This week the new teachers in my county had a training session about lesson planning. As an ice-breaker we watched a video of teachers, who talked about what they wish they knew prior to teaching. The ice breaker got us energized and let us know that we new teachers are not alone; everybody goes through the new teacher phase. I was inspired to create my own list about what I wish I knew before accepting Teach for America.
I wish I Knew:
- How people view TFA (a lot of lovers, but the haters run the media)
- That the money I saved for the summer would not be close to the money I needed to start a new life (1st months rent, power bill, household items, groceries, wifi/cable, gas, etc. all before the first pay check)
- That I would need to take out a $500 advance on my first paycheck to survive
- That each paycheck would go to help pay my mom back the $3,000 I borrowed for moving
- That my rent would be a quarter of my monthly salary
- That I would have to purchase most of my work supplies with my own money.
- It's true what they say: A closed mouth, doesn't get fed. But, as the only new teacher in the building, sometimes I just want to figure stuff out on my own instead of bothering colleagues.
- That grading would be so time consuming and that there are ways to grade more efficiently.
- That my to-do list would literally never end.
- That TFA teaching rubrics would not align to Tennessee State teaching rubrics. I have to impress 2 different crowds/evaluators at all times.
- That Teaching is a 24-hour job. It's like I am in college still: sleepless nights, barely getting by, extra curricular activities, etc.
The bullet points above reflect some of the struggles I am having when it comes to adjusting to teaching, and I wish that someone would have given me a heads up. However, I am enjoying my job, and the following bullet points reflect things that have been a pleasant surprise for me.
I Wish I Knew That:
- Teaching, in some ways, would come naturally to me
- I could care so much about other people and their success
- I would still love math after all of these years
- My colleagues would be so supportive and willing to help with literally anything.
- Memphis would be such a cool city to live right in the middle of
- The food would be so good here
- My roommate would be my best friend and we would get along just fine
- I would be employed making a very decent salary for someone fresh out of school
- My kids' parents would be so supportive
- Kids really do say the darndest things
- My kids would warm up to me so fast
- The work is hard, but it is not impossible
- On average it takes a new teacher 3-5 years to get everything down pact
- I can't compare myself to every other teacher in the building
- I would learn something new each and every day.
25 school days down. 20 more to go in the first Quarter. Not too shabby.
