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Survival Guide for New Teachers
Firsthand: Teachers and Mentors Make It Happen

Lori Williams (Clarksville, Tennessee) remembers the excitement of visiting her classroom before the first day of school. She can picture the bare bulletin boards, empty chairs, and vacant filing cabinets. How would she fill them, and how would she fulfill the awesome responsibility that awaited her? With a lot of help from her mentor and veteran teachers.

"As for those five, empty filing cabinets--they are now full thanks to the generosity of my esteemed colleagues who have shared materials with me," Williams writes. "I have utilized many suggestions from these veterans.... [In addition,] the mentor program to assist new teachers turned out to be a tremendous advantage. I was paired with a seasoned teacher who has taught for 31 glorious years. She guided, encouraged, and assisted me to help me become successful. I would advise a new teacher to choose a mentor, design a plan for success, implement a plan, and ask for help when needed."

Look to Veteran Teachers to:
  • Share lesson plans that put curriculum guides into practice.
  • Support and participate in a new teachers' planning process.
  • Offer tips on the practical problems new teachers didn't learn about in school—make do with fewer resources, classroom management, bureaucracy.
  • Show respect and collegial support.
  • Observe new teachers' classes and let them observe yours.
  • Help teachers locate materials.

Tips on Building a relationship with Veteran Teachers:
  • Ask to visit colleagues' classrooms so you can learn about different approaches to teaching and find one you admire.
  • Seek the help of a mentor who has skills and knowledge you would like to develop.
  • If your assigned mentor is not helpful, seek out an informal mentor relationship that provides more support. Look to your team teachers for help.
  • Don't reinvent the wheel: before you begin developing a curriculum unit, find out if any veteran teachers have materials or insights that would jumpstart your efforts.
  • Be willing to admit you have a lot to learn from experienced teachers.

U. S. Department of Education