​Beginning your teaching career can be both thrilling and daunting. Preparing lessons, learning school routines and getting to know a sea of new faces can all feel very overwhelming. You need to remember not everything has to be mastered straight away. Teaching is a journey and every day you will learn new lessons - as well as your pupils!

Your relationships matter most.

As much as subject knowledge of course is very important, children learn best when they feel seen and valued. Take time to greet your students at the door, get to know their hobbies and interests and build connections with them. Creating a positive classroom atmosphere will help learning flourish. Some ice breaker games with your students can encourage you to get on a level with them where they feel comfortable around you, and this will mean that if they feel like they need to come to you for advice or to express their feelings they will not shy away from you.

Set routines early on.

Having a clear, consistent routine will help your pupils know what to expect and make the class run more smoothly. Whether its how books are handed out, how to line up, or how you want discussions to work, practise these early on and try and stick with them. This might all feel repetitive at first, but will save a lot of time and stress further down the line.

Don't be afraid to learn on others.

You are not expected to have all the answers in your first year - or any year, really. Don't be afraid to ask your colleagues for advice, borrow resources, or share any challenges you have with them. Most if not all teachers will be more than willing to help, after all every one of them were in your position at one point!

Look after yourself.

Teaching can be consuming if you let it. Marking, planning and lots of to do lists can be never ending, so please pace yourself. Give yourself permission to step away at the end of the day, enjoy your weekends to yourself and recharge. Whether it be participating in hobbies, spending time with friends or family, or just simply doing nothing, a little bit of self care goes a long way. Remember you are only a human too... a rested teacher is far more effective than a frazzled one.

Be prepared but flexible.

Planning of course is essential, but no lesson ever unfolds exactly as you would expect. Sometimes you will have to adapt quickly, whether its due to technology failing or your pupils taking the learning in a surprising direction. See it as part of the fun as opposed to a set back.

Appreciate your small wins.

Not every day will run perfectly, but there will be a lot of moments worth celebrating. A quiet pupil raising their hand, your class working well together, or even just a smile at the end of a long day - holding onto these as small wins build a lot of confidence.

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Your first year of course will not be flawless, and it doesn't need to be. What matters the most is showing up and remembering why you chose this path. The most powerful thing you can offer your students is not perfection, it is presence, patience and care.

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