Have you ever started a job without being trained? Better yet, have you ever been working at a new job and felt like you missed out on the particulars of the job? I got a job at a popular fast food restaurant. The first day I came in with my new uniform and I was ready to be trained. I was shocked when the manager said: “We are in a rush! Get on the fries!” Of course, I did not know how to work the machine, but I’d heard about it. The problem was that all the automated stuff about the machine was broken. My first two efforts were terrible. The first batch of fries was still white and undercooked. The second batch was dark and overcooked. The third was perfect and I became the “fry guy” immediately!
If you are a teacher, it’s not your fault that you may feel like this. It isn’t the fault of the administration either. They have so much to give to you that some of the everyday particulars get left out. New teachers are extremely diverse. Some have graduated from teacher education programs with a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Others come from careers outside of education. Regardless of their background, most have no idea about the importance of their new career. There is much to know about being a teacher. I reveal a lot about strategies, mindsets and relationships in this talk.