First-Year Language Teacher
If you are a first-year language teacher, congratulations! You are one of the few who have been hired in a very tough market. Now that you have your job it is time to get yourself mentally and physically prepared for the first day of school. Can you believe it is almost here? Are you excited?
Before we move on, I want to tell you that on the first day you will be scared and that is alright. Even veteran teachers are nervous on the first day of school. Just know that your room won’t look Pinterest perfect and that you will make mistakes. Again, that is OK.
One of my favorite children’s books is “First Day Jitters” about Sara Hartwell and her fear of going to school on the first day to a new site. Spoiler alert: Sara is the teacher, not the student. I always present this story in the target language to the level 2 students on the first day.
Surviving the First Day
To survive your first day of school, you need to know these three things:
- Get to know your students. Who are they? What are their names? What do they like? How do they learn best? Take some time on the first day to find out the answer to these things. Memorizing students’ names during the first week is so important for making connections but also for classroom management. Learn their names and greet them at the door or their desk when they come to class.
- Let them know you. It is good for students to know you are human and enjoy things outside of the classroom. If you are wanting them to share about themselves, you should share about yourself too. It is perfectly fine for students to know if you have a boyfriend/girlfriend or what your interests outside of school are. Let students know your teaching philosophy and that they can trust you. If you are open, they will feel more comfortable with you. Keep it professional and respectful.
- Have fun. It is OK to have fun in class. If students feel safe, their brains will work better. Why not lower the stress level in the classroom by making the classroom a safe and fun place to be? The first day of school is notorious for being BORING. Don’t set the tone for the year by making this mistake. You don’t need to go through your syllabus on day 1 or day 2 or day 3. Know that there will be a lot of changes that take place concerning student schedules during the first week of school. Do something fun. Ask other teachers what they do or search www.creativeaslteaching.com for ideas.
Getting Through That First Day
Once you get through the first day, the days and the weeks will fly by much quicker and hopefully a lot smoother. To prepare yourself for the first day of school, take this advice into consideration:
- Get sleep. The weeks leading up to your first day of school will be exhausting. The phrase “There is no tired like a teacher tired” exists for a reason. It is true. Teaching is an all-consuming and exhausting job if it is done correctly. Especially for a new world language teacher. You will be setting up your classroom, getting to know your new school and staff, lesson planning for the first time…it is tiresome. So don’t forget to get lots of rest.
- Eat healthily. If you typically eat good for yourself, don’t change that. If you are more of a skip a meal here and there or a junk food junkie, slow it down for the first month of school. Take some time to eat (healthy). Don’t skip meals. This sounds very basic but trust me there have been days that I get home and realize I have not eaten a morsel all day. Coffee really isn’t a meal. Pack a good lunch and a few snacks to get you through the long day.
- Hydration. This is a very important issue. We all need water to survive and function at our best. But, being a teacher, this can be difficult. Know your bell schedule and your bladder. Drink water, but no too much. Use the bathroom in between classes even if you don’t think you have to. Make sure when you are at home you double up on that water to get your daily needs met. This is something I struggle with.
- Smile. Keep a smile on your face even if you want to cry or scream or shut down. It is important to see a friendly face. Remember students are nervous about you too.
- Lesson Plan. Always plan out more than you think you will need in a class period until you get it down. You don’t want to have downtime. Always have a game or extra activity ready to go just in case.
- Breathe. Your first day will not be perfect. It will not be a scene from a fantastic Hollywood movie. You probably won’t get through all you had planned. Again, don’t worry. There is always tomorrow and 179 more days after that to get it done. No matter what happens your first day will be a great experience and one you can learn from and reflect on to improve your craft. So remember…breathe. I like to do Yoga with Adrien. Her short, easy-to-follow sessions keep my stress levels in check.
After the First Day is Over
Do a happy dance! Call your best friend, mother, or mentor to tell them about your day. They will all want to know. Take some time to relax and do something for yourself like take a walk, do some yoga or watch your favorite sitcom. Reflect on the day. Praise yourself for the good that you did. Think about what didn’t work and what you can do differently tomorrow.
Don’t forget to celebrate. You are now a real teacher with experience!
You can read more tips and advice for the new world language teacher here.
Now get your sub plans in order for those days that you just can’t make it to work. You will thank me later.
Get Social
If you have questions, let’s talk in the Creative ASL Teaching Facebook group. Join the conversation in our Facebook group.
Don’t miss out on a sale, FREEBIE, or new product. Follow Creative ASL Teaching on TpT.
Check out the teacher swag on Etsy.
