Supporting New Teachers Education Families.com

Supporting New Teachers

I love teaching. Besides being financially stable enough to stay home and be with my children, there is no other reason that I would quit the profession. However at times, I find my job stressful, time consuming, and heart breaking.

Teachers deal with all types of stress. There are mandated programs that I do not believe in that I have to teach. There are parents that will complain no matter what I do. There are children that I may never be able to reach. There are tasks that have to be completed after work hours. There are some decisions that I make throughout the day that I come home at night and question. For a new teacher, these troubles are often doubled.

There is nothing that the teaching profession, not education, needs to focus on more than developing support for new teachers. New teachers are often not prepared for what they are to face. College prepares teachers by providing information on legal aspects, behavioral management, and teaching strategies. However, I never had a college course to prepare me for the mental exhaustion that some days entail. No college course tells you how, as a new teacher, you inherit all duties that no one else wants.

New teachers need a support group to help them realize that almost every teacher on earth has gone through these phases. Some days I do not see the teacher across the hall from me. There are days that I have no adult conversations. Support groups should meet weekly to allow new teachers the opportunity to talk and discuss what they are going through. If a specific time is not set aside, these conversations may never take place.

Schools should make an effort to show new teachers respect. New teachers are often ‘dumped’ upon. They feel forced to coach teams, lead clubs, and carry out special duties. Due to lack of tenure, many new teachers fear speaking out and voicing opinions. As a veteran teacher, it is important to recognize and praise the work of new coworkers. On the reverse, new teachers should always welcome advice and make an effort to learn and grow.