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Writer's pictureSamantha Fecich

Tips for new teachers

Updated: Oct 26, 2022

Hello edumagicians, welcome to episode 32 of the edumagic podcast. Let's jump into the tips for new teachers. Here we go, in no particular order!

Take time for you

I just reread the book Juggling Elephants; it helps you complete your to-do list. The author talks about being the ringleader of your own 3 ring circus. The gist is that you have 3 rings in your circus, each of which has different acts.

  • Professional ring for you it might be teaching or school. For example, you could have the different subjects you teach, the committees you're on, or projects you're working on.

  • Personal ring what are things you're going to invest in yourself? Put things that help fill you up as as as a person. You can put that in there, whether it be writing poetry, listening to music, bingeing your favorite show on Netflix, working out, or making time to meal prep or something.

  • Relationships ring where family, friends, and loved ones come into play. This is where you put all of your connections.




Stay late or go in early

Either stay late or go or go in early and don't do both. Whenever I was a first-year teacher, I would be in at 7:00 am I think school started at 7:45 am, and I would leave at like 4:00 PM or 5:00 PM. Friends, please don't do that - pick one or the other. You don't want to burn out. By choosing one or the other, then, you're making time for relationships, and you're making time for yourself as well. Bonus tip: When you go to school, choose what you're going to work on for that time and prioritize your list of things you need to do and get them done.



Keep the learning going

Just because you have a degree or a diploma doesn't mean learning has stopped. Personal and professional growth is important for becoming an educator of excellence. There are so many ways for you to engage in professional development. For example, events at your school or school district, listening to podcasts, attending webinars from simple k12 or edweb, and reading articles from Edutopia, EdWeek, or Chronicle of Higher Ed.


Finding ways for you to hone in on your craft and become better and better each day is what our kids deserve. For example, I went back to school while teaching, which was tough. Before returning to school, I clearly understood why I was returning. I was going to be a better teacher and invest in myself. I could reach my students in new ways by learning more techniques and honing in on a specific area I'm passionate about. It was really neat going back to school for my Master of Education because I could immediately incorporate what I learned into the classroom. Bonus tip: sometimes, depending on the school district that you're in may help pay your way a little bit.

Remember just because you get a diploma or degree doesn't mean you're learning stops. It shouldn't stop you should always be continuing to learn.

PLN Connection

I am a huge advocate of having a professional learning network. Having a PLN has truly helped me become the professor I am today. I can connect with educators worldwide to find specific strategies and tools they use with their students in real classrooms. You can find other episodes related to this topic here:


With the support of a network, I can have my future teachers connect with educators from around the world currently in the classroom. They can see what actual teachers are doing in their classrooms at any time. It has been a game-changer in my class just for them to connect and learn from other people, and they can bring their experiences into that classroom.

Let's recap
  • Take time for yourself; actually, schedule it!

  • Either stay late or go in early

  • Never stop learning

  • Connect with your PLN



EduMagicians, Edumagic shine on a guide for new teachers comes out tomorrow, Nov 27! If you want the down-low on all the giveaways and challenges to win your copy, click here!


Remember, you have the EduMagic in YOU!

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