First Year Teacher Reflections

This year has been challenging. I know that every educator can attest to that. I especially found this Fall 2020 semester difficult because this has been my first year as an elementary music teacher. While it was scary and nerve-wracking to start my career during such a precarious time, this semester has shown me incredible things. I have learned so much in my short time as a public school teacher and I hope that the things that I have experienced will be useful for not only new and aspiring educators, but for those with much more experience as well.

1. Be flexible.

One of the most important things I have learned this school year is to be flexible. It’s especially pertinent to this year because so many things have changed. I have taught in many different models and settings in a span of 6 months. Things have changed overnight and without having flexibility, I can honestly say that I would have sunk. Being flexible with my admin, my colleagues, my students, and most of all myself really allowed me to move with all of the changes.

2. Only hold on to what you can control.

It is so easy to feel overburdened by everything that is around us. What’s really important though, is holding onto the things that are definitely within your complete control. Of course there are many stress-inducing factors around us, but if we can’t control them, we need to let them go. Finding peace in only worrying about the things that are in your control will liberate you of the extra stresses outside factors can give.

3. Work with others.

As a new teacher, I felt like I had an expectation to uphold. In reality, we all need help sometimes, no matter how experienced. Asking for help is so important! There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking guidance, and in fact, that’s exactly how you continue to grow. Even more so, giving your help when you can is just as vital. My colleagues and I were able to really work together by playing off each other's strengths, helping each other, and simply being honest.

4. Be creative.

Embrace the old AND the new. We have all had to be so creative this year...much more creative than we have ever had to be before. Lessons and ideas that worked in person had to be adjusted to online learning. Lessons that worked in person had to be adjusted to COVID regulations. The list can go on of all the things that needed adjusting. By being creative, we have shown that we can do amazing things with our students. I found that embracing ideas that may have worked in a normal situation, and bringing in some new ones, was really the key to successful lesson planning.

5. Find the good in everything.

The end of 2020 did not rid the world of the trouble we are facing. Change is inevitable. I think it is even safe to say that when this is all said and done, teaching won’t ever look like what it did before. I don’t have much to compare it to, but in my opinion--it’s okay. As teachers, we’ve learned so much. Our students have learned. We have truly adapted. There have been so many amazing technology resources that we discovered and mastered. We have bended and molded into what our students needed us to be, and we are all the better for that. Finding good and value in this year is really the heart of it all.

As a first year teacher, I know that I have so much to learn and am fully prepared to keep soaking it all in. But without these things that have helped me succeed and have motivated me, I am sure I would not feel as hopeful as I do right now. It’s important to know that we aren’t alone, and this year was not a throw-away year. We rose to the challenge, faced it, and I have confidence that when we can go back to a semblance of normalcy, we will have defeated it victoriously and have come out stronger.