9 to 5
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
New! And have a question...
Hi All! I am new to the nest so I thought I would introduce myself. I am a 2nd grade teacher and this is my first year teaching. I am getting a little nervous for work but really thankful to have a job.
A few worries that I have had on my mind lately:
-How will my working schedule match up with DH? (I have been staying at home all summer)
-Will I be able to handle the stress of having a full time job...
-Being a first year teacher, will my coworkers accept me?
Anyone else going through the same thing, also anyone out there a teacher that can give me some stress relieving tips 
Re: New! And have a question...
I'm not a teacher, but I think I can *hopefully* answer this. I assume you're just out of college.
My first full time job out of college was a little intimidating as well. I was worried about the same thing. BUT, you have to remember that you don't have homework, you don't have tests, you don't have stressful projects to worry about, or 10-page papers looming in your mind. Typically, you'll be at work from 7-4, I'm guessing, and have your evenings to yourself (of course there will be nights that you bring work home). It is different than college for sure, but I don't think it'll be as stressful as you think.
FET - transferred two embryos (boy and girl) - Nov 2014 - BFP!
I'm also a first year teaching who will be teaching 2nd grade. I was SO excited when offered the position, but then the reality set it and I've been a nervous wreck ever since. lol.
I never student taught because I'm in a university partnership program, so my first year teaching is essentially my student teaching. Yikes! I have lots of experience subbing and volunteering in summer school, but I'm still a nervous wreck. I'm also nervous about balancing grad school and work. I've worked full-time before (I'm a career changer), but I know teacher if very different from other positions. So I'm also nervous about that!
I just have to remind myself that many others have done this before, and I (and you) can too!
The best advice I can give you is to focus on those students in your classroom and bust your butt to do your job well. Be a professional. The rest will fall into place.
I seriously keep a folder called "Warm Fuzzies" and I drop student notes, cards, etc. in there. I review them when I have a crappy day. It helps.
Don't be concerned with making friends with coworkers right away. Be polite and friendly, but don't push friendships. I developed close bonds with many people at school, but it honestly didn't happen until my second year.
It's cliche, but get to know the janitors and secretaries by name and always be kind to these people. The secretaries I work will are always willing to help me out. They aren't so accommodating to some of my coworkers who treat them like servants.
Be ready to roll with the punches. Last year, we had one day janitor and no night janitors (we're a larger school). We had to clean our own rooms. B*tching about it accomplished nothing, and the principals really couldn't do anything about it. I also volunteered to give up my second planning period to offer another class to relieve large class sizes. The principals and counselors never forgot that.
This is true of any job: Don't complain without offering a solution. If I had an issue, I always called to schedule a time to talk about it, and brought a solution or two.
I worked to be professional. I wasn't a kiss@ss, but I was polite. I was there 110% for my students. I'm a highly respected teacher, but I earned that respect.
Best of luck to you!
Great Advice. You sound like a Superteacher!! I am really excited about my career in teaching and I know it is going to be a lot of work. It is good to hear that all the hard work pays off. Thanks again for all the tips, they are much appreciated!
Ditto to PP on making friends with secretaries and janitors!!!
Last year was my first year teaching (just moved from FL to TX so unfortunately I am now looking again!) and it was a lot of work but nothing too scary! Our school had new teachers pair up with existing teachers for mentoring, which was wonderful ... maybe your school has something similar? It was very helpful to have someone to ask questions about how I should go about doing this or that.
Good luck this year :-)!!