It's May--- graduation time! One of my friend's daughter is graduating soon with a degree in education. I have known the soon-to-be-graduate since she was in kindergarten. I taught her in first grade, she has volunteered in my kindergarten class, and I have seen first hand that she will be an INCREDIBLE teacher!

There are lots of future teacher about to get their first classroom! I remember those days--- so full of excitement and expectations and ideas of how to change the world one class at a time! 21 years later, I still have excitement and I still desire to make a difference! However, some of my expectations? I was kidding myself! LOL!

I started thinking about advice I would give a new teacher.......

1. It's not all going to go exactly like expected and that's ok! I remember how crushed I was the first time a lesson didn't go just like I wanted! Some days/lessons will just flop. The important thing to remember is to dust yourself off and try it again a different way the next day!

2. Don't set yourself up for unrealistic decorating expectations! We CAN'T do it all! My first few years of teaching I changed my bulletin boards and door decorations monthly. Like FULL OUT decorating! I still love my room to be bright and colorful, but I've learned how to use basic decorating that can last for years and update with student work. My suggestion is to look at pictures of other classrooms and decide a color scheme (and nothing too theme-y that would become boring or easily date).

3. Don't get in the habit of using your own money for everything! I have to say that I am still guilty of this! Teachers are famous for spending their own personal money for classroom supplies, gifts, books, decorations, etc. To be honest, it is doubtful that you won't have to spend at least some of your money. Even the Dollar Tree can be tricky--- $1 isn't much (until you buy 100 things there!) What you spend-- make it count! Don't just buy everything yourself! In many districts now, there is money set aside for new hires. Don't hesitate to ask parents to send in items! Use donors choose and other crowd fundraising. Ask friends to donate gently used books and toys their children have outgrown.

4. Don't be scared to ask for help! No one will ever know it all! Hopefully your school will assign you a mentor teacher. That does not have to be the only person you check with! Use your grade level, teacher friends, and administration to help! If you need to know more about a particular skill/topic, ASK.

5. Don't be afraid to share new ideas with your grade level. I'm guilty-- "I've always done it that way" is sometimes why I do certain art or writing activities. However, when I moved to another grade level or another school (or both) I learned from my new co-workers. Many who had been teaching less time than I had. Just because you are a brand new teacher doesn't mean you don't have things to share! In fact, you are probably more current on many best practices than us "older" teachers!

6. Don't be afraid of communicating with parents! Guilty of this one too! I am not a phone person nor do I like confrontation, but I have found that positive communication early on goes a long way! Also... document, document, DOCUMENT!!!! I have a file for every child and if there is a paper/test the child struggled with, I make a copy and put it in the file. I also keep track of behavior and save the sheets. Also, if you ever feel nervous about a conference or meeting, ask your administrator if he/she could sit in. I have always been so amazed at how supportive my administration was!

Finally.....

7. HAVE FUN!!! Teaching can be super stressful! Discipline, lots of standards to cover, testing, documentation, stressful parents, difficult students--- it can be very daunting! Yes, there will be days you go home exhausted and crying. Yes, there will be days you wonder if you are making a difference. However, there area also days where the light bulb goes on in a student's mind. Days where a student makes a connection that you never thought they would. There will be days when you receive a hug and an "I love you" or "You're the best teacher ever". There will be days when you reflect back to the beginning and see the progress your class has made. Enjoy those good days!