Starting out at your new job, of course it all starts to get overwhelming. You are going to find very quickly how important it is to know how and where to get help as a new teacher.
Get Help as a New Teacher in Teacher Communities
Have you ever heard the phrase, “No man is an island?” Well, that goes for teachers too.
If you are anything like me, you feel you need to do as much as possible on your own. The truth is, though, you don’t have to!
Here are some of the things I do every day to collaborate with and use the benefits of being a part of a teacher community. Try them out:
1. Smile and greet each coworker you meet in the hallway.
The best resource you have is your coworkers. You might feel tired when you walk into work each morning, but a little smile and a quick, “Hey, how’s it going?” can do a lot to build a great relationship with the other teachers in the building AND boost your mood!
It can be awkward at first, interacting with people you haven’t known all that long.
But when you find you do need help, going up to them and asking for it will feel a lot more natural, because you’ve already been interacting with them regularly.
2. Genuinely ask your coworkers questions, with the intention of following their advice.
Chances are, most teachers you work with will be willing to give tips or advice. Chances are, they will be willing to hear you out on some of your struggles.
And, chances are, they are going to have some valuable advice. Listen to them. And remember… if you ask them questions, plan to try out what they suggest.
When they see you applying what they’ve shared with you, those teachers are more likely to want to give you even more help and extra tips. This is why it is good to be genuine when you ask them for help.
Tip: Keep it short when you go to them for advice. They need to get stuff done and a teacher’s time is already slim.
3. Join a Facebook teacher group.
Or equivalent. You need to stay in the know.
How does your district communicate big events and other important issues? Where do teachers go to discuss their opinions on those events and issues?
Wherever that is, you need to be a part of it. I believe there’s three key reasons for this:
- You are going to know what is happening when.
- Teachers tend to share insights about the events and issues on Facebook, so if you are unsure about something, you can usually get a good feel for it by reading their posts and comments.
- You get validation that you are not facing any challenge alone. I have found that when I am struggling with something, many other teachers are too. I’ve benefitted many times from reading the discussions leading to effective conclusions.
Get Help as a New Teacher by Doing Independent Research
Now, I am a big believer in using those teacher communities listed above. Sometimes, though, you may feel the need to do your own research for resources and information. Here are some guidelines for you if that’s how you want to roll:
1. Commit to a budget for resources found online.
My budget is practically $0 (#teachersalary), so I will look for free resources whenever I can.
I would love to compile a list of my favorite free resources later, just for you, so expect that post to be heading your way if you’re on my email list! If not, subscribe!
I just can’t get enough of free resources! Well-built websites for math, ela, and coloring sheets tend to have all the things I need for basic day to day learning.
Now, I also understand some things are too good to be free. You can find a lot of these good quality resources on sites like teacherspayteachers.com. I tend to check the “FREE” filter when I search for needed resources, but sometimes there is nothing to be found for free.
In those cases, I will spend a little extra time searching elsewhere for a free resource that’ll get the job done. If I really can’t find one, I’ll take a bit of time to make it myself.
If your income allows a small budget for purchasing good quality resources online, I would recommend saving yourself the time and stress by just purchasing the already-made quality resources you found.
But set a budget. And stick to it.
Turning to online resources for help can be effective way to get help as a new teacher, but it can also be costly. Remember, you have coworkers who may have resources to share, and they will most likely share an extra copy for free.
While you’re at it, you can check out the free resources at the Skyward Teaching store on TPT!
2. Read teacher blogs.
I have found there are several teachers out there willing to share their insights on a large variety of topics with the teacher communities they’ve built online.
And reading them is FREE.
The blog posts they write will answer questions, resonate with a great population of teachers, and offer their best insights on how they’ve handled things in their own classrooms.
Being the independent learner that I am, this is the most appealing option for me, especially when I run out of time to meet with my colleagues to ask for help.
Be willing to try out new things. Keep an open mind. Record what has worked and what hasn’t worked. Keep the good. Keep moving forward.
Wrapping Up on How to Get Help as a New Teacher
I’ve pretty much covered it, but just one last review before we wrap up:
- I cannot stress enough how important it is to get help from your colleagues. Build rapport with them by greeting them cheerfully each time you see them.
- When you find you do need help, reach out to your colleagues first. You see them every day, and teachers usually want to help out where they can.
- Check out any teacher Facebook groups that might exist for your district or school. Staying in the know will be very important for district events, etc.
- If you plan on using online resources, look for the free ones first.
- When you feel the need to pay for a resource, such as on TeachersPayTeachers, make sure to set yourself a budget and stick to it!
- Take time to read online blogs for tips, since those can be a helpful source of free information.
