The first year of teaching is rife with conflict, both internal and external. New teachers must bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and the rowdy classroom, where reality is quite different than the expectations taught in the Ivory Tower of the School of Education. Indeed, teachers must learn how to quickly "survive" in the classroom or else fall victim to the disheartening statistics. According to the National Education Association, 30% of new teachers quit within three years, while 50% of new teachers leave within five years of stepping foot into their own classrooms. Thankfully, with this guide by your side, you are well on your way to enjoying your first year as a teacher!

Pave the Foundation on the First Day

The first day of school will set the tone for the entire year. Students are quick to test boundaries, and this process instantly begins with first impressions. You want your students to see that you are supportive and nurturing, yet firm when it comes to your expectations. Too many first-year teachers want their students to like them, but this is a fallacy. It doesn't matter whether or not the students like you; it only matters if they respect you. On the very first day, make sure that your academic and behavioral expectations for the classroom are clearly understood by your students. You may wish to create your own set of rules (and consequences) that are posted clearly in the classroom, or you can encourage your students to take ownership of the rules by enlisting their help. The latter will help your students become more respectful of the rules, as well as the consequences of breaking them. Other seasoned teachers simply use one easy-to-remember rule in the classroom: respect.

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare!

The best way to calm your first-year jitters is to be as absolutely prepared as possible. When it comes to lesson plans, you may breeze through a two-hour plan in an hour. What will you do with the extra time? Always keep a small list of supplemental activities with each lesson plan to ensure that you have sufficient material. Remember, if the classroom is unstructured for even five minutes, rowdiness will erupt! Preparing your classroom is also an important part of maintaining a positive environment. When you create your room, make sure that distractions are limited. Sit in the students' desks and look around the room, analyzing potential distractions from their point of view. Before each day, write your plans on the board. This helps you to stay on track, as well as gives your students an overview of what to expect. However, with teaching must come a level of flexibility. While you want to be as prepared as possible, you want to give yourself the freedom to spend time exploring topics that the students find engaging and interesting.

Be Open to Criticism

In every occupation, criticism will exist - and teaching is certainly no exception, especially when you have administrators and parents all sharing their opinion of your classroom. It is important to put defensiveness to the side as a teacher, as being defensive will deafen your ears to real concerns. Put your ego aside and listen to parents' concerns and administrators' feedback, as positive critique is a very effective way to help you grow as an effective teacher.

Conduct a Reality Check

As you will quickly realize, the real classroom presents hurdles and challenges glossed over by education theories. You will not always be able to reach every student; some simply will not respond, despite your best efforts and most creative ideas. Do not become disheartened if there are a few students you simply cannot reach. Your first year of teaching will be filled with both hurdles and immense rewards. By being prepared with the right expectations, you will quickly become a seasoned educator prepared to face all of the challenges of the classroom!