Advice for new teachers: 5 tips from seasoned pros
Advice for new teachers: 5 tips from seasoned pros
Are you a new teacher tackling classroom management for the first time? Hopefully, you feel like your field experiences and student teaching have prepared you for this next chapter. But, even if you feel confident, it’s normal to be a little nervous. Here’s some of our best advice for new teachers from experienced UNI alumni educators and UNI’s teacher education program leaders.
1. Let relationships be your foundation
Teaching is all about relationships. It’s one of the most exciting aspects of the profession. No matter what age group or subject area you teach, every teacher lives for the moments when years later, their student-turned-young-adult thanks them for the impact you had on them.
Building relationships with your students will certainly make your job more enjoyable, but it will also make you a more effective educator. As Kevin Gartman, a 10th year business teacher in Montezuma who studied at UNI, puts it, “Students will want to learn from you once they've chosen to trust you.”
Connecting with students starts with learning their names as quickly as possible. Make yourself available to be a listening ear to students, giving them a safe space to share where they may be struggling. Students may forget the content areas you teach them, but they will always remember the way you make them feel.
Something else that’s important is to praise students for good behavior more often than scolding them for bad behavior. You can take this one step further and report the good behavior back to their parents with a quick text. Students will hear about this from their parents, and it will increase trust with you as their teacher.
Taking the time to get to know each students’ parents is also key. Reaching out to them to offer praise for their students will go a long way toward establishing these relationships.
2. Lean on your coworkers
Don’t forget about the relationships with your colleagues. Help them when you can and don’t be afraid to ask for their help when you need it. Whether they’re veteran teachers or newbies like you, you’re all on the same team, and you want to do what’s best for your students.
Collaborating with your fellow teachers can be a great bonding experience, and it’s a great way to make teaching feel a little easier. “Make collaboration with your fellow teachers a priority,” said Benjamin Forsyth, College of Education associate dean of undergraduate studies and teacher education at UNI who previously taught high school physics. “Research shows that teachers who collaborate stay in the profession longer. And they have more fun!”
Just like you want to call out good behavior in your students, make sure you take the time to point out the small wins of your colleagues. “Recognize your colleagues for the good they do,” said Robin Dada, a professor and head of UNI’s Department of Elementary and Middle Level Education, who has a background as a science teacher. “It will mean a lot to them and help them navigate a particularly stressful day.”
3. Show that you care about what you’re teaching
Whether you’re teaching your students the ABCs or trigonometry, try to get excited about the subject. It can be challenging to consistently convey passion in the classroom, but without it, students aren’t going to pay attention.
Try to connect the content to real-life examples and personal stories. This will also emphasize that what students are learning should matter to them outside of a grade. It will help them succeed in real life.
“When you care about what you're sharing with students, they can tell and they'll choose to be interested because you are,” said Gartman.
4. Stay engaged
For some students, you could be the adult in their life poised to make the most positive impact. Make the most of that opportunity by truly being present for your students.
“Sometimes it can be easy to mentally drift and think of other goals or places we are heading, but knowing that each student is counting on us to give them our best and to be present with them in their struggles and joys is vital,” said Emily Borcherding, a math teacher in Waterloo with nearly 20 years of experience as an educator. “Be there in that moment with them, in the good and bad.”
Part of being present is taking good care of yourself: eating well, drinking plenty of water and getting enough sleep. This will allow you to be your best self for your students.
5. Remember: it gets better
Your introduction to teaching will come with many firsts. While some of those are exciting, many will be nerve-wracking. This is a transitional season. It will end, and your knowledge and skillset in the classroom will improve.
“Remember that the first time at anything is always the most challenging,” said Angela Schneden, a first-grade teacher in Ankeny with 25 years of experience. “It will get easier. Try and set small goals for yourself and celebrate your successes and your growth along the way.”
You won’t feel like a pro by year two, but you should feel more confident. “The first couple of years can be really hard and exhausting!” said Borcherding. “Make sure to trust that you will hit your stride. You have had a lot of training and preparation for this — it will settle down!"
The ultimate advice for new teachers: Trust yourself!
Whether you’re just considering a future in education, starting your journey at UNI, or already a graduate, the University of Northern Iowa provides a strong foundation that will carry you throughout your career as an educator. UNI is home to not only the largest teacher education program in the state, but also one of the largest programs in the country! Forty thousand living educators can trace their roots back to UNI. That’s 40,000 teachers you’ll have a commonality with.
The best advice for new teachers we can offer is to trust that your training and your passion have prepared you for this moment. You’ve got this!
Find out more about earning a teaching degree at UNI, and get ready to make a difference in the lives of students.
Real, relevant academic excellence for a world that expects future-ready graduates.
- 94% of UNI grads find success within six months of graduation.
- UNI graduates more teachers than any other university in Iowa.
- UNI's middle level education dual major is the only one of its kind in the state.
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