New Teachers

10 Things Every New Teacher Needs to Know

Bite-sized nuggets of advice from our audience for early career teachers.

September 3, 2015

On Edutopia's Facebook page, we recently asked teachers what advice and encouragement they would give to newbies. The response was overwhelming (in the most amazing way possible). In an attempt to preserve the awesome discussion there, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite words of wisdom. Thanks to all the inspiring educators who contributed!

1.

Be patient with yourself. Being a good teacher is a skill that takes time.

2.

It's okay to make mistakes. Admit them, learn from them, and move on.

3.

4.

Get connected as fast as you can with the best teachers and resources you can find, both online and in real life.

5.

6.

There never will be the perfect lesson plan. They're forever evolving like you and your students.

7.

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Always remember that the child that challenges you the most, might be the child that needs you the most.

9.

Keep a journal that you can read later in your career and laugh.

10. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

If I had known the fabulous feeling of helping teens, I would have signed up sooner.