AOE Summer Classes
Aug 20, 2012

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Share Your Advice for the First Day of School

Hi AOE readers! Today I’m hoping you will help me inspire all of the brand new art teachers who are ready to start their very first days this fall. In the comments section, I’m asking you to share your first day worries, stories and triumphs. Here’s my first day story…

I remember waking up in kind of a haze. Of course, I hadn’t been able to sleep very well the night before and as I got dressed in my carefully chosen back-to-school outfit, a million thoughts were running through my head.

As excited as I was about meeting the students and trying out my first lesson, doubt and dread soon began to creep into my brain. I began to think about every possible thing that could go wrong that day, starting at the very beginning.

“What if my car doesn’t start? I only have one car! If my car doesn’t start, I can’t even start my first day! I’m definitely getting fired.”

“What if the kids are wild? Someone is probably going to start screaming or running around or throwing things right in the middle of my teaching! What will I do?!”

I don’t know if anyone else has experienced my last worry, but it was very scary and very real,  “What if the kids don’t like me?”

After taking some deep breaths, I was able to drive to school in my (fully functioning) car. I walked into my classroom, laid out the supplies for my lesson and nervously waited for my first class to arrive.

This is when something totally hilarious happened. After the first classroom teacher dropped off her class, I was sitting with the students in a circle on the carpet and I remember wondering, “Where is the teacher? Shouldn’t we be starting class already?” immediately followed by, “Oh my gosh, I am the teacher.” I took a deep breath and introduced myself.

From then on, the day went fairly smoothly. Was I nervous? You bet, but I quickly fell into a rhythm as I presented my lessons. The kids were great, my lessons went well and a little girl even told me, “Mrs. Heyn, I love you!” Ha!

I now realize that my thoughts that first morning did not represent my reality. The truth was that my student teaching experiences had been wonderful, veteran teachers had complimented me on my classroom management skills, and I had materials prepped for the entire first month of school. I was ready, but I let myself get caught up in my own untrue stories.

So, my advice to new teachers is this: Honor the hard work you’ve put in preparing for this day. Even if you feel nervous, remind yourself that you are ready.  Below is a short exercise you can use to get through some of the first day jitters called “Examining the Evidence.”

Here’s how it goes.

1. Write down a negative thought you have about the first day of school.

Example: I won’t know what to do if someone interrupts my teaching.

2. Next, examine the actual evidence you have of this statement. Chances are, you will be able to list a few things that actually have happened that contradict your thought.

Example: During student teaching, when Johnny was shouting from the back of the class, I used 1-2-3 Magic and he stopped on number 2. OR When I was introducing my lesson about VanGogh and Lisa couldn’t stop bothering Jenny, I switched her seat, which solved the problem.

 

What is the one piece of advice you would give to new teachers on their first day of school?

Do you have any hilarious/frustrating/enlightening stories to tell about YOUR first day?

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  • erica

    As my GPS is taking me down the streets with couches in on the porches, pawn shops and children waiting for buses with no parents, I realize I’m lost. I stop at a little bodega and ask for directions (I’d only been here a few times before to set up my classroom and had no idea where I ended up!) It was a little sketchy and I’m sure they were thinking who is this young girl all dressed up at 7:30 in the morning? When I finally got there and saw a few kids trickling in I started to feel like I was on the set of that movie with Michelle Pfieffer (dangerous minds I think) except I was no Michelle Pfieffer, base was blaring from cars, kids excited to see each other after summer, and looking at me like I was imported from some alien land. I sort of was. I always thought the boarding school I went to was a little weird to say the least, but if this was what public school was it was really weird! I made it up to my classroom of the middle school and closed the door. I arranged the pencils on kids desks, collected them, maybe they should be passed out, maybe the paper should be ready? Maybe I should write my name on the board? Maybe I should look over my schedule one more time. By the time my first class arrived, I decided saying less was more. They already had enough to look at seeing this young preppy girl pretending to be a teacher. So I decided to let them look. They all sat in their chairs pretty orderly. I took note of where they choose to sit, so I could make sure to break up any groups next week. But for the moment, I just introduced myself. When I introduced myself as an artist you could tell they were excited at first then skeptical. I knew bringing in my art wouldn’t convince them anymore of it, or further my reputation with them, so that first week, I googled lettering styles and wrote all of their names in some type of graffiti lettering that I stole off the internet! That gained their attention for a minute so I could teach some art:) 

    • http://www.artbke.blogspot.com/ Amanda Heyn

      What a great story, Erica! Thanks for sharing. I can totally relate to the millions of questions running through your head. That still happens to me sometimes when I’m trying a lesson for the first time. :)

      • Vivian

        Yes! I too have been nervous presenting new material. I’m so glad the nervousness has calmed though. My confidence has grown in front of a group and well, practice helps! Good Luck New Teachers, All Teachers with your first day!

  • Cathy

    I think if anything, just go in prepared to teach just  a simple lesson. Doing so provides the students with a “feel” of how you are going to teach, plus keeping it simple eases the stress for you as a new teacher. But first of all, do the introduction of yourself (keep it short) and definitely go over classroom rules and expectations. And don’t be afraid to make mistakes….they will happen during that first week. Be able to “laugh” a little and share with your students that you did make an error. Students love knowing that their teachers aren’t perfect. Each year I myself have the “first day jitters” (although they are a little less than my first day of teaching). What helps me also is that not only am I suffering from “jitters” but also my students are a little nervous and jittery as well. If we can share that together, then it gets things off to a good start.

    • http://www.artbke.blogspot.com/ Amanda Heyn

      I love what you said about being able to laugh at yourself. It’s so true. It’s nice for the kids to see you’re human! 

  • http://www.theartofed.com/ Jessica Balsley

    I don’t remember much from my first day of teaching, but I do remember taking my picture by the front door, just like you would do as a kid. I go by the motto “fake it until you make it” and for your first week of teaching, I would say this still applies. Even if you aren’t 100% sure, act like it, and the students will follow. They will pick up on your confidence. Put as much as you can onto a power point regarding rules/procedures so that you don’t forget anything.

    One funny thing I do remember is what a kid said to me about a month into my first year of teaching. He said, “My dad told me that teachers make ____ per day, is that true?” I think I replied with something generic to change the subject. Then he said “But you are an art teacher, so you probably make less, right?” 

    Seriously. 

    • http://www.artbke.blogspot.com/ Amanda Heyn

      Oh my gosh! One time during a clay lesson, I was telling the kids I thought Mike Rowe should come and film Dirty Jobs at our school because we were going to get so messy. A student looked at me and said, ” Being an art teacher isn’t a job!” I was like, “What do you think I do all day?” I guess I’m glad he thinks my job is fun…?

  • Vicky Siegel

    A little piece of advice…if you see your students once a week, remember what you wear! :)  I had a little girl ask me once if that was the only outfit I had!  Apparently I wore the same thing 2 Thursdays in a row!  So… those little ones really do listen to every word and watch your every outfit!!

    • http://www.theartofed.com/ Jessica Balsley

      Funny! When I was pregnant I also had a little girl tell me I wore that outfit last art class. It was one of three things that still fit, so I swallow my pride. hehe. Fashion Police.

      • http://www.artbke.blogspot.com/ Amanda Heyn

        Hah. I’ve had the same “Why do you always wear that shirt?” experience too. But at my school, we’re on a rotating schedule that is different every week! There’s no way I’m keeping up with that. I’d need a whole different planner!

  • Artmuse67

    My advice would be to plan plan plan! I had a veteran teacher tell me once “honey, if you don’t have a plan for them, they’ll certainly have a plan for you!”  My first day I always do some type of simple activity that integrate the most important classroom rules.  The first official project I do is always a 2D drawing/design  based one this way everyone eases into the school year slowly and steadily, including me! :)

    • http://www.theartofed.com/ Jessica Balsley

      I like that advice your colleague gave you! Even 3 minutes of unplanned time can feel like an eternity with a group of 1st graders, so true!

      • http://www.artbke.blogspot.com/ Amanda Heyn

        I also ease in with 2D. You’re right, it’s nice for everyone! 

  • Vicky Siegel

    This year I am having all students create a zentangle project for their first project/square1art project. I made booklets to look at. First graders will make a large flower, introduce Georgia O’Keefe, and color petals and border in Roy G. biv order with marker. Seconds will create a bird, 3rds will create a fish, and 4ths will create an animal of their choice. (Our 5ths are in the middle school.). Second, 3rds, and 4ths will use liquid watercolor. I am hoping the zentangles will lead to greater sketchbook ideas all year, too.

  • Janine
    • http://www.artbke.blogspot.com/ Amanda Heyn

      Wow, Janine! You are brave and inspiring! I love that you connect the first day to a service project. I do art on the first day, but this makes me think I should be more adventurous.