Doing your Best...

Starting as a new and inexperienced teacher can be scary, yet very exciting. As a young teacher, I would get up early and arrive at work before most of the other teachers. I worked hard to be prepared and it paid off. I found that the more prepared I was, the better my days went and the less intimidating it was when the school's administrator would come in to observe me. (Note: Always be prepared and be flexible in case things do not go as planned.)

I submitted lesson plans, revised them if modifications were made, added as much detail as possible, and sometimes, rewrote them when I was reteaching. Lessons are essential, I felt like I was still in college all over again making perfect lesson plans. However, when I compared my lessons to that of the veteran teachers I was working with, I was doing way too much, so they would say. (Note: You can always ask for input from your administrator. They will let you know if your lesson plans are too much, not enough, or are just right. They will most likely tell you even if you do not ask.)

I learned that I knew how to energize the students in the classroom and earn a high level of student engagement. I also found that I would work longer hours than other teachers and stay late to grade, clean, and review my lessons. Looking back, I would like to offer some more advice...Do not always be the teacher who leaves last. It is important to leave work, and live life outside of the workplace. It is great to be prepared, but to avoid 'burnout' it is okay to leave before other teachers. Sometimes, it can be a safe and smart choice to leave at the same time as other colleagues. It is also okay to not be the first to arrive at work, so don't worry if you happen to arrive after other teachers, especially if you are still arriving on or before your contracted hours.