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Welcome to the profession! New teachers bring so much to early childhood classrooms鈥攆resh ideas, different perspectives, and energy that is contagious. It can be the most terrifying, exciting, exhausting, and dream-fulfilling time of your life. We wish you the best for the start of your teaching journey!

You are not alone

鈥淭here is a booming network of early childhood education professionals out there!听Be proactive and find听them. Talking with other professionals will recharge your spirit and bolster your energy and motivation.鈥�

鈥淐ommunicate and collaborate听with coteachers on听planning, assessment, and the best ways to support each child. Two heads really are better than one!鈥�

鈥淔ind a mentor.听If your school district does not provide you听with a mentor, find your own. Look for people who already excel at your job. Watch what they do, and use their ideas!鈥�

鈥淢ake friends quickly! Forming strong, positive relationships with other teachers and staff members is critical.听Take the time to get to know your colleagues听as individuals and to understand the social culture of your new workplace. Work to promote an environment in which teachers support other teachers.鈥�

Develop a growth mind-set

鈥淏e willing to try new things.听When people observe you,听ask them for feedback on your strengths and areas for growth. This information can be difficult to receive, but the more听you hear it, the faster your teaching practice will improve. The best teachers understand that there is always room听for improvement.鈥�

鈥淭he learning process is never ending.听Reflection is one听of the most valuable tools. Keep asking yourself questions about how things can be done in better or different ways鈥� whether it pertains to how you communicate with parents, guide a specific child鈥檚 behavior, or transition from one activity to the next.鈥�

鈥淔ocus on improving one area of teaching.听Choose听an area of strength or great interest in which you want to continue to develop. You will still work on other aspects of teaching, but the focus area is what you are going to spend the most time pushing yourself to grow in.鈥�

Be positive and love what you do

鈥淟ook on the bright side of every situation.听Teaching听comes with its fair share of challenges and frustrations. When we teach, we鈥檙e working with people. People are complex! Understand that children and adults come to us with individual needs and individual backgrounds. Try not to let differences ruffle feathers鈥攍earn from others鈥� perspectives, and be respectful as you share your own. Working with positive people changes the structure of a staff and of a classroom environment.鈥�

鈥淟ove every child in your class, and make sure they know it!听Your words, body language, and facial expressions听are forms of communication. Each child deserves to come to school and feel safe and loved. Laugh and find joy in each day. The day you stop loving what you do is the day you should start to look for a new career opportunity.鈥�

There are many ways of working with children

鈥�Different听is not a synonym for听wrong听or听inferior.听Your听school or program鈥檚 practices might not mirror everything you learned in your teacher preparation classes. Others鈥� educational philosophies and cultural beliefs will, at some point, conflict with your own. Consider whether their practices might also be developmentally appropriate and research- based methods of supporting learning and growth.鈥�

鈥淵our newness to the field does not mean you should allow yourself or others to dismiss your perspective.听If something does not seem right, speak up. When you raise questions, you may find yourself better able to appreciate a coworker鈥檚 decisions鈥攐r you may discover yourself acting as a child鈥檚 only advocate.鈥�

Be flexible

鈥淎lways have a backup plan.听You never know what听might happen. Be ready for whatever comes your way. Always prepare extra materials and have bonus ideas and games.鈥�

鈥淟esson plans don鈥檛 always go as you鈥檇 like, much like听conversations with children/parents/coteachers/supervisors/specialists, indoor/outdoor free play, and field trips. It is your听job to听change what you can and let go of what you听can鈥檛鈥攁nd find teachable moments in all of it, because they听are simple and are always there.鈥�

Learn with children

鈥淪o far, the greatest thing I have ever done for myself as听an educator and for my students was to听reveal myself as听being curious.听The children have come to understand that听I don鈥檛 know everything and that I want to learn alongside them. I constantly model statements such as 鈥業 wonder . . .鈥欌��

Take good care of yourself

鈥淵ou will make mistakes,听big and small; leave judgment,听including of yourself, outside the classroom and demonstrate to the children through your actions the wise words of听Henry Ford: 鈥楾he only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.鈥欌��

鈥淥n the long, challenging days, soak up the irreplaceable听moments children give to you as they share love and joy.听Search these moments out; they are always there, even听on the hardest days.鈥�

鈥淏e aware of your energy and take care of yourself,听so that you renew your body and spirit.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 okay to be too exhausted to go out with friends听and it鈥檚 even okay to sleep from 6 p.m. on Friday until 10 a.m. on Saturday.鈥�

Your first year of teaching is like a roller coaster ride. Along the way you might feel scared, anxious, or overwhelmed. You most definitely will laugh, question why you got on this ride, and maybe even throw your hands up in the air and scream a little. Despite the mixed emotions you experience, when you get to the end, you will want to hop on again. Experiencing the thrill of teaching will hook you.听

For information about YPAC, go to听www.naeyc.org/getinvolved/YPAC.

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