A letter from Feb 25, 2025

Dear FutureMe, I'm at student teaching right now. If all goes how I expect (which seems unlikely), you're probably starting to teach this month. That sounds really hard! You must be tired, and you might be a little hopeless. I wish I could fix it but I don't know how. I do know that right now teaching seems right and I want you to try. I want you to focus on classroom management and worry a little less about the content right now, so that you can get to it later. And if you get a bad walk through I don't really care. I know you will, but right now I don't so I hope that helps. Some tips: - bring Elias in and help him organize your classroom - he is helpful at finding places for things, he would love to help. Just a few hours could make a huge difference. Being organized is hard but so important. - since it's still early, reach out to parents with positive and specific comments about their students - setting good foundations for later. - try classroom jobs they seem so cute - find ways to hear about students home lives, choose a few students each day to focus on so that no-one gets left out - don't reinvent the wheel - teach your curriculum, follow the school expectations, make it one less thing you have to worry about. - it's okay if it's not going well yet! Consistency and kindness are always the way, it's okay if it's not working. I like the idea of using class points that build up to a reward. Have a buddy and send disruptive students to their room - if possible have a doc for every week that has links and notes to each lesson - just small things to remind you what is next and reduce cognitive load. Plan stretch and movement breaks into the day. And snacks, school asks a lot of students. - use a to do list your brain will not remember it this is probably annoying I know you're working really hard and don't need to be told more things to do. But so many teachers give up, and so many teachers don't teach very much, and I know students can really benefit from school in the right circumstances. They need someone to care for them and to teach them how to think. If you hate it, do something easier next year, don't do something totally different. You're learning so much! It's okay! Go sit in the sun. Best of luck!