My child had a new teacher (new to her school although I think she had taught one year in another school) for first grade. She was very young and since she was new I was unsure about how our year was going to go. To date, she has been the best and our favorite teacher our child has had...she was very special.

OP here. Thank you to all who responded. DH basically thinks the same, ie, a new teacher has more energy and is eager to do well. It's just that as a parent, I can't help but worry about these things. I will definitely give the teacher a chance. Hopefully, I can later say that my worries were unfounded, and she was the best teacher DD has ever had.

Spouse of a teacher here.... In this area, there are so many teachers that interview for each spot, especially in elementary schools that chances are, this new teacher has great energy and personality and did well on her interview in the district. Give the new teacher a chance! There are always good teachers and bad teachers, but it's too early to tell how this will go, and you're better off keeping an open mind at this stage.

Teacher here....

I have seen many "nervous for the new teacher" posts here recently....and (IMO) a GREAT teacher is more about personality and passion than experience. I have 17 years experience and have more enthusiasm than ever due to many factors...experience NOT ranking in the top 3 of those factors. I do feel like my enthusiasm is an anomoly for an experienced teacher.

Please give this new teacher a chance. Yes...they may be a "good teacher"...or maybe "not so good" BUT experience (or lack of) will not be the reason.

We just had one. 5th grade, never taught before, awaiting final state license, no Full-Time student-teaching. This wasn't just her first teaching job, it was her first full-time job. Ever. She was hired fresh out of college.

She was wonderful - one of the three best our DC has ever had. We sent the principal a thank you letter at the end of the year and bccd her.

Please give your new teacher a chance.

One of our favorite teachers was a first year teacher (I have 4 kids - so many teachers to compare) -- she was Wonderful, enthusiastic and engaged - unfortunately we also had a bad first year teacher (who was older, and had just gotten a master's degree, so the school I believe gave her more chances than she should have gotten...) -- give the teacher a chance and see. If you have issues, don't hesitate to voice them.

It could go either way. As a teacher, my first year was probably my favorite. I don't know if I was an awesome teacher or not, but I definitely felt in the honeymoon phase of teaching and loved coming to work. By contrast, I burned out after five years and am taking time off. And I'm not even that old! So, there you go.

Anonymous wrote:The pictures above sounds very rosey, but DD had a new teacher and it was terrible. I hear people liked her this past year, but now she has 4 years of experience, so she probably isn't making the same mistakes as before. The reality is it could be good or it could be bad. you have no way of knowing. My kids all have experienced teachers this year, but it doesn't guarantee a good fit. so you never know.

My experience wasn't painted rosy, it was a snapshot of how *some* not all-teachers perform their first year. I can give you this snapshot, since I was that 1st year teacher. I never said they don't make mistakes, but the same goes for experienced teachers. All day. Every day. Just stop in a classroom sometime and check for yourself.

Not to mention OP, what one person describes as a "terrible" teacher for their DC might be "wonderful" for the next. I guess it's a matter of what characteristics you are looking for. Good luck!

It really depends on the school and the teacher. A new teacher with a supportive mentor and administration will get the support she needs to figure out the sol's and get them taught. A new teacher just kind of thrown in there with little hands on support will probably have a tough time with the sols - I mean, I've met new teachers who didn't even know what sol's were. Still, some of those new teachers, in spite of being a little weak sol-wise, were really enthusiastic and were great teachers in many other ways. And plenty of experienced teachers are bitter and burned out. So you are right that if you are concerned about your child learning specific sol's you should probably take the initiative and do some work yourself at home, especially in math. But I wouldn't be too concerned - newness just isn't really the defining factor in being a good teacher.

The pictures above sounds very rosey, but DD had a new teacher and it was terrible. I hear people liked her this past year, but now she has 4 years of experience, so she probably isn't making the same mistakes as before. The reality is it could be good or it could be bad. you have no way of knowing. My kids all have experienced teachers this year, but it doesn't guarantee a good fit. so you never know.

Are you kidding? A new teacher has more enthusiasm, energy, and a new perspective on kids in the classroom. They're not likely to listen to whatever toxic words were said in the break room from the previous grade teacher about how well that child did or did not do. Yes, they are still learning just as would any professional in the first year of their career. If it were me, I would want a new teacher full of creativity, spontaneity who is fresh out of the school and keen to the "current" literature and techniques in education. It's hard to compare old vs. new without knowing what it is they actually do in their classroom.

In exaggeration here, would you rather have the older, burn-out teacher using worksheets and chalk or the new, cheerful teacher using a smartboard and hands-on manipulatives?

Signed,

Used to Be A New Teacher and Loved It

New teachers don't have years of experience, but they do have enthusiasm, they are motivated to prove themselves, and often they do not have kids yet (so they don't call in sick as much as teachers with babies).

Like most things in life, there are positives and negatives to every possibility. Even the "experienced" teachers have negatives.

We had a new teacher last year and it was great (and when I said that to another parent they told me their favorite teacher was also brand new that year).

How is a new teacher supposed to get experience if all of you only want your kid to be in 80-year-old Mrs. Crabopple's class?

DD just met her new 5th grade teacher. I am a little worried because I learned that this new teacher has just graduated from college, and never taught 5th grade before. With this new more challenging SOL, I am worried that she won't be up to par and prepare DD and her classmates. Have your kids ever had a first time teacher? How did this teacher measure up to the more experienced teachers? Please share any good or bad experience. TIA