How To Prepare For The First Year Of Your Teaching Career

Congratulations – you’ve got your qualifications, and you’re ready to begin your teaching career in the classroom. Whilst you may be raring to get started, there are some key considerations to bear in mind to make sure you are fully prepared for your first year. Many teachers often move into their first classroom feeling unequipped and unsure of the challenges they will face.

This doesn’t need to be the case though, and with just a small amount of research you can get up to speed with what you can expect from your opening 12 months. Here we will give you the guidance necessary to ensure that you feel confident and prepared for the first steps in your teaching career.  

Transitioning To First-year Teacher

Get to Know Other Teachers

There is no better way of transitioning into a new job than getting to know as many of your work colleagues as you can as quickly as possible. Try your best to form strong professional relationships right from the get-go and don’t be afraid to ask other teachers for a quick coffee. 

Not only will this help you settle in faster, but you’ll also have a great opportunity to learn key pieces of information that will make your job easier. Ask about lesson planning, time management, how to deal with difficult students, or anything that you might be unsure of. Professional relationships like this will act as a valuable support during the first year of your teaching career. 

Ask for your Relevant work Documents Before Starting

Showing up to your first day without everything you need is a surefire way of making things harder for yourself. If you’re not sure you have everything you need, it’s a good idea to contact the school before your first day to make sure you’re fully prepared.

You should have your work contract with all of the terms and conditions and job expectations clearly defined. Your timetable should also be sent to you so you can begin planning your time long before you start. Other documentation may be given to you in the first week but always contact the school if you’re unsure.  

Organise your Workload and Calendar

Managing workload is one of the main difficulties of a first-year teacher and at the beginning it might seem impossible to juggle all of the different tasks. Teaching, lesson planning, event planning, school trips, parents evenings and marking – the list goes on and you need to be able to deal with it all very quickly. 

The key is planning and organisation and knowing how to prioritise your workload efficiently. Failing to manage your time effectively will result in burnout and can affect your mental health as you begin to feel overwhelmed. Arrange tasks in order of importance and work through them accordingly. It’s also a great idea to buy a calendar if one is not already supplied and note down all the key professional dates for the year ahead.     

Read the curriculum and standards

Full curriculum overviews should be made available to you before your starting day to allow you to begin lesson planning. Read the curriculum fully and get a feel for the topics and subjects you will be teaching. The more time you spend preparing for this the faster you will get comfortable with the information. Make sure to also read over your teacher manual so that you know exactly what is expected of you as a teacher. 

Communicate with Parents 

Teaching can be a difficult profession and it can quickly be made harder if you don’t have parents on your side. For first-year teachers it’s a great idea to begin building relationships as quickly as possible. This will help you get a clear indication of what is expected of you and allows parents to see that you are a reliable, organised professional right from the get-go. 

Set regular dates where you communicate with parents to keep them updated about their child’s progress. Also consider how you want to communicate with them going forward – Emails, blogs or newsletters are all popular mediums. This doesn’t need to be complicated but it’s an effective way of showing that you’re taking their child’s education seriously.     

Mentoring

When you start your career you will most likely have no classroom experience and will be relying on information learned from your courses. Whilst still useful, sometimes the best way to learn is by shadowing someone who already has the experience. Mentoring is a great way of learning the intricate, finer details that make up the teaching profession. 

Senior teachers will be able to support with work related issues and ease the transition to full-time teaching. They hold valuable information on the key skills needed such as coping with everyday challenges, lesson planning and developing the right mindset for success.

Many schools will set you up with a mentor as you find your feet, but you’re not don’t be afraid to ask for extra guidance. Nurture your professional relationships and always ask if you are able to get extra help where necessary. The majority of teachers will be happy to help and share their knowledge. 

Training 

Training is the key to a successful career in teaching, especially when you’re just starting out. You must quickly develop the skills and knowledge you need in your first term to ensure you feel confident in your work. Training will most often be included during your first weeks in your new role, but if you feel like you need extra support there are plenty of options available.  

Educational recruitment specialists such as LTF Recruitment have a wide range of free teaching courses that can be accessed to assist in further learning, even after you’re qualified.

Looking For Your Next Teaching Position?

If you’re looking for teaching assistant jobs in derby, Nottingham, London, Birmingham and surrounding area, contact LTF Recruitment. They’ll support you and help you to make sure you stand out from all the other teachers you’ve graduated with! This means showcasing your interpersonal skills, extra curricular activities, and any experience you’ve had outside of the classroom that will put you in good stead when you’re in it.