For those of you completing your first year of teaching, you’re likely to be thinking back and reflecting upon your experiences. You’re likely to remember some embarrassing moments, some incredibly amusing moments, and deeply satisfying moments, and some incredibly frustrating and discouraging moments. It is probably becoming clear to you that teaching is as much art as science. Probably considering what worked and what did not.

I think this kind reflection is incredibly important. While you will continue to do more of it over the summer, and the detailed planning and preparation for the following year will come later, this kind of thinking while you are still in the moment will provide a framework issue transition to the coming year. You’ve experienced cycle of the educational year for most of your life, but not from the perspective of teacher.

I would recommend that you go to the New Teacher Center article focused upon the first year of teaching. Consider your experience and ask yourself how the phases described in the article fit with your own experiences. Phases of First Year Teaching will provide a useful framework for your reflection and also assist you in understanding some of what you may be feeling about all of it. This graphic will provide more than a clue about the content of the article:

I would also offer new teacher advice and tips about things you might want to consider doing between now and the end of the year:

Consider engaging your students in a conversation about the year or course.

Listen to what they have to say and look for patterns or themes that may emerge.

Be as clear as you can be about your assignment and duties for next year.

Engage your principal or supervisor in a reflective conversation about your practice. Of course the nature of this discussion will depend upon the relationship and comfort level you have with this person. If the relationship is somewhat strained or uncertain, this kind of conversation maybe even more important. It provides an opportunity to share evidence is subtle ways of things you suspect may be doubts or concerns may have. Without showing insecurity or admitting to any particular problems areas, you might share some things upon which you will focus looking forward to include reading, coursework, planning, materials preparation, assessments…

Create a notes to self electronically, add to it and update as things occur to you.

Think about those who have provided support and advice to you. Go to them and thank them expressing your appreciation. Consider a small gift in appropriate. Perhaps share with them a specific time or point at which they gave you help. They may not have realized how important their assistance was. Ask them for advice moving forward.

As a teacher there will always be more to do than can be done. Finding efficiencies will make your teaching and your life more manageable. I know teachers who work very long hours, devote much of their summer to work, and live in perpetual exhaustion. I don’t think that is healthy or necessary to be a very good teacher. I suggest applying 80/20 principle to the analysis of your teaching tasks and behaviors. What 20% of them are yielding 80% of the value and benefit to the teaching learning process? What things comprise the 80% of your time and energy by yield only 20% of the same value and benefit? Here is a link to more information about the 80/20 principle. The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less

Think about how to bring closure to the school year helping yourself and your students put things into perspective. The New Teacher Advisor at education world posted an excellent article about Closure Activities for the End of the School Year. It contains excellent ideas about how to bring the school year to a more satisfying conclusion.

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