I spent time creating examples for my students, which became art therapy for me.Īnother year, I focused on creating math warm-up questions that my 3rd graders could use for spiral review of the math standards and practices. I found tons of examples online that I could adapt for my 2nd graders. One year, I wanted to create a series of art projects that would expose students to the different elements and principles of art by learning about different art styles and artists from around the world. I learned to focus on one initiative or idea at a time. But once I started planning and looking at standards and trying to find resources, I quickly became overwhelmed with the process. I had dreams of creating these fantastic integrated units that combined math and language arts with music and science. I was ready to throw out the curriculum and bring my own personality and incorporate the students’ interests more into instruction. ![]() After my first year of teaching, I wanted to change everything up. We are better and more sustainable when we work in community. There’s no need to feel alone in this work. There are many Twitter chats and Facebook groups for different interests or subjects. One thing I’ve learned in the pandemic is the power of having an online community. They will be your lifeline when you forget your keys or the sink is leaking. ![]() I learned so much from veteran teachers who were kind enough to share ideas for how they might teach a lesson or support a student. I spent many afternoons with my grade-level partners, tweaking lessons and problem-solving issues. Your office manager will probably know what’s happening with the student who arrives late to class because they get to talk with the parent at drop off. Be open to the wisdom that your colleagues can share with you. It is important to find folks you can connect with. This job can be isolating as we spend so much time in our classrooms. If I could go back and give myself some advice, this is what I wish I knew my first year.įind your people. I will never forget my first class and how much we all grew and learned together. Little did I know how challenging that first year would be. When I first started teaching, I had lots of ideas and hope for what I could accomplish with my students. She was selected as a 2022 Los Angeles Unified school district teacher of the year: Meghann Seril, a national-board-certified teacher, serves as a 3rd grade teacher, new teacher mentor, and Teach Plus national senior research fellow. Today, Meghann Seril, Anabel Gonzalez, Kelly Owens, and Joy Russell share their thoughts. You can also find a list of, and links to, previous shows here. Ruth, Sheila, Cindy, and Ixchell were also guests on my 10-minute BAM! Radio Show. ![]() In Part One, Ruth Okoye, Sheila Wilson, Cindy Garcia, and Ixchell Reyes kicked off this multipart series sharing reflections from veteran teachers. What are one to three things you would tell your first-year teacher self, and why would it/they be important to tell? (This is the second post in a seven-part series.
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