#overwhelmed
As a new teacher, one word I used to always use was “overwhelmed.” There was always so much to do and so little time. I never felt like I could keep my head above water until the end of the year arrived.
My training and instruction manager always says that being overwhelmed “is like you are standing under a waterfall with a dixie cup.” He’s right. So much was coming my way, but my brain could only handle a dixie cup sized amount- clearly not a tool useful when under a waterfall.
But then, somehow over time I figured things out. I still had my dixie cup, but this time I was under a slow dripping faucet instead of a waterfall. I was not overwhelmed- I was confident. What a difference!
Many people think its okay for a first year teacher to be overwhelmed and that they will just figure it out on their own. Well, that’s not completely true. You can’t get better if you don’t know what to get better at or how to get better at it. That’s where a mentor teacher or coach comes in.
The same people that think being overwhelmed is okay for a new teacher also often think that the first year is solely about surviving, regardless of how the kids achieve. Also, not completely true. The first year of teaching is not a warm up lap, it’s a live race. It counts. There’s no time to pause the clock, its ticking and ticking fast. This year is about you honing your craft on what matters most- students’ development. You don’t have a chance to warm up, that’s reserved for the time leading up to your first year. Once that first year comes, you just have to dive right in.
I am here to stand up for all new teachers and say, someone help! Share your organizational systems to help that paper trap become manageable. Share your prioritizing practices to help tasks get completed by their deadline. Share personal strategies for how you balance your work and home life. New teachers, that doesn’t mean you can keep drowning waiting for a veteran to save you. You must attempt to create your own systems and best practices while reaching out to other teachers for help. Part of you receiving help is asking for it. The clock is ticking.
Once you start receiving help and better managing the intricacies of your first year, I guarantee you won’t see what’s coming as a waterfall anymore. #nolongeroverwhelmed #onlywhelmed
Grab that dixie cup and catch every drop from that leaky faucet! Tick…tick…tick
Have you ever felt like you only had a dixie cup standing under a waterfall? How did you overcome this challenge?
About the author, Gretchen
I am a teacher trainer and coach. Working elbow to elbow with teachers and teacher leaders to ensure instructional proficiency and student achievement soar lights me up. We have a real need in our nation for strong educators to remain in the field. My blog, book, podcast, courses and instructional materials are geared towards empowering teachers (and those that lead them) to receive the support needed to grow and thrive today, tomorrow and always.