I Wish I Would Have Known...

There was no way to predict what this year would be like, the personalities of my students, or how my conferences with parents would go. I tried my best to plan ahead for every situation, but many times I ended up thinking, "I wish I would have known that sooner!" Here are some things I wish someone would have told me before beginning my teaching career:

*Organize as much as you can, right away. I recently cleaned off my desktop to see papers that had been there for a month. Organizing them after the fact, when there were so many-- impossible.
*Invest in lots of Goo Gone, Clorox wipes, Purell, Sharpies, and Post-its. I think my kids EAT Post-its we go through them so fast.
*If the PTA holds an event, go! The kids LOVE to see teachers outside the classroom having fun, and it scores you extra points with parents and administration.
*When sending notes home, use the ones that automatically carbon-copy themselves. That way there is no questioning what you wrote.
*Do not believe the custodian when he says the elevator/door lock are broken, or that your carpets are a fire hazard and need to be removed ASAP. I learned quickly that custodians are known for practical jokes.
*Cupcakes in an elementary classroom = frosting on the floor, walls, ceiling...
*Families with the least ability to give often give the most.
*Save box tops, soup labels, frosting cans, ANYTHING that might come in handy.
*Get ONE subscription to a magazine or online reproducibles site, like Scholastic. They all basically have the same thing.
*Parents love newsletters, especially if they include weekly objectives and upcoming events.
*Become friendly with your IRTs, TRTs, secretaries, etc... they're the ones who get things done.
*Short on money? Apply for Target Field Trip Grants, ask for classroom supply donations, etc.
*Always pack a little extra food in your lunch/snack. There will be a student who forgets/isn't sent with enough.
*Leave by 6pm! Nothing gets done after that, your brain is fried and your energy is low.
*Be patient when trying to acquire special ed services for a child. The line is long, and the workers few.
*Kids will forget important forms for days, but remember to bring in their Show-n-Tell without fail.
*There are many useful teachers' websites out there, like teachers.net and proteacher. You don't have to reinvent the wheel!
*Don't be afraid to switch grade levels. Yes, it's a huge undertaking, but it can be very rewarding and you may end up right where you need to be.

Blog posted by February writer Nichole Emond, 1st grade teacher at Cary Elementary in Cary, NC.