The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Seasoned veterans dish out their best advice for first-year teachers

Annie Forney
Find time to laugh and really appreciate the moments that naturally happen when you get to spend your day with kids. Enjoy what you do.

Conal Donovan
Access your colleagues for resources so you don’t have to constantly reinvent the wheel, though think critically about resources before inserting them into your instruction and assessment practices. Only reinvent wheels where your passions, strengths and student needs lie, but don’t spend seven nights a week until 11 p.m. for a year as many of us did. 
Be honest with your admin about your struggles, as we have all been there, and no good administrator will hold that against you or see it as weakness. We are glad to have you!

Richard Grafton
Fill your own cup. If you teach it, you have to still live it. For me, as a high school theatre teacher, I’m involved in the community theatre in our city. It’s the best PD for me! Whatever you’re teaching, make sure you’re still learning it/living it.

Sheena McNiff-Wolfe
Recognize that you are part of a team — in the classroom with your students, with staff — some of whom will take you under their wings. Accept your collaborative role in this. Welcome the kindness and support and return it as well by contributing and sharing the workload, giving back and showing your appreciation! It will follow you throughout your career.

Karen Draycott
1) Admin assistants, custodians and librarians are going to be your most treasured allies! Make sure to treat them like gold.
2) Build those positive connections with parents, so when you need to make those other phone calls you have already started a relationship.

Kae McFadzen
Visit classrooms, ask questions, set boundaries and keep student expectations high. It gets easier. I also wish I had kept a journal of the crazy teaching things that happened.

Melissa Pearson
There will always be more work than time. Prioritize those things that are urgent and important, plan what is important but not urgent, and don’t worry too much about the rest of it. It doesn’t have to be perfect — you’ll be a much happier teacher if you aren’t burnt out. You got this!

Hermina Brown
You are going to make mistakes. Own them, apologize (this includes to adults and students) and move on.

Courtney Kuyltjes
Set boundaries. It sounds so easy, but when you really take the time to turn off your email notifications, to put down the lesson planning or grading, you are taking care of your well-being and it goes a long way. The hardest part though: not feeling guilty that you too are human and deserve to take time to step away from the job.

Miya Abe
More hours at school and at work do not equate to better teaching. Focus on teaching and relationships, not working yourself to the bone.

And to go along with that, set boundaries. It’s easy to work in a silo, try to please everyone and do everything. Do what makes you happy, and remember you’re not everything to everyone.