Help me feel better about a brand new teacher!

[Anonymous]

We've been so lucky with two great teachers for k and first. First grade teacher was just a few years out and I thought she was great. But brand new? It feels like the blind leading the blind...tell me I'm unfairly biased and you've had a great experience with a brand new, first time teacher. She seemed nervous to meet my son.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure you wouldn't want a teacher making a negative judgment about your kid on the 1st day. Try being openminded and give the teacher a chance.

[Anonymous]

A new teacher will be educated on the latest research and understandings of best teaching methods, won't be burned out, and won't be bogged down in "how it's always been done." She's more likely to have energy and creativity to do some really neat programs in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Brand new teachers come into the school year with all the hope and optimism that is leached from teachers year after year. New Teachers have the latest and greatest training, with none of the cynicism old teachers have. New teachers are enthusiastic and energetic. Young teachers often don't have families of their own that drain them of their energy. Young teachers often have more energy for moving around with the kids. Young teachers are often more in touch with their younger selves and remember more clearly what they were like as children. New teachers are usually paired with the best teachers in the school as mentors. New teachers have much more frequent observations and check ins with principals, mentor teachers, lead teachers, etc. New teachers are given much more support than veteran teachers.

There will be bumps in the road from having no experience, but with supportive faculty, good teacher mentors, and parents who believe in the teacher- you will have success.

[Anonymous]

Some brand new teachers may be fabulous. You'll have to wait and see. As a longtime teacher myself, however, I would be on the lookout for these problems, and plan to address them:

1. A lot of "busy work" worksheets that suggest she is having a hard time keeping up with the workload and is trying to fill class time with the easiest possible lesson planning.

2. Alternatively, much too ambitious lesson planning, which you will know if your kid starts bringing home incredibly complicated homework projects. Sometimes new teachers are not quite as aware as they could be of what is age-appropriate because they had a really cool idea.

3. Kid's complaints suggest a chaotic classroom. I would go observe at that point.

4. Lack of organization. Are you getting school notices? Is your kid more confused than you would expect?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A new teacher will be educated on the latest research and understandings of best teaching methods, won't be burned out, and won't be bogged down in "how it's always been done." She's more likely to have energy and creativity to do some really neat programs in the classroom.

This plus a million! And since she doesn't have years of files to fl back on, she is creating new things specifically for your child's groups!

[Anonymous]

OP, here is another point you'd better get used to: You won't love or even necessarily like all of your kid's teachers, every year. It sounds like you got great teachers for K and 1st grade -- you are right, you are lucky. Every year won't be so spectacular. This may or may not be an off-year for you, but I'm just telling you that every year won't be fantastic. You have to roll with the punches on this, trust me, or you'll have a long road to the end of high school graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some brand new teachers may be fabulous. You'll have to wait and see. As a longtime teacher myself, however, I would be on the lookout for these problems, and plan to address them:

1. A lot of "busy work" worksheets that suggest she is having a hard time keeping up with the workload and is trying to fill class time with the easiest possible lesson planning.

2. Alternatively, much too ambitious lesson planning, which you will know if your kid starts bringing home incredibly complicated homework projects. Sometimes new teachers are not quite as aware as they could be of what is age-appropriate because they had a really cool idea.

3. Kid's complaints suggest a chaotic classroom. I would go observe at that point.

4. Lack of organization. Are you getting school notices? Is your kid more confused than you would expect?

Ha.I seriously doubt any of this is going to be a problem. Our experience of new teachers is that they actually like to TEACH. The paperwork comes fast and thick with those who are disillusioned and just want to create a subterfuge of activity when really they are on their phones in class texting this site.

[Anonymous]

A new teacher has energy and idealism. The older teachers may have experience, but are often burnt out. Please don't be worried about something until there's actually something to worry about!

[Anonymous]

Throughout my kids' ES years, we've had three brand-new teachers and one who was new to the grade (so she was experience in classroom management but was creating new lesson plans). Those three were among the best teachers we've had in ES. They brought a lot of enthusiasm and did a good job of managing the classroom.

I would agree, however, with PP's suggestion to be on the lookout for potential problems. Some friends were in a new teacher's class at our school last year and she was awful, couldn't manage the class and didn't get through the curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Throughout my kids' ES years, we've had three brand-new teachers and one who was new to the grade (so she was experience in classroom management but was creating new lesson plans). Those three were among the best teachers we've had in ES. They brought a lot of enthusiasm and did a good job of managing the classroom.

I would agree, however, with PP's suggestion to be on the lookout for potential problems. Some friends were in a new teacher's class at our school last year and she was awful, couldn't manage the class and didn't get through the curriculum.

Also, the worst teacher we had in ES was my DD's K teacher -- she was very experienced but seem burned out and really lacked patience with the kids on the few times I observed the class. IMO, she seemed ready to retire (and now has retired).

[Anonymous]

One of my kids had a newish (23 years old, second year teaching)

She was AMAZING. Such energy and enthusiasm. Loved the kids. Went to their soccer games, dance recitals, etc. She enjoyed teaching the kids and had the interest and energy to do creative projects and work with each kid at their own level.

All of the boys were in love with her and all of the girls wanted to be her. It was a very good year for all the kids.

Her one drawback was that in the beginning she was nervous at parent conferences, especially when she had to tell you that your kid was naughty (ahem...my child). Dealing with parents takes skill and experience and by the end of the year she was almost there.

I liken first/second year teachers to the fourth and fifth grade girls who are dying to babyait. They are so eager and attentive and really want to do their best to look after your kids. They are aay better than many of the experienced teenagers who just want to pop in a movie so they can text on their phone. Kwim? Sometimes pure enthusiasm can accomplish a lot, especially with kids.

[Anonymous]

New teachers put in a TON of work lesson planning and are really engaged. It will be great.

[Anonymous]

I'm studying to be an elementary school teacher right now. We have lots of training in writing lesson plans and we are encouraged to practice them before trying them out in the classroom. We are also advised to discuss new lesson plans with our colleagues to get feedback on what might need some tweaking before trying to teach it for the first time. Another thing they teach us is strategies to cope when things might not go as planned.

It's normal to feel worried op, but I think you might be surprised by your brand new teacher.. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

DC #1 had a great experience with a new teacher where DC #2 had a dud with 10 years plus experience. You can't judge a teacher based on their experience.