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Just for first year teachers from abroad (Extended Version)

Mrs. Ramos
Jul 8, 2016
2 min read

Iv'e been trying to remember how was my first year teaching in Texas, and about things I wished I knew before the school year began. So I was reminded of a few things I wanted to add to my last post.

Vitamin C is your best friend. It's very common for first year teachers to get sick a lot during the school year. You come from another country, state or city, and your body's immune system is accustomed to certain bacteria, viruses, and sicknesses, but you are going to be exposed to children from different backgrounds that are going to sneeze and cough all over you. Your best shot is to take lots of Vitamin C if you want to avoid being ill.

Don't to today what you can do tomorrow. Sadly, we live in a culture of workaholics. Too many people stay late at work, wasting time that should be spent with family, or simply on recharging energy. You'll feel tempted to stay at work late trying to get up to date on everything you need to do. I'm not saying that you should act irresponsibly and avoid your job tasks. What I'm saying that you should not over do it, because you are not a robot, and you need to rest. Try to organize yourself in a manner that you can manage your time more efficiently. Use your conference period wisely. Some teachers prefer to arrive at work early, finish pending work, and then leave right on time in the afternoon. There are far less distractions early in the morning. Try not to stay late too often, remember you need your rest, and no matter how much Vitamin C you take, you'll get sick by exhaustion.

Technology, a necessary evil. You may be a computer wiz, or you may not. The truth is, like it or not, you need to get along with technology, so get familiar with Google Apps for Education (GAFE), and any app that might be useful for your subject.
Be willing to learn. Ask your administrator if there are any professional development sessions you could attend before school starts. That might help you familiarized with the school system, and the different educational styles.

I really hope your first year is exciting, enriching, and wonderful. Nothing teaches you better than experience. Remember, learning is a never ending process. You are a teacher under construction.