Finding Your Teacher Identity
When you signed on to teach, nobody told you all of the hidden pockets of disappointment that by the way have nothing to do with the kids.
If you feel like an alien who has landed on a new planet, you are not alone. Those delirious changes that happen without warning are par for the course. You are an English teacher suddenly asked to cover an algebra class on your prep. Perhaps on your lovely job interview, your principal told you that for sure you would be teaching kindergarten? Now you find yourself teaching fifth grade (and the year has already begun). You are a phys ed teacher who has been asked to cover the in-house suspension room. Your favorite class has been dissolved for ‘lack of enrollment’.
Nobody told you that teaching wasn’t going to entail having a big, bright beautiful classroom and that you were not going to teach the subject that you studied in your graduate program. Nobody told you that the preference sheets where you indicate grade level or assignment were just like one of those marketing surveys.
Perhaps you have been assigned a coach who follows you to and fro all day? You did mention that you’d like to eat lunch, but the coach isn’t busy, so they plunk right down next to you while your colleagues are having fun discussing the Barbie movie. ‘Yikes!, like the old song lyrics go — Is that all there is? Is that all there is my friend, then let’s keep dancing…
Teaching is still one of the best professions ever. But the politics and the system is always bound to have a whole basket full of glitches. The only thing for certain in education is that nothing is constant except change itself. This dizzying ride can easily throw a new teacher off of their game.
This is my short list of advice for to help with holding on until you can gracefully or not-so-gracefully find your teacher voice.
Number 1: This may be your first or second job, but it won’t be your last. Chances are — you will not retire here.
Number 2: Stay out of the clutches of teachers who want to fight for a cause that is not really about the students. Even if you do fight for the students, be very careful.
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Number 3: Stay intellectually curious. Do not think that the scripted programs, textbooks or booklists that you need to use for your particular teaching position are the only ones out there. Even if you cannot go outside of the scripted lesson, go to conferences, read blogs and articles on the latest curriculum trends and stay curious!
Number 4: Your identity and style of teaching takes time to develop. If someone asks you to prematurely take on a role in leadership, coaching or curriculum design, think carefully about whether the timing is right. It takes a while to develop good teaching skills. There is always time to move up the ladder.
Number 5: Shadow colleagues in the building who can provide you with new skills. Talk to related service providers about what they do. Use their expertise. Speak to the admin. or teacher in charge about how they schedule students. There’s a great deal of wisdom in your building.
Number 6: Don’t join the debating society. There are other colleagues with tenure who will get into discussions about something that they do not like or some key player in the building that they resent. Be very careful not to burn your bridges with the key player, just to be a part of the debating team (metaphorically speaking) or detractors. Be positive and solutions oriented.
Number 7: Stay focused when wisecracks are made. Sometimes new teachers are told by others they are working too hard on a lesson or making materials for the kids when they could be taking shortcuts. If you want advice it’s one thing, but do not listen to unsolicited advice that may be trying to undercut you.
Number 8: Stereotypes about new teachers will happen. Harden yourself. Someone will inevitably assume that you are good with technology because you are new and may be in a different generation than them. They also may feel that you are there to ease the burden of setting up a SmartBoard or some other tech set-up. If you want to help, go ahead but do not buy into stereotypes. On the same subject, there may be some territorialism regarding space or the best furniture because you are new. Be diplomatic, but hold your own.
Number 9: The friendly-unfriendly types will be sizing you up. Be aware that not everyone means to be kind. Maybe consider whether you want to share pictures of your family or break bread with them. I once had someone ask to see a picture of my daughter when she was a toddler. They made some remark about “ That’s a big girl”. My daughter was actually a little underweight for her age. The person was just plain nosy and not have my best interest in mind. Of course if trust is built and you have colleagues who are amazing, this doesn’t apply. But beware of the friendly-unfriendly types.
Number 10: Having a steady classroom, a class assignment that you depend on or particular subject to teach is not guaranteed. When your Assistant Principal suddenly tells you that next year you will be assigned to teach Science when your license is ELA, do not be surprised. Sometimes, the admin. is in a bind and needs coverage. I know many elementary school teachers who were promised a certain grade and then wound up being assigned to a grade that they do not feel confident teaching and do not want to teach. Again, pay attention on the initial interview, but do not take it personally when you do not get the assignment promised to you. If it keeps happening, keep in mind that you can still go job hunting. But chances are that if your admin. has you placed in a grade or subject that is not your favorite, he/she/they did not do it purposely. Of course there are a small percentage of schools in which the squeaky wheel gets the oil and certain teachers always get the plum assignments because they either have a big presence or complain to the union. In many cases, assignments are simply done by seniority.
Summarily, hang in there and don’t quit before the miracle! You have talent and your are smart or you would. not have gotten the position in the first place. Will find your identity and things will get better. Finding your teacher identity takes a few cycles. You may not find your voice or your particular niche for a few years. Be mindful that most new teachers have gone through this. You are not alone. Take time to reflect on your time in from the day you started and mark the progress. If this is your first day in the career, then read my article a few more times.
Shoutout to all teachers~!
