Important advice for first-year teachers and questions to ask veteran teachers

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Your first year of teaching is an exciting time, filled with many firsts and wonderful memories that will stay with you for the rest of your career. No matter how well prepared you are, this can be a nerve-wracking time. Even experienced teachers can get nervous when it’s time to go back to school! To help you tackle the first week of school and beyond with confidence, we’ve put together a list of questions first-year teachers can ask veteran teachers.

10 questions new teachers should ask veteran teachers

Every teacher starts as a new teacher and learns a lot year after year. They are likely to succeed by asking their colleagues for advice and help. So don’t be afraid to reach out to senior teachers at your school to ask really insightful questions about everything from parent-teacher communication to preventing teacher burnout.

• How do I connect with each student during the first days and weeks of the school year?
• What classroom organization systems have worked best for you over the years?
• How do you go about developing a classroom routine that you can use year after year with minimal changes?
• What classroom management strategies have you found to be most effective for new teachers?
• What’s your best advice for new teachers looking for resources to help reduce planning time?
• What backup plans do you keep in your toolbox for when things don’t go as planned?
• What is your best time management tip?
• What are your non-negotiable boundaries?
• How do you collaborate with other teachers?
• Do you have any advice for thriving in the first days and weeks of the year?

Veteran teaching advice for new teachers

An experienced teacher has likely experienced every concern, question, and feeling you have, and they may want to help you resolve them all with minimal stress. Use these tips to help you stay present and positive during your first year of teaching.

1. Build a relationship first.

Taking the time at the beginning of the year to create an environment where students feel comfortable and connected will help set them up and you succeed in the classroom.

💡Pro Tip: “Build a relationship with your students first,” says Sara Weaver of Little Humans Big Learning. “Correction before contact is one of my favorite phrases!”

2. Think carefully about your classroom routines.

Organizing a classroom is a top priority for many new teachers, but what about organizing your routines and systems? Math’s Stephanie Yi worked with Yi to create a free planning document to help her map out the daily activities she wants students to know, such as what they will do when they arrive in class and the process for turning in assignments.

“It allowed me to think about my daily routine and visualize the organization of our classroom. It also pushed me to ask questions about daily routines and expectations at school that I might otherwise miss, such as bathrooms, hallways, class transitions, and dismissal,” Stephanie said.

3. Have a classroom management plan ready.

Now that you have your daily activities planned, you can build on this and think about your classroom management procedures. Carina B. likes to have a classroom management plan ready from day one, which means starting the new year with routines and procedures in place.

For a creative approach to classroom management, you can try Nancy Chung’s Classroom Economy System from FancyNancyin5th.

“When I was a first-grade teacher, I needed classroom management methods that were fun and effective,” Nancy said. “I greatly appreciate the advice given to me at the time to implement classroom economics as a tool to teach financial literacy while also providing a positive reward system.”

Students are rewarded for positive behavior and can use class money to “purchase” things like homework passes, choosing their own seats, or items in prize boxes. Nancy has a money template for you to create your own classroom economy.

4. Don’t reinvent the wheel.

During your first year of teaching, you may feel overwhelmed by the amount of material required, especially since you are starting from scratch. Before you spend hours outside of school creating these materials, remember that there are many teachers before you who have tested what works for them and passed on their knowledge and resources.

💡Pro tip: “Do no Reinventing the wheel,” said Fletcher Nelson from 3rd grade Swag. “You can find and use many amazing teacher-created resources that will save you tons of time. I love finding resources that can be used multiple times or throughout the year. “

Likewise, Rory Yakubov from iteachalgebra suggests using ready-made resources provided by other teachers. She prepares math anchor charts throughout the year and has students fill them out as they enter each unit.

5. Always have a backup plan.

Not all lessons will go according to your original plan, and that’s okay. If you have a backup plan ready, you’ll find it easier to move on if the course doesn’t turn out the way you expected.

“I can’t tell you how many times my classes were much shorter than expected and I had to fill in some time,” Gabby Roma said. “Having backup activities ready to go is a lifesaver whenever we finish something too quickly or some students finish earlier than others.”

6. Find simple ways to save yourself time.

Teachers do not need to be reminded that time is a limited resource. In your first year of teaching, when you’re finding your footing, everything seems to take longer, which is why time management as a teacher is crucial. Find simple ways to make your days go more smoothly and automate any tasks you can.

💡Pro tip: “Don’t grade everything. Leverage digital resources to save time and paper,” says Brittany of the Washburn Technology Skills Resource Center. “You can use digital tools with automated scoring capabilities to save valuable time providing feedback.”

There are countless other ways to save time. Catherine from Miss Crafty Math Teacher minimizes her morning routine by using a page-turning calendar on a magnetic wand for appointments. She has her students look at their calendar each day so she can use those extra minutes to focus on other things in the morning. It sounds simple, but using a system like this means you never have to write a date again (or forget to change it).

7. Set (and stick to) boundaries.

Achieving work-life balance can be a difficult goal in your first year of teaching, and you may feel like you never have enough time to catch up. However, many veteran teachers recommend that new teachers learn how to set boundaries early on. Laying the foundation for good habits now can last throughout your career and prevent burnout.
The line between work and home looks different for every teacher. Some teachers may plan to stay late at school one day a week to make progress, while others may make it a rule to never be late at school. Test what works for you. For more tips, check out these work-life balance strategies for teachers.

8. Learn from other teachers.

Don’t be afraid to ask other teachers for advice! They have a wealth of knowledge to share. Invite an experienced teacher over for a coffee chat to discuss your questions, or see if you can observe their class. You can also check out the many teachers sharing what they’ve learned online.

💡Pro tip: Your colleagues can be a source of guidance and support. “Find a mentor to guide you and a teacher bestie who will listen to you vent without judging you,” says Butterfly teacher Tanya G Marshall.

9. Take time to enjoy the moment.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed during your first year of teaching by feeling like you need to get everything “right”, relax. Instead of trying to achieve perfection, focus on learning, growing and enjoying the journey.
Most importantly, Claudia Londoner reminds us of the importance of enjoying the moment. “Take lots of pictures because your first class will always hold a special place in your heart.”