By Maria – Nefeli Andredaki,
There’s nothing like the feeling of finishing your degree, preparing for all the relaxation you’re going to get after years and years of all-nighters… while thinking about starting school in September! Being a new teacher is no joke and, although it is extremely privileged for someone to get hired immediately after finishing university, there will always be the stress of being the “new kid”, even if you’re the teacher! Seriously, changing environments and entering the real world of adulthood is hard and should definitely be accompanied by a supportive environment. You can, however, take a few steps in order to ensure a smoother transition in your new, exciting beginning.
The first and easiest thing you can do in order to prepare yourself mentally is, in my opinion, to look for inspiration online. There are countless Pinterest and Instagram accounts that are run by experienced teachers all over the world, sharing their ideas, advice, and even classroom tours, in order to help you make up your mind and gain confidence in the direction you’re choosing. And it’s not just aesthetics; people actually share real-life events -even horror stories- and how they dealt with them, which can prove extremely useful for a newbie.
Another idea to make you feel a bit more comfortable is to plan out the organization of your classroom. Now, listen, I am not an advocate for consumerism, neither do I believe that you need a bunch of stuff to create a beautiful classroom environment. However, a trip to your local craft store might be an ideal way to get some inspiration, envision how you would like your classroom to be, and treat yourself to a few things that bring you joy. By no means should classroom decoration make a dent in your bank account, so I would also suggest looking up teacher websites where you can download and print different kinds of decoration pieces, which also double as educational tools!
The next point may seem strange but it is extremely important; create a routine that makes you happy. Being a teacher means being responsible for quite a few children, for quite a few hours, every single day. You will not only be required to teach a couple of subjects but also to teach them values, comfort them, and solve their problems. This is very emotionally taxing, which is why I suggest that the teacher try as much as possible to create a life they are satisfied with. Whether that means going to the gym or making a greater effort to catch up with friends, finding a new hobby, or getting an extra hour of sleep, your students deserve the best version of yourself you can provide them with, so you better take great care of your body and mind.
Last but not least, become the teacher that your younger self needed. Now that you are on holiday and still have a lot of time to reflect, I would urge you to think about your past experiences as a student and write down all your complaints, all the needs that were left unfulfilled, all the times that a teacher disappointed you and cross them out. This includes your outlook on teaching, the treatment of students as human beings worthy of respect and love, the prioritization of their well-being, etc. Hopefully, you haven’t chosen this profession for the money and the fame (haha!) but for the right reasons, meaning the education of the generations to come, in order for them to thrive and make the world a little bit better. If you are ready for that, I’m sure that you’ll make a great, well-prepared teacher.
Reference
- Back-to-School Guide For Beginning Teachers (And Not-So-New Teachers Too)! Education World. Available here
