Stories to Inspire New Teachers

Welcome to the latest edition of the Stories that Inspired Us newsletter, where we take a look back at some stories that had a strong impact on us and our readers.

This month, we’ve assembled a collection of stories for new educators. Many of the stories were written by veteran educators, who shared both lighthearted advice for how new teachers can get through the day and serious consideration for how teachers can use pedagogy to influence lasting change.

We hope your school year is off to a strong start. Happy reading!

Advice for New Teachers, Based on Ted Lasso Quotes

By Dr. Steve Kucinski, High School Teacher and Adjunct Professor

“Ted Lasso reminds his team that goldfish are the happiest animals on earth because they have a 10-second memory. Each day, you will make mistakes or find yourself thinking of ways you could have done something better. That can be overwhelming. You have to move on to the next moment, next student, next class, next lesson.” — Dr. Steve Kucinski

Read Advice for New Teachers, Based on Ted Lasso Quotes here.

Decolonizing Back to School: Being a Culturally Responsive Educator

By Jackie Cope Ed.D. (Washoe of California and Nevada), Director of Education, Cahuilla Band of Indians

“A decolonized education is a system that intentionally dismantles colonial structures and ideologies that built and continue to sustain the American school system. Some basic structures we take for granted and accept as educators are the top-down management system, factory-like approach to leveling students, expecting perfection and overachieving from students and educators, and ineffective behavior modification programs. A decolonized school system would instead create a system that best supports the humans it serves, which means deeply relying on culture, history, and good ways of being.” — Jackie Cope

Read Decolonizing Back to School: Being a Culturally Responsive Educator here.

5 Tips I Wish I Would Have Known During My First Year Teaching

By Kaitlyn Long, Third Grade Teacher

“During my first year of teaching, I would stay at least two to three hours after school every day in order to get ready for the next day. I would meticulously go over every detail in my lesson and make sure that I had all of the materials that I needed for all of my lessons lined up and ready to go. My fellow teachers would sometimes have to drag me out of my classroom because it was so late in the evening. My beginning teacher coach advised me to go home at clock-out time at least a few days a week because she was afraid that I would burn out. I did not think that I would burn out and that I would be able to keep going like this for the whole school year, but I was wrong.” — Kaitlyn Long

Read 5 Tips I Wish I Would Have Known During My First Year Teaching here.

5 Creative Ways to Set Your Intentions for the School Year

“A more complex, fluid approach to intention setting is to select a pedagogical theory, experimental teaching practice, or innovative approach to classroom management and test it out. Select something that addresses an area in which you want to grow as an educator. For example, maybe you’ve been facing challenges with behavior post-COVID, so you decide to try out restorative justice in your classroom this year. Or, if you’ve been feeling like there must be a better way to converse with students about their progress, maybe you decide to test out a mastery learning model.”

Read 5 Creative Ways to Set Your Intentions for the School Year here.

The Pathway to Opportunity for Educators

How to Decide If You Should Pursue a Doctoral Degree, By Dr. Jerry Paterson, Principal

“Along the doctoral journey, there were obstacles and challenges, which can be expected. The best advice I received during my journey was “not to sell out for the job.” I received this advice from Dr. Salvatore Illuzzi, who was the Superintendent of Schools in the Cinnaminson School District at the time. He indicated to me not to pursue a position in administration until I finished my doctoral degree. He pressed upon me that over his career in education, he observed other colleagues start their doctoral work and take a position in educational administration not to return back to finishing their degree. He truly believed that the doctoral degree would open more avenues in my career.” — Dr. Jerry Paterson

Read The Pathway to Opportunity for Educators here.