7 Common Mistakes New Teachers Make - And How To Avoid Them

Today, during lunch, a colleague and I shared our struggles as a new teacher years ago.  As beginner teachers, we’ve made some mistakes early in our careers and learned from them.  Unfortunately, it comes with the job.  Here are the top rookie mistakes new teachers make within their first few years.

1. New Teachers Want to Grade Everything

You might have some guilt about not grading everything, but trust me, there are more important things you can work on.

As teachers, we always want to give feedback and check for understanding throughout the day. But you can get this information without grading your student’s work by hand.  Trying to grade everything is time-consuming and tedious, especially if you have large classes or multiple preps. 

In my district, I’m required to put in at least two grades per week.  I put in at least one participation grade and one standards-based grade every week.  The participation grade keeps my students engaged and I’m able to monitor their progress.

Some problems are just for practice, they don’t need a grade.  There’s no need to collect the practice problems.   

2. Too Much Time Spent On Writing Out Lesson Plans

Your lesson plans should be detailed enough for you to know the objective/topic and how the students will learn.  It doesn’t need to include word for word what you will be saying in class. 

Continue reading to see my lesson format.

3. Falling In The Day-By-Day Lesson Planning Cycle

I used to plan my lessons the night before my first year of teaching.  I didn’t hear about backward design lesson planning until my second year. Plus, my team consisted of brand new alternative certified teachers.  We were still learning on the job, to say the least. 

To avoid this, you have to be strategic and organized.  I currently have a routine that I use to plan out my week.  Most of my prep period is spent lesson planning. I try to stick to the same framework for each lesson.  The activity may change but the slides and delivery are the same.  My Algebra 2 format is like this -

• Journal prompt

• Warm-Up

• Announcements

• Introduction to lesson or discovery activity

• Guided Practice

• Group or Partner Practice

• Independent Work

• Closing/Summary

There are days when I adjust the format, for example, if we are reviewing for a test.  But most days it looks like this.

Another way to prevent daily lesson planning is to work with your team.  Divide some tasks or days among your colleagues. 

4. Expecting Students To Retain Knowledge From The Previous Year

In math, topics and content are usually taught in a sequence.  The topics within the sequence build on each other.  Ideally, students should master each topic before progressing to the next one. But that is rarely the case.

Now let’s imagine me being a new algebra teacher with high hopes and expectations for all my classes.  I assumed that I could start the curriculum from where they left off the previous year.  I planned to follow the district’s pacing guide because that’s what I was given and told to use.

I hadn’t considered filling in gaps while trying to teach new material.  I couldn’t grasp why they weren’t catching on.

Teaching on-level content was a struggle that year.  I didn’t realize how much pre-algebra I had to spiral in each day.

Here are a few strategies I use to close the achievement gap.

• Don’t assume anything and keep an open mind.  Whatever skill your students need to know, you may need to teach them. 

• Spiral in old content.

• Build relationships with the students and parents.

5. Neglecting Self-Care

Self-care is the new buzzword in education.  Some districts are even offering professional development on self-care, all while you’re overwhelmed with work. 

Self-care for educators is making an effort to leave work at work, getting enough sleep, and recharging each day.  It’s about taking care of your health so that you are prepared to be at your best for your students and your family.

Click here for 10 ways teachers can incorporate self-care.

6. Not Being Organized Or Managing Time Well

Before I established a routine, everything seemed important.  I would get to work and start different tasks before completing the previous one.  It wasn’t until my second or third year of teaching that I started prioritizing my daily to-do list.  I had to ask myself, “What are the top two or three things that need to be done today?”

7. Too Much On Your Plate

Many new teachers come in wanting to please their administrators, colleagues, and students.  They do this by taking on extra duties such as sponsoring clubs, coaching, and signing up for committees. Don’t overextend yourself during your first year. 

Being a new teacher can be overwhelming, especially if you are a part of an alternative certification program.

After 10 years of teaching, I’ve done some things that I would recommend.Unfortunately, I’ve also made some mistakes along the way.The good thing is that I made these mistakes, so you don’t have to.

If you like this post, I would love for you to join my collaborative and supportive Facebook group for beginner teachers.

By joining this community you will gain:

• Access to a closed community group in which you can ask questions, collaborate, and share sensitive information in confidence.

• Support and encouragement

• Teacher hacks to make your life easier.