Being a new teacher is
not easy. I like to think of your first few years in the classroom like this;
you barely know how to ride a bike and suddenly, people start throwing things
at you and yelling, “catch!” You simply do your best to catch every flying
object while simultaneously trying to keep your bike from toppling over. Being
a new teacher is a stage five juggling act that you are in no way prepared for.
I struggled hard as a new teacher. I made countless mistakes as a new teacher,
but one stands out above the rest. Read more as I share my biggest mistake I
made as a new teacher and what I learned from it.
My Biggest Mistake as a New Teacher
When I started my
teaching career after graduating college in December, I was offered a long term
substitute position in a third grade classroom for the remainder of that year.
I remember the feeling of joy and disbelief that I was really going to be a
teacher and have my own classroom. I had visions of amazing lessons and sweet
kiddos who would love me instantly, however, reality hit me hard in the face
right on day one. You see I was the fifth teacher to try and take over and lead
this group of third graders after their original teacher had quit just a few
short months into the school year. Student behaviors were beyond challenging
and I was fresh off the boat with no mentor teacher (because I was technically
hired as a long term substitute). I was in way over my head and drowning.
Honestly, as I look back on that time now I can’t help but laugh at it all.
Teaching is NOT easy; I
made countless mistakes and learned as I went. That point brings me to what I
really wanted to tell you, my biggest mistake as a new teacher. You see I had
dreamed about being a teacher since I was in middle school. I feel like
teaching really is a calling, and is something you just know that you were
destined for. I dreamed of this job for so long and now that I was finally
here, I was failing miserably. I so desperately wanted to do a good job and be
the teacher I had always envisioned. That was my biggest mistake as a new
teacher. I know you’re thinking “wait what?” right now, so allow me to explain.
I so desperately just wanted to be a good teacher that I tried everything and
anything any teacher advised me, even if it didn’t jive with me as a person. I
saw veteran teachers who had spectacular classroom control and I tried to do
exactly as they did, the same ways they did. I tried behavior management
techniques that I hated. Nothing felt right and I was still, in my eyes,
failing with my class. I was so focused on being good at teaching that I forgot
all about who I was as an individual. I forgot about my strengths, what makes
me special, and I just tried to do what I saw other teachers doing. After so
much time struggling I have finally learned that you have to know who you are
as a person in order to be the best teacher you can be. Once you know who you
are, you can learn what type of teaching style best fits your personality. So
new teachers, do you know your teaching style?
There are five
traditional teaching styles.
Authority: Teacher centered. Typically includes long teacher
lectures/ lessons where students are expected to listen and take notes.
Demonstrator: Teacher centered. Teacher shows students what they
need to know through presentations, activities, and more.
Facilitator: Teacher guides students. Teacher will help
facilitate student develop skills and retain knowledge through activities and
more.
Delegator: Student centered. Teacher allows students to lead
learning in experiments, provide student feedback, and have discussions/
debates.
Hybrid: A blended model of the teaching styles. This style
blends the teacher’s interests and personality with those of the students.
In the beginning of my
teaching journey, I tried a great deal to be an “authority” style teacher. This
works great for some people, but good Lord it is so not my personality. Through
my first three years of trial and error I discovered that I was a “hybrid”
style teacher. Now that I knew my teaching style I could research, try, and
learn instructional and behavioral techniques that fit with that model. I’m
happy to say that I now know exactly who I am as a teacher and I feel darn good
about the work I do. I know myself as a person and the teaching style that
blends with my personality.
If you are a new
teacher, I encourage you to learn from my big mistake I made as a new teacher
and go learn your teaching style. Take time and brainstorm what you want your
ideal classroom to look like and sound like. Picture what you will be doing and
what your students will be doing. How do you feel in this space? Do you see
kiddos actively listening while you deliver a fantastic lesson at the front of
the room? Do you see yourself listening and leading students in accountable
talk and deep discussions? All five styles can lead to sensational
learning opportunities for your students! Please do not fall into a trap of
thinking you have to be one style to be considered a good teacher. Take it from
me and learn from my biggest mistake as a new teacher; if you stay true to
yourself and find your own teaching style, you will become a better teacher
than you ever imagined.
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