What advice would you give to a new teacher today? What is something that would have been helpful to know when you first started out as an early childhood educator?
RANDI, MARYLAND
You will never “have it figured out,” and that’s a good thing! You get to be a lifelong learner. Just like those in your classroom, you will learn important new things every year and be lucky enough to never be done learning.
SHARON, MINNESOTA
I wish I had known the importance of building relationships with children and their families. I began teaching with a lot of ideas for content and learned over the years to tune in to what children are interested in. My classroom became more alive as I observed and paid attention to that.
JOYCE, CALIFORNIA
When I was a new teacher, I wish I had spent more time observing those teachers who had loving and effective methods for management. I felt I had to do it all myself. I did learn through the years that collaborating, especially with those you respect, is very powerful.
GINA, NEW YORK
Give yourself permission to slow down and observe. Children’s play and interactions tell you so much about their interests, strengths, and needs. When you use those observations to guide your planning, the learning feels natural and joyful for everyone.
CYNTHIA, TEXAS
Learn about and engage with professional organizations such as NAEYC. Communities and organizations like HELLO and NAEYC help with an overview of the entire profession. Having colleagues who care and truly have a passion for teaching helps. Additionally, knowing about all the conferences, meetings, and events that one can get involved in would have made a huge difference for me as a beginning teacher. Exchanging ideas with seasoned professionals from all over the country is like having mentors galore on your screen.
MARCO, TEXAS
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