handle it positively. | Lisa | SPED English teacher Counselor | Syracuse USA | ||||||
66 | 8/22/2024 10:41:24 | I would like to share two things with the future educators. First and foremost is that one of my favorite things about teaching is building relationships with the students and the staff and having life long memories of how much we impact each others lives. It has been such a pleasure to be a part of so many students lives through the years. Second and no less important is when you can see when a student understands and is truly learning from the shared learning that went on between you and the student or between the students. It makes my heart happy when I see students "getting it". | Sandi | STEM courses | Bellefontaine, Ohio | ||||||
67 | 8/22/2024 10:46:31 | There will always be something to do in education, in the classroom, so prioritize, prioritize, prioritize. Relationships with students make all the difference. | Kate | HS English and teacher-librarian | Iowa | ||||||
68 | 8/22/2024 10:47:53 | Go ahead and work on your Master's and Ed.S. and even Ph.D. degrees while you are young and before you have families. It is much easier when you are younger and, although money isn't your reason for becoming a teacher, it's nice to have a higher salary during your entire teaching career rather than just the latter years. | Haley | Media Specialist | Leesburg, Georgia | ||||||
69 | 8/22/2024 10:48:40 | Education changes every day and every year. You have to be adaptable. | Kelsey | English teacher | Illinois | ||||||
70 | 8/22/2024 11:07:02 | It's okay to make mistakes-it shows we are human too! | Jill | Curriculum/Former coach | Maine | ||||||
71 | 8/22/2024 11:08:47 | It's okay if your teaching style doesn't match your colleagues'. Everyone has to find their own way to be themselves in the classroom and keep it fun! | Jena Smith | Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) | Garden Grove, CA | ||||||
72 | 8/22/2024 11:09:24 | Making relationships with your students should always be your number 1 priority in the classroom. Once that is accomplished, everything else should run more smoothly. PS. You got to meet my future teachers at the Illinois IETC conference when you spoke. This will be my fourth year teaching future teachers. | Shelly Robinson | Computer Science Teacher/Personal Finance Teacher/Digital Graphics/Teaching Future Teachers/Instructional Coach | Piasa, IL | ||||||
73 | 8/22/2024 11:34:34 | Relationships matter more than content (and will continue to matter more). Don't grade everything. Try new things & have fun with your students. Be honest - admit when you don't know something & when you are wrong. | Dawn Mericle | High School English Teacher | Maumee, OH | ||||||
74 | 8/22/2024 11:56:16 | You're HOPE | Raquel | Secondary education teacher | Barcelona, Spain | ||||||
75 | 8/22/2024 11:57:25 | Teaching is like a sport -- you get better with practice. Don't judge yourself too harshly on your first year(s) in the field. Know that most people need practice (and reflection and growth and support) to become a great teacher. So, when you're in your first years (or you've been assigned a new course/grade level to teach), remember that the distance between little league the major leagues is time and practice. | Michelle Kramer | Teacher (9-12, Media/Business/Technology) | Pittsburgh, PA | ||||||
76 | 8/22/2024 12:13:06 | ALWAYS stand up for yourself. You may have made a mistake, but it wasn't intentional. Always stand up for the decisions you made. Don't let admins or other teachers walk all over you. You matter, you have an opinion and you should be valued and listened to. | Kathy Ault | Media Specialist | Martinsville, IN | ||||||
77 | 8/22/2024 12:14:37 | Treat the students the way you would like to be treated. Talk to them and get to know them. Enjoy them. You should have high expectations for ALL students. They will rise to challenges with the confidence to take risks because of the relationships you have built with them. | Melissa Wipperman | English as a Second Language Specialist | Centerville, Ohio | ||||||
78 | 8/22/2024 12:27:07 | Less is more (standards are overwhelming and textbook manufacturers have gone overboard to give you an abundance of activities to practice - look at the assessment; look at the goals; plan with intention to meet those two things well); go slow to go fast (take the time to go over directions, explain academic vocabulary, check for understanding of what you are doing and why you are doing it so students can maximize their potential) frontload needed vocabulary to maintain a level of comprehension in the classroom regardless of subject matter; stay in the shallow end/on the one foot waves as a new teacher before venturing deeper or into the bigger waves - teaching is one of the most overwhelming jobs when we first start and there are so many things to juggle at once (UDL, AI, SEL, 504, IEP, SIP goals, rally schedules, etc...) and be aware of at all times (who's doing what X30 and wait, there may be a hostile intruder too) - when you bite off more than you can chew in terms of planning, you feel constantly inadequate - take the time to read and take notes if necessary instead of some super plan to razzle dazzle the students. Add to your craft a little at a time - your sanity and longevity depend on it. | Suzanne Marden | teacher (French 1, 2, 3, 4H and AP - yep, 5 preps) | Carmel, CA | ||||||
79 | 8/22/2024 12:28:40 | "A large pecentage of what you think is "teaching" is not what you see of your current teachers in the classroom. We instruct, grade, plan, copy, advise clubs, give up hours to mentor new teachers, fail to finish our coffee before its cold, cover classes of sick colleagues, provide support to our teacher friends, go to professional development outside of our contracted hours and during the summer, chaperone trips or dances, run to the bathroom for under 3 minutes, give advice to students, and take home the mental and emotional baggage of our students trauma that we willingly take on because we care so much about the children in our classrooms that become "our children" for the remainder of their lives." | Danielle Vandock | HS Social Studies teacher and Student Council Advisor | Archbold, Ohio | ||||||
80 | 8/22/2024 12:29:23 | That first year won't very likely won't "feel" and "look" like what you expect. The challenges and workload may many days overshadow the rewards and joy of teaching. THIS IS NORMAL. (Cue Phases of First Year Teaching Graph) This is my 17th year in education and I truly love my job, but if my mentor hadn't shown me this graph in November of Year 1, I honestly don't think I would have taught a second year. On that note, one more thing...get a mentor. If you district or school assigns you a great one, awesome! If not, find somebody who is willing to take you under their wing. Not everyone will be, but there are lots of great educators who will. It may make all the difference in the world! | Sarah Dexter | Regional Instructional Coach | Kankakee, IL | ||||||
81 | 8/22/2024 12:29:27 | When you start, it's going to take you 3 - 4 years before you will feel like you know what you are doing, so work hard from the start, but don't let discouragement get you. | Jeff Gallup | I done every position in ed... currently a HS media specialist | Winter Garden, FL | ||||||
82 | 8/22/2024 12:49:46 | It's a calling. Know what is best practice for your kids, and do it. The curriculum may change every year, but you know what your kids need. Delegate. Let the kids do the jobs in your classroom. There are a lot of haters out there. Go in and do what is right by your kids. Drown out the noise with excellence. | Tracy | GT specialist | Little Rock, AR | ||||||
83 | 8/22/2024 12:51:47 | Start out like your going to hold out! You can always ease up as the year progresses. | Robin Wilson | K-6 Teacher, ITF | Goldsboro, NC | ||||||
84 | 8/22/2024 12:58:00 | Build relationships. Genuninely, not through rewards, gimmicks, or other fads. I teach all the Boys' Town Life Skills each year with fun interative activities to build confidence and respect in our classroom culture. Later, when I make them give speeches, no one is embarassed or afraid. They are all supportive and empathtic. I've never had behavior issues in my room because my students know that if they slip up, we'll treat it as a teachable moment and have a chance to start over the next day. I treat my students as I would adults. (I have 5th adn 6th graders.) They understand "the why" behind every lesson and I encourage them to challenge things in a respectful way so we can work through them as a class. Just like when they are adults someday. It also helps to be in a district that holds kids to high expectations socially and academically. In our pre-K through 12th grade building, I will correct a senior as fast as I would a 3rd grader. Everyone is respectful of everyone and everything. Are there a few outliers that challenge the system when they are new to our district? Yep. And I also see their peers helping do better in addition to the adults in the building. | Sherry Nelson | 5/6 English Teacher | Ravenna, Nebraska | ||||||
85 | 8/22/2024 13:16:27 | The role of teacher has morphed into counselor, therapist, and mother/father. I'm really good at teaching the content, but I had to learn how to be better at listening, helping, and caring. | Middle School Language Arts | Minnesota | |||||||
86 | 8/22/2024 13:31:52 | Smile first, their names second, their stories third, then the rest | Dawn Legrow | Teacher Librarian (but 20 in a regular classroom) | Toronto Ontario Canada | ||||||
87 | 8/22/2024 13:48:42 | Education is always moving. Don't be stuck in the past. --- When I first started teaching, I was exclusively using the methods and structures from which I learned as a child. I realized (not as quickly as I should) that those methods "worked" on the cellphone-less, 1990's version of me. Kids today are built different and need updated methods and structures. | Tim Pardine | Teacher/Leadership Advisor | Mililani, HI | ||||||
88 | 8/22/2024 13:53:09 | 1) Teachers impact the whole family, not just the students on the roster. Students will often quote you to their parents and their siblings form opinions about you from stories told. Often dealing with parents is more difficult than dealing with your students. 2) Give yourself grace--you will make mistakes as you grow as an educator. As necessary, apologize, and work to repair relationships. Strive for excellence over perfection. You choose to let hard things make you better or bitter. | Mary B. | I have taught 4th grade for over 30 years, but am currently the STEAM teacher for PreK-5th grade | Clermont, FL | ||||||
89 | 8/22/2024 14:15:13 | The biggest lie I bought into and gave myself anxiety about was thinking I had to know it all in order to be an effective authoritative teacher. It might be the most honest and transparent thing a kid hears the day you acknowledge that you don't know everything and that you make mistakes. | Carrie S. | Social Studies and World Language Teacher | Hebron, IN | ||||||
90 | 8/22/2024 14:51:03 | Don't let it consume you! If you don't take care of yourself and set boundaries for your work, you will likely burnout. You really do have to put on your own "oxygen mask" first if you want to be able to help others. You can't serve anyone if you're passed out on the floor. | Anonymous | Teacher | California | ||||||
91 | 8/22/2024 15:05:44 | 1. Stick at it - my teacher training diploma was long, boring and pretty much irrelevant to what happens in a real classroom, but it taught me "this too shall pass", which is essential when you are faced with the latest curriculum change/approach to education/edict from admin. 2. Teaching is a highly portable career. The world wants teachers and I've had the opportunity to live and work in some amazing countries and have life-changing experiences all because I didn't give up on that "useless" DipEd | Daisy | classroom French teacher (mainly secondary) | Melbourne, Australia | ||||||
92 | 8/22/2024 15:29:07 | Thank you for choosing this profession! It will feel thankless and overwhelming at times. You’ll be frustrated with things out of your control. You’ll also ask yourself why you chose this path. But there will be moments when you see your part in the learning path of a student that struggles, or you will find moments for life lessons in the midst of the school day that will matter to some student years from now. You’ll be someone’s favorite teacher ever. You’ll learn from them and through them. You’ll be challenged and you will grow. You’ll have regrets but there will be days when you will feel like you conquered the world. You are about to embark on a beautiful, messy, complicated world of personalities, hormones, and teaching self-regulation to young minds all while making sure curricular learning is happening…and you are equipped to do it! Welcome! Now go find a teacher you admire and ask them to be your mentor and sounding board. | Julie Daniel Davis | Adjunct Educational Technology Professor | Chattanooga, TN | ||||||
93 | 8/22/2024 15:59:18 | Bless you for wanting to help educate our future generations. It is not as easy as the haters make it out to be. You need to: try your absolute best to work within your contract hours and find balance between work and home. It's hard to swallow, but we are replaceable! You need to: be flexible, have a sense of humor as our kids are coming more immature each year, have patience, learn to communicate with parents/guardians effectively, and try to find joy in every day that you go to work. It is also okay to say "no" to taking on extra duties. | Jennifer Fair | 6th grade ELA and girls athletics coach | Round Rock, Texas (Austin) | ||||||
94 | 8/22/2024 16:36:25 | If I could tell my beginning teacher self one thing, it would be to set an alarm for the end of the day and go home! You will never "catch up" as an educator. You need to leave and take care of you as well as any significant others in your life. | Christy Trimble | Retired SpEd/Regular Ed Elementary teacher working 49%--Year 36! | Hahira, GA | ||||||
95 | 8/22/2024 17:26:08 | First of all, teaching is a labor of love. Getting to shape the minds of the younger generation is something that should be celebrated, admired, and strived for. Education is different now. Gone are the days of lectures, worksheets, and homework (for some). In my classroom, technology is embraced and championed. I create a game-like atmosphere, complete with "quests" for students to follow (think the curriculum, but in a board game style). AI is not banned, it is appreciated for what it can do and how it can help students learn and show their mastery. Songs, videos, historical simulations, 'character' speeches, politician talent shows and the occasional murder of one of my Forensics students; all of this has turned my classroom from "I hate this class, miss," to "I can't wait to see what we do tomorrow." Embrace the challenges. Accept the idea that teaching (and learning) has evolved. Believe in your students and never let them forget their "why". Only by harnessing their true belief in themselves can you see each student blossom, grow, and love learning as much as you do. | Heather Vallot | High School Physics and Forensics Teacher | Tucson, AZ | ||||||
96 | 8/22/2024 17:26:52 | You may feel at times like you're really messing up. You're not! It's okay to leave work at work. It will still be there tomorrow. You don't have to do it all | Lisa Perkins | Business/Computer Science/FACS/Marketing teacher | Excelsior Springs, MO | ||||||
97 | 8/22/2024 18:45:23 | This job is super rewarding, but be prepared to give up a lot of your own time to do it | Bern | Yr 4 teacher | Melbourne, Australia | ||||||
98 | 8/22/2024 18:52:12 | The beauty of teaching is that there are 1,000 ways to teach one concept. The curse of teaching is there are 1,000 ways to teach one concept. The work comes in figuring out what works best for your teaching style and for the class that you have before you. Keep in mind that you may have to adjust the following year based on your new students. This is year 31 for me and I always tell new teachers that during the first month of my first year, my husband came home to find me sitting in the middle of the living room floor with all of my manuals open, and I was sobbing. He thought somebody died. 😱 I then looked at him and said through ugly face tears “I don’t know what I’m doing!” 🤦🏼♀️When (not if) you ever feel that way, you are normal!!!! (P.S. Been one of your followers for awhile. Keep up the great work!😎 Good job on the Dr. Phil Show too. 👍🏼) | Angela Furgal | Kindergarten teacher | Kankakee, Illinois | ||||||
99 | 8/22/2024 20:01:53 | The best PD is down the hall. Spend some of your planning time visiting other classrooms. Observe experienced teachers and make mental notes of what you want to try in your room and then remember this as someday you will have someone visit your room for inspiration and knowledge. | Pattie Lamontagne | Instructional Coach | Pelham NH | ||||||
100 | 8/22/2024 20:30:27 | Establish a way to organize your resources. You will have so many awesome ideas, YouTube videos, strategies, websites, etc. Start a Wakelet to keep up with all the resources. Label a Wakelet with the subject and skill/topic. For instance, Math - Rounding, ELA - Voice Trait, SEL - 7 Habits, etc. This will make it super easy to pull from when you need it. You won't spend all your time hunting for things! | Mindy Rader | 3rd Grade Teacher | Fishers, IN |