New Teachers Need Mentors [S3 E57]

Listen to the full episode below:

Look, we’re not going to sugarcoat it.  Your first few years of teaching is TOUGH. It’s the beginning of a new career and it takes some time to find your footing. Don’t even get us started on the constant meetings that you can’t even pay attention to because you’re SO overwhelmed. There’s a reason why more teachers leave this profession in their first three years than any other point in their career. Those first three years are a make or break time. We want to help you prepare for it!

Hopefully you’re feeling excited about the upcoming year, but it’s also okay to be nervous! Or, if you’re anything like we were, you may be waltzing into your first year with the highest confidence thinking you know it all! Regardless of how you’re feeling about this new adventure, you need support as a beginning teacher. You need a mentor. But not just any mentor! You need someone who will help you focus on the practical things rather than all the fluff. 

PS - This conversation is just as relevant for veteran teachers. We are all responsible for taking care of new teachers. They are coming in with a fresh perspective, and we can all learn from each other!

Topics Covered:

  • What an effective mentorship should look like

  • Why all teachers, especially NEW teachers, need mentors

  • Getting to the nitty gritty of what you actually need as a new teacher

  • 4 pieces of advice for new teachers (you’re welcome!)

Resources and Related Episodes:

More about Brave New Teaching:

Join hosts Amanda Cardenas (Mud & Ink Teaching) and Marie Morris (The Caffeinated Classroom) in discussions about being brave, trying new things, and all things teaching! As seasoned classroom teachers, Amanda and Marie bring their experience, insight, energy, and oh, so many opinions and ideas... It's time for all teachers to take their classroom and teaching practice into their own hands!

Tune in on your favorite podcast apps like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher.

Amanda Cardenas