1st year teacher here. I feel clueless sometimes. Sometimes I wonder if I'm teaching anything at all. I'm not as organized as I should be and sometimes the kids go all over the place. I follow the state standards, which are very broad, but I tend to teach what I think is important and sometimes it feels odd because other folks in the building that teach what I do focus on totally different stuff.
Am I alone? Do most 1st year teachers feel clueless?
Yes..you're not alone! Hang in there buddy. I'm a First year teacher and coaching 3 sports. It's a crazy whirlwind with many clueless moments...but, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I teach high school English...you?
My wife is a first year teacher who has had a great first year. I think being extremely well prepared for each day has been crucial for her.
Do you have well constructed lesson plans? Use different teaching methods other than lecture? Effective classroom management?
It's a difficult job, so don't get too frustrated.
I teach social studies. My classroom management ain't that great. I teach at an all black school and am the only white teacher that teaches my grade and the kids let me know it. I don't lecture much because it's not the most effective method of learning and with the kids I've got the less time I spend trying to lecture the better. My lesson plans are okay, but not where they should be. Next year I'll be somewhere else and hopefully it will be better. I certainly know what things to avoid.
Welcome to reality, kid. The truth about ANY job is that you're not always certain you're doing the right thing.
Well, unless your middle initial is W. Then you're absolutely certain you're right.
bump
I think my year has been great so far but there are definately ups and downs. I always do best on Mondays when I've had the weekend to go the extra mile in my lesson prep.
My advice is to keep being reflective, which it sounds like you are. Take some notes after every class on what went well and what didn't. Patterns will emerge. This is the only way I've improved--being really brutal in my self assessment, coming up with goals, writing them down, and having concrete and detailed plans for accomplishing them.
Here's the worst thing I've done:
Some days when the kids won't shut up (they are 9th graders) I give them an ultimatum: Stop talking so we can do something fun or keep talking and get worksheets out the ass the accomplish the same learning goals. Many times they won't shut up and I get frustrated and they get the worksheets. Is this as bad as I imagine it is?
I'm in my 30th year of teaching and sometimes I feel clueless.
If you question what you're doing, you're always working toward improvement. The "know-it-alls" who think they've got all of the answers are the ones who need to step out of the way.
Perseverance....Keep working as best as you can and even if the students don't show it they will respect you.
The best classroom management is being prepared so continue to plan well, even when it gets really tough in May.
After a few years you will find what works best for your teaching style and your type of students, however regardless of how proficient you become there will always be incredible challenges no matter how experienced you are.
I am in my 7th year teaching. Keep it up, you're doing fine. I think I read in a few places that there is about a 7 year learning curve to the job, where finally, you feel comfortable with things. I believe this is true. Here are a few things to focus on:
-Classroom management
-Being prepared
If you can do those two things, you are going to be in great shape. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to obverve other teachers. Ask if it's ok to sit in their classes. See what they do to manage the kids, you'll learn a lot! Every teacher should do this as they all should be constantly learning.
It is ok to threaten with worksheets sometimes. Use whatever you find effective. For me this year, I have told my challenging (behavior) class on a couple occasions that it is a choose your own adventure day (remember those books!?). If they behave, we will go through the material, and I'll try to give a little class time to do the homework. The other choice, if they don't behave, is that I'll have to assume that they already know the material, and they'll get a quiz in class instead. The choice is theirs. It has worked well for me.
Typically you have to have a whole bag of small tricks to get the work out of them on those tough days. The more time you spend teaching, the more tricks you'll develop. Good luck!
The only bad thing you can do is to give up. NO MATTER HOW BAD THE KIDS ACT, THEY DO WANT TO LEARN. Don't ever think otherwise.
Chris