Podcast Episode 2: Dear New Teacher
Thank you so much for tuning in to Episode 2 of the WhatCherithinks Podcast. If you have not already listened, you can listen here or wherever you listen to podcasts.
This episode is sponsored by Anchor, the easiest way to make a podcast!
Here is the transcript for the WhatCherithinks Podcast, Episode 2: Dear New Teacher
Dear New Teacher,
Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year! If you haven’t already run away in terror thinking about what you’re about to face, Congratulations! You’ve already shown that you have what it takes to be successful in this career! You have entered the field of education in a uniquely precise time. It will be very difficult for anyone to tell who the new teachers are because EVERYONE is new to what we are currently embarking upon! Many veteran teachers are, for lack of better words, nervous about this school year. That nervousness stems from all of the unknowns that lie ahead. Will we teach face to face? Will we teach online? If we teach online, what will that look like? If we teach face-to-face, how will we social distance, keep everything disinfected, ensure that students keep their masks on (wait, we’re wearing masks, right?), AND teach our classes?? This is overwhelming to even the most seasoned teacher.
Then, there’s all the outside noise about how essentials workers have been working throughout the entire pandemic and how teachers have been sitting at home or traveling to the beach while still getting paid. And the constant suggestions about how to run this school year by those whose expertise lies well outside the perimeter of the line of persons qualified to make such suggestions. (I mean, what does my teacher self look like trying to tell the construction workers remodeling my deck how to do their job?)
Listen, teaching is a tough job in a regular year. But, you’ve got this. In fact, let me let you in on a little secret. You are probably in a better position than a large percentage of the current faculty at the school. You don’t know the world without computers. That alone is enough to give you a slight advantage over some of your colleagues. But, hear me out. You will need to use this knowledge to pair with the knowledge that your veteran counterparts have so that the whole team can be successful. Collaboration is the name of the game. You will hear this word a lot. Get used to it. If ever there was a time to grasp this concept, it’s now.
Now, if you listened to my podcast trailer, you’ll know that the podcast has three goals: to encourage, to inspire, and to support. I don’t want to leave without doing all three.
Let’s start with the encouragement: You’ve got this! You may be a new teacher, but you have been studying hard for this moment. This is your time to shine. Trust me. You’ll be the resident expert when it comes to helping others figure out how to upload their picture to their virtual classroom or how to add links to their presentation. (It’s going to happen!)
Now, for a little inspiration: You are beginning your career at a time when you are able to set the stage for what this new era of teaching and learning will look like.
And lastly, for the support: You are not alone! Don’t forget that. Though you may have the technology component under your belt, there are other things that you will need to get through this school year. Find your tribe and tap into their knowledge. I have taught at 3 different schools and at each school, I had the most amazing tribe.
