The summer after my first year I took a teaching methods course.
Most of the people in the class with me had also just finished their
first year. One thing the instructor told us time and again was that
our job our first year as teachers is to become a second year
teacher. Your main job this year is to survive the year and learn
what lessons about teaching you can. Do your best, try to learn from
your mistakes and what you do right, and just try to make it through
the year. Heck, I think the most important thing to learn your first
year is classroom management (not to say you should ignore trying to
make good lessons, but don't drive yourself crazy). Borrow ideas
from other teachers, do what you can, but don't go crazy, then next
year (while continuing to work on management) work on taking your
lessons to the next level.

On 10/21/09, Need Some Advice wrote:
> On 10/21/09, hlk wrote:
>> On 10/21/09, Need Some Advice wrote:
>>> This is my very first year of teaching. Is it better to
>>> worry about gathering materials for better lessons the
>>> second year of teaching or be concerned about it your first
>>> year? I feel I could be doing more to jazz up my lessons. I
>>> am wondering if I should be doing more to enhance my
>>> lessons now, or just trudge through and learn the material,
>>> lessons, etc...
>>
>> Do the best job you can right now. Survive your first year.
>> If you're able to build a few fantastic lessons that will
>> last the test of time or even evolve into more phenomenal
>> lessons then give yourself a pat on the back.
>>
>> By the way, learning your curriculum is the first step to
>> creating great lessons. It's essential and hard to be great
>> the first few times.
>
> Thanks! I really do feel like I am just surviving right at this
> point. I love my kids and the grade I am teaching. I just want
> to do what is right for them.

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