Common mistakes from teachers

Think of mistakes as opportunities to learn. Many of the mistakes you will make will be unavoidable. However, there are some mistakes, common to beginning teachers, that are avoidable. What follows is a list of the mistakes that new teachers tend to make most often. Keep these in mind as you begin your new career.

Mistake #1: You want your students to like you and therefore hesitate to discipline students accordingly. This is probably the most common mistake new teachers make. Believe it or not, students want boundaries. Let students know immediately what your rules or guidelines are and what the consequences are. Then, enforce them fairly, firmly, and consistently.

Mistake #2: You avoid asking for help. Teaching can be an isolating experience. You enter your room, shut your door, and you are on your own—or so many new teachers think. Remember: Your best resources for help and advice are in the classrooms next door or down the hall. If your school does not provide you with a mentor-teacher, seek one out yourself. Beginning teachers need and deserve support and guidance.

Mistake #3: You are constantly bringing school work home so that you have no leisure time at all. The first year of teaching is usually the hardest. Indeed, some veteran teachers say it was the hardest year of their lives. You feel unprepared, you have a mound of papers to grade, units to plan, parents to talk to . . . the list is endless. It is vital, however, to schedule time for yourself and your family. Take time to decompress occasionally.