I started to write a blog on how to survive your first year of teaching and it changed so much when I started writing it. I ended up deleting it all and writing this instead:
Somehow I made it through my first year of teaching. Throughout the past five years whenever I told someone I wanted to teach, or took education classes, they always warned me about the dreaded first year of teaching. They always say things like, "just try to keep swimming", or an actual phrase that people say to each other. Looking back on my year I feel like it was more exciting than overwhelming.
There are many things I could write on what to do and what not to do, but I'm just going to talk about three of the most overlooked things that helped me have some success and deal with the stress of teaching. There are many good tips that you'll hear often (don't bring work home, stay ahead on lessons and grading, etc.) but I feel like the simple things often get overlooked.
1. Patience
I know this seems obvious, but just because it's obvious doesn't mean people practice it. Patience is key to dealing with high schoolers or anyone in your life. Patience is one of the keys of maintaining peace in your life. If any of my students are reading this, you know that you are a handful. I'll admit, sometimes I was too patient with people, but letting little things get to you is the start of a slippery-slope. If something happens in one class and you carry it with you throughout the day it's not good for anyone. Be understanding and realize there are more important things to worry about.
2. Care
Be authentic. Invest in your students and the people in your life and actually show them you care. I hope my students could tell that I cared about them
and their sanctity. If you are a teacher, don't treat it as "just a job", but take every advantage you have to build healthy relationships with your students. Don't just learn their names, but get to know them, go to events they are in and pray for them.
3. Trust
All of these tips assume that you are having consistent prayer and reflection time throughout the day. Trust flows from this prayer. If you have continual communication with the Lord and prepare for your days, trust that He and the gifts He gave you will pull through. That's true for any type of job you have. I'm not saying you can just wing things because you actually need to put time and effort into your work. I'm talking about a confidence in God and His goodness. There were many times this year where my pray did not seem very fruitful, but I always trusted that the Lord would continue to inspire me in many ways.
My first blog was much longer, but when I look back on my year these are what helped me survive.
