| When you decide to become a teacher, the truth of | | | | you may be realizing that things are not going as |
| the matter is that teacher preparation programs give | | | | smoothly as you had hoped, and your morale may |
| you skills and technique, but they simply do not teach | | | | get low. You may even begin to question your choice |
| you the reality of classroom teaching. As a new | | | | of career. |
| teacher, you may be caught off guard. You can | | | | As a new teacher, you have to deal with new |
| become quickly overwhelmed when you first set | | | | events such as back to school night and the first |
| foot in a classroom. You may feel like you are | | | | nerve racking evaluation by your supervisor. These |
| constantly behind the eight ball and the job of | | | | events contribute to an already stressful situation. |
| teaching can rapidly become your entire life. You may | | | | During a back to school night you will probably be |
| easily spend up to seventy hours or the week on | | | | expected to talk about your plans for the school |
| schoolwork. | | | | year but these plans may still be unclear in your mind. |
| Unanticipated problems can send even the most | | | | The first formal evaluation is extremely stressful and |
| dedicated new teacher running. However, with a little | | | | creating the "perfect lesson" for your evaluation can |
| knowledge and preparation, the new teacher | | | | be mind numbing. If that first evaluation is weighing |
| experience can be a pleasant one for you. | | | | heavily on your mind just be sure you know what |
| First know that as a new teacher, you will go | | | | the supervisor expects, plan your lesson to the best |
| through a number of phases. These phases are | | | | of your ability and do something to relax your mind |
| anticipation, survival, disillusionment, rejuvenation, and | | | | the day before the evaluation. |
| finally reflection. | | | | Almost every new teacher becomes distressed |
| The Anticipation Phase | | | | because they are spending more time on classroom |
| The anticipation phase usually starts during student | | | | management and discipline than curriculum. The |
| teaching. As a young teacher I was very excited | | | | disillusionment phase is when you may have a lot of |
| about getting my first teaching job and having my | | | | self-doubt. |
| very own classroom. I, like many young teachers, | | | | The Rejuvenation/Reflection stages |
| had a romanticized view of teaching. I couldn't wait | | | | During these last two stages, a new teacher will |
| to start planning my lessons, decorating my room, | | | | come through with a new attitude. Usually during the |
| and meeting my students. I believed in education | | | | first lengthy school break, you will have had some |
| whole heartedly and my passion for the job was high. | | | | time to rest, reflect and organize. New coping |
| For most new teachers, this excitement lasts | | | | strategies develop and there is a better |
| through the first few months of teaching. | | | | understanding of the realities of teaching. You may |
| The Survival Phase | | | | decide to enlist the help of another teacher to help |
| The first day of school is an exciting experience for | | | | you with some things that you are unsure about. You |
| a new teacher but this excitement can fade fast as | | | | may also decide to promise yourself one day a week |
| the new teacher becomes overwhelmed with various | | | | where you will do something just for you to relieve |
| problems and situations they did not anticipate over | | | | stress. |
| the year. Students are unruly and don't listen. Parents | | | | The end of the year is a very good time for a |
| are uncooperative. You are told to focus on preparing | | | | first-year teacher. You can begin to look back on the |
| students for a state test that is months away. | | | | year and realize what strategies worked and what |
| New teachers struggle just to keep up with the new | | | | didn't. You can then think about the changes that you |
| pace. The good thing is that even if a new teacher | | | | can make in the following year to be successful. |
| feels blindsided, many of them still have a lot of | | | | Once you begin to plan for the following year, |
| commitment and energy. | | | | anticipation builds once more. |
| The Disillusionment Phase | | | | Teaching is challenging and rewarding. Once you have |
| After many weeks of constant work and stress, the | | | | a clear understanding of the realities of starting a |
| disillusionment phase begins. The effects of this will | | | | teaching career, you can anticipate what can be |
| vary depending on the teacher. As a new teacher | | | | done, and plan on how to be successful. |