This school year I will be starting at a new high school. While I am remaining with the same school district, the two schools operate very differently. This semester, I will have clearly defined courses that I am teaching: Algebra I and Geometry. This is quite a difference from my previous school, which was essentially a quasi-military private high school. Very different set of rules and expectations for each day. Without going into much detail about the old school, I can say that I am very excited about this coming up year.
In just a couple of weeks, I will be starting my second full year of teaching! Yikes! I can't believe that it has already been one full year since I made the decision to change careers. What a great adventure this has been for myself, and my family. Reading through the numerous blogs that I follow, I have realized that August is not just about getting back into the groove of school. It is really about reaching out to our friends and supporting one another as the school year begins.
One specific blog that I follow is Teaching High School Math by Jennifer Lamb. Her post Ten Pieces of Advice for New {Math} Teachers has received a lot of hype from other {math} teachers. Every single post has wonderful information that I completely agree with. Everything from befriending the secretary and the janitor, to dressing appropriately, and even taking time for yourself. Wether you are a new teacher, or a tenured teacher, this advice is always great to remember before the school year begins.
With that being said, I want to include my reply to Jennifer's post here. This would be my advice to any teacher, new or tenure.
The one thing that helped me my first year was knowing "YOU'RE NOT ALONE!" Every single teacher had a first year. I found some wonderful mentors and friends through the regional service center in my area (Texas), and they sort of became my support group. When I was frustrated, confused, or overwhelmed, I would just send them a quick email or give them a call. They helped alleviate the stress that I was feeling, and I could go back the next day with a refreshed state of mind. When I had a win at school, I could reach out to them and share the good news. Developing a professional learning community was essential for me, and I would recommend it to any new teacher.
I wish all of you teachers a wonderful back to school pre-season! We are definitely not alone in this career, and I look forward in continuing to develop my professional learning community over this next school year.
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