Topic: Best Teaching Tips
In my first year of teaching, I thought enthusiasm would be enough to carry me through. It wasn’t. By October, I was behind on grading, losing sleep over lesson plans, and wondering why no one warned me how hard this job could be. And the kids just didn’t seem to respect themselves, let alone me.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. There are practical ideas that can make teaching more effective and more manageable.
Here are seven teaching tips that have made a real difference for me:
1. Don’t Try to Do Everything at Once
Pick one area to improve at a time, whether it’s classroom management, parent communication, or lesson planning. Trying to fix everything at once leads to frustration. Baby steps!
2. Use Routines to Save Time and Energy
Students respond well to structure, and so do teachers. Establishing daily routines will give clear group expectations and allow the students (and teacher!) to know what to expect each day. These help you save time and reduce decision fatigue.
3. Create a “Done is Better Than Perfect” Mindset
Sometimes you just need a decent activity that works. Especially in your first few years, while you find your own balance. Keeping a stash of quick, reliable lessons or review sheets can help give you a quick win and live to fight another day.
4. Call or Text Parents with Positives
In the old days, we sent notes home. I don’t ever recommend using your personal phone number, but a short call or message about something a student did well can go a long way. Positive communication early in the year builds trust and makes future conversations easier.
5. Keep Your Desk and Desktop Organized
Take five minutes at the end of the day to tidy up both your physical space and your computer files. Starting the next day with a clear workspace helps more than you might expect.
6. Plan for Transitions
The time between activities is when most classroom issues happen. Be intentional about how students move from one task to another, how they turn in assignments, or how they line up. Teach and practice these just like academic skills. Routines will save your life!
7. Laugh When You Can
Some days won’t go as planned. Most days won’t go as planned. And that’s okay. When things are off, it helps to laugh and keep perspective. Build moments of connection with your students and allow some lightness in the day.
Teaching will always be a challenge, but it gets more rewarding when you find strategies that actually work for you. Keep reflecting, keep trying new things, and remember to give yourself the same patience and kindness you offer your students. You’re not doing this alone.