#Top10: Making it Through Teaching Year 1

Teaching is a HARD job --especially if you’re in Special Education! Winter break is around the corner, and many first-year teachers are thinking, “how the %$!@ do I still have 5 months left of this!? . Here’s my #TOP10 tips for making it through year 1! Let’s Get it Poppin’!

You can find this #Top10 list on www.MrStephenOfficial.weebly.c

1. Rethink your expectations! First and foremost, make sure that you lower your expectations of yourself by about 40%. You cannot be expected to have an amazing program in year 1. Anyone who expects that of you can kick rocks. If you reach for unattainable goals, you will burn out quickly. Do what you can and be proud of that. Don't sweat the small stuff. Some days your students will do nothing. Whatever. Maybe that means you got a healthy dosage of sleep instead of planning a silly lesson. In my book, that's more important.
2. Let go of regret and “failure”! Regret, in general, does nothing for you. If you want to look 90 when you’re 60, go ahead and focus on what you could have done better, what you should have done, what you should have said, what you wish never happened, etc. The reality, though, is that unless there’s a way to fix it, you should let it go. Failure is ONLY failure if you choose not to learn from it.
3. Plan for next year, this year! Get your systems in place and your plans in order. Document the things that worked and the things that didn't. Use that info to make yourself better. If you're not building for the future, then you'll struggle for so much longer.
4. Use your winter wisely!  If you read my #Top10 for summer planning, then you know that I believe in a balance of work and play during the longer breaks. While it’s tempting to forget all of your troubles and party it up or, if you’re like me, take week long naps with meals in between, don’t do it! You’ll pay for it later. A long break is a beautiful opportunity for you to rest and rejuvinate, but it’s also an awesome time to work on YOUR terms! Spend a nice morning or two at a local coffee shop, or get comfy at home and spend some time planning. Just 5 - 8 hours of work during a 2 week break could help you to get back to work feeling MORE rested and LESS anxious!
5. MEDITATE! I can’t believe more people don’t do this! Realistically, sitting in a comfortable position and becoming conscious of your body is not for everyone! However, there are many different ways to get in touch with your inner self, leaving the worries of the world behind. Find what this is for you! Hiking? Boxing? Music? Whatever it is, GET LOST IN IT!
6. Do YOU!  If you want to grab drinks with friends after work --do it! If you want to go on a date with your boo --do it! If you want to stalk the Kardashians on Snapchat and waste hours of your life, then DO IT! Maybe not every night. Maybe not every other night. Maybe you’ll only do it twice a week --but don’t settle for anything less than that! If you don’t make time for yourself, you might start to feel some unpleasant feelings, like resentment, irritability, and/or REGRET!
7. Everything in moderation! You will need to work hard. Don’t work too hard. You will need to chill. Don’t chill too much. Make schedules and to-do lists, and make TIME to do what you need to do as well as what you want to do THIS YEAR and beyond.
8. Celebrate EVERY LITTLE THING! I mean, who doesn’t like a little positive reinforcement?! If you teach an awesome lesson, celebrate that! If someone tells you you’re awesome, celebrate that! If you lead a phenomenal IEP, celebrate that! If you feel like all you did for the day was stay alive, then CELEBRATE THAT! In a field like this one, the little things count --so start counting!
9. Don’t forget why you’re doing this! Honestly, I literally never worry about anything other than the students. SEIS is whatever to me, annoying adults are whatever to me (even if they are my superiors), observations are whatever to me. None of it is nearly important as providing a meaningful and happy experience for the students in your classroom. As long as you’re working hard and doing what you need to be doing, then you’re good.
10. Remember: This is the only year in all of forever that you’ll ever be a first year teacher. AND, it’s half over!!!!!!!