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What I Wish I Knew My First Year of Teaching
- Eduettu - Powered by Inspiring STEM Supplies
- May 9
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
No one forgets their first year of teaching. The excitement, the exhaustion, the imposter syndrome — it’s a whirlwind of learning curves and quiet victories. If you’re just starting out, or mentoring someone who is, this one’s for you. Here are the things I wish someone had sat me down and told me before I ever wrote my first seating chart or stood in front of a classroom of thirty blinking eyes.
1. You Don’t Have to Be Perfect — Just Consistent
I entered the classroom thinking I needed to be the perfect blend of strict, kind, creative, and endlessly energetic. The truth? You just need to be consistent. Students crave predictability — it builds trust. You can be warm or no-nonsense, as long as you follow through, stay fair, and show up the same way each day.
2. Classroom Management Isn’t About Control — It’s About Culture
I wish I had spent less time searching for the “magic behavior chart” and more time building classroom routines and mutual respect. Management gets easier when students understand the why behind expectations, and when they see you model respect, boundaries, and care. Start small: greet students at the door, narrate the positive, and hold your ground with compassion.
3. Relationships Come Before Rigor
One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was: “Students don’t learn from people they don’t like.” You don’t have to be their friend, but you do have to be human. Take the time to learn their names, ask about their interests, show up to their performances or games when you can. A five-minute chat today builds the trust that fuels academic risk-taking tomorrow.
4. You Will Not Finish Everything — And That’s Okay
Your to-do list will never end. The lesson plan will change. You’ll fall behind in grading. Forgive yourself. Set boundaries. Choose rest sometimes. Teaching is a marathon, not a sprint, and your well-being is classroom strategy. Build systems to keep you afloat — batch your grading, plan in units not days, and protect at least one afternoon a week just for you.
5. Seek Out Your People
You don’t have to do this alone. Whether it’s the teacher next door, the custodian who sees everything, or a Facebook group for teachers who also love coffee and chaos, find your tribe. Ask for help. Observe veterans. Celebrate wins and cry losses with people who understand. You’re building resilience, but you’re also building community.
6. Students Will Surprise You — Let Them
Let go of assumptions. The “quiet one” will blow you away in a group project. The “troublemaker” might just need a purpose. Give students space to show you who they are. Some of your hardest students will become your biggest teachers — and some of your most meaningful memories.
7. You’re Growing Too
It’s easy to focus on student outcomes — grades, scores, progress. But don’t forget to track your growth too. That lesson you bombed in October? You refined it by March. That student you couldn’t reach? You figured out how to connect. Teaching is learning — and year one is just the beginning.
If you’re in your first year of teaching and it feels overwhelming — that’s normal. You’re doing something incredibly hard and incredibly important. Give yourself grace. Celebrate the small wins. And remember, you’re not expected to be great right away — just growing.
Are you in your first year teaching or are you an experienced educator? What surprised you? Let us know in the comments below.
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