8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive(and Veteran Teachers Too!)

Vicki A Davis

SchoolSchoolcultureculture

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

Immediately, we can start to help new teachers and help each other in the process. The research gives

us some insight into how each of us can help other teachers thrive. In this post, I’ll share the research

about teacher retention and eight practical ways we can all make our schools and profession better.

We can help new teachers and each other thrive.

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

I was inspired to write this post because of the soon to be released episode 536 (to be released on

August 5, 2019), where a third-year teacher, Edwin Thomas Minguela, and I talk about the lessons he’s

learned in his first two years of teaching. Interestingly, he also admits that he almost quit teaching this

past school year. We have to do better. We have to help and encourage each other.

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

The Research About Keeping TeachersThe Research About Keeping TeachersFirst, let’s dive into some research about how to help teachers thrive (and not quit teaching.) In their

July 14, 2019 article “Why Teachers Quit,” We Are Teachers summarizes,

“A recent study by the Learning Policy Instituteshows that if a teacher receives mentoring,collaboration, and extra resources, and is partof a strong teacher network, first-yearturnover is cut by more than half.Unfortunately, just 3% of beginning teachersreceive such comprehensive support.”

Learning Policy Institute

As I delved into the study cited above, I was struck by this finding,

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

Research shows that stability, coupled withshared planning and collaboration, helpsteachers to improve their effectiveness,(24) andthat teachers improve more rapidly insupportive and collegial workingenvironments.(25)

Learning Policy Institute. .

Now, let’s explore some ways we can help new teachers thrive and survive.

1. Empathize and Remember What It Was Like1. Empathize and Remember What It Was LikeTo Be a New TeacherTo Be a New TeacherI remember being told that I smiled too much before I started teaching. I also recall overhearing some

veteran teachers remarking that I “wouldn’t be smiling long” after having students. How terrible is that?

Please don’t say such a thing!

A Smile is theA Smile is theTeacher’s Game FaceTeacher’s Game Face

This summer, I met Rob Brown,

elementary school principal at Southside

Christian School in South Carolina. To

emphasize this point about smiling, he

said to me,

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

”Every child deserves to be taught by a happy teacher. The first thing I expect of teachers is that they

should smile. I ask them to call me on it if I’m not smiling too.”

Rob Brown, Elementary School PrincipalSouthside Christian School, South Carolina

In brief, I realized this important fact: A teacher’s smile is a teacher’s game face. It should be.

So, whether you listen to Edwin Minguela on episode 536 (coming soon) or reach back into your mind

and early days as a teacher, remember what it was like, be an encourager, and do not steal their joy.

2. Be a Mentor2. Be a MentorFormal mentoring programs work. The Learning Policy Institute says in their 2016 study,

Well-designed mentoring programs improve retention rates for new teachers, as well as their attitudes,

feelings of efficacy, and instructional skills.(32) The keys to success include having a mentor teacher in

the same subject area, common planning time with teachers in the same subject, and regularly

scheduled collaboration with other teachers. Beginning teachers’ practice is enhanced further when

their mentors also receive formal training and are released from some of their own classroom duties to

provide one-to-one observation and coaching in the classroom, so they can demonstrate effective

methods and help new teachers solve problems of practice.(33)

But what if your school doesn’t have a “well designed” program at all. What if it is up to teachers?

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

Meet Informal MentoringMeet Informal MentoringWhen I think of informal mentoring, I recall a scene in the Blue Bloods “Highway to Hell.” The daughter

of Erin Reagan, Nicky, was accused of possessing drugs. But in a slick move, Nicky got one of the boys

she was with to admit that the drugs were his, thus getting Nicky off the hook and out of prison.

In the meantime, Nicky’s mom is trying to figure out how a nineteen-year-old girl knew a ploy that only

a seasoned cop would know. Then, she discovers that Sargeant Gormley had told Nicky an old “trick” of

a seasoned police officer. In short, Nicky was mentored.

Why should a new teacher have to learn lessons the hard way if a seasoned teacher can go ahead and

mentor the new teacher? As a result, what pain and heartache could be prevented for both new

teachers and their students!

Likewise, why should a more seasoned teacher have to struggle with a newer technology that the new

teacher knows and can help her learn?

Be a Mentor By Your Own DesignBe a Mentor By Your Own DesignAs a professional who cares about our profession, I think it is our responsibility to intentionally mentor.

Young. Old. There’s a place for all of us to help each other.

Start with those who ask, but you can also get with other veteran teachers and figure out who has the

same subject and if you have common planning times. With this in mind, stop what you’re doing this

moment and schedule some intentional collaboration time. Be proactive. Be a teacher leader of your

own volition.

Don’t wait for someone to take you under their wing. Find a good wing and climb up underneath it.

Frank C. Bucaro

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

Mentoring Best PracticesMentoring Best Practices

If your principal is on board with what you’re doing, consider sharing the research with him or her so

you can have some more time to coach and observe your mentee. However, as can be seen by the two

teachers and one administrator below, mentorship can be done creatively! We can help new teachers

and administrators with collaborative technology tools.

Get Some Ideas for MentoringGet Some Ideas for Mentoring

Stephanie GoldmanStephanie Goldman

A veteran teacher who describes how she mentored first year teacher, Lindsay George

Lindsay GeorgeLindsay George

During Lindsay’s first year, Stephanie mentored her using a collaborative

space in Google Drive.

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

Jodie PierpointJodie Pierpoint

Mentorship can happen online. Jodie Pierpoint helped found a virtual online mentorship for emerging

leaders.

For example, last year, I interviewed veteran teacher Stephanie Goldman and first-year teacher

Lindsay George who used Google Drive to collaborate. Like many successful mentoring relationships –

it was a two way street of sharing and encouragement with Stephanie helping Lindsay with teaching

and pedagogy and Lindsay helping Stephanie with some tools and tech.

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

At the same time, administrators need mentors too. Sometimes it can be a bit harder for administrators

to find someone on site, but it can be done virtually! Jodie Pierpoint talks about a virtual mentorship

program she helped create online to help new administrators.

3. Include New Teachers3. Include New TeachersAs cited previously a “collegial environment” helps teachers want to stay. My happiest years of

teaching, including this past school year, were the years I had at least one realreal face-to-face friend. This

past year, I had quite a few and it blew me away. Finding a face to face friend reminds me of this quote,

“But it does not seem that I can trust anyone,’said Frodo.

Sam looked at him unhappily.

‘It all depends on what you want,’ put in Merry.‘You can trust us to stick with you throughthick and thin — to the bitter end. And you cantrust us to keep any secret of yours — closerthan you keep it yourself. But you cannot trustBut you cannot trustus to let you face trouble alone, and go offus to let you face trouble alone, and go offwithout a wordwithout a word. We are your friends, Frodo.”

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

We all need the kind of friends who will not let us face trouble alone. And yet, in a world where we all

have more “friends” than ever, it seems we have less friends than ever. In a world where we “follow” lots

of people, we’re no longer following our friend in tears to the ladies room to offer a shoulder — or are

we? In contrast, some of you are, and you’re better for it.

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

Some colleagues of mine and me at Disney this past week. We had so much fun (and learned a lottoo!) It was just a joy to relax and laugh for a moment. Not everyone can go off somewhere, but Irealize that I have these ladies with me every day and am going to be more intentional about findingthem and other friends to not only work but build our relationships.Some of you have friends and have learned. Notably, friendship is somewhat of a trial and takes time.

An acquaintance is like a penny and just happens to be in your path. But a true friend is always earned.

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

And yet, if you do not reach out and make the first steps, you’ll never walk hand in hand laughing at the

sunset as you tell stories about your grandchildren when you get older.

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

Although taking the first steps may be true, it could be a stretch to say that all of us will find a friend at

every school where we work. But I will say this — we have to start somewhere and if you’re going to be

there for a year, you might as well try.

And always, please, always make room for the new guy or gal.

Intentionally include someone. I was that new person someone they included last year.

They don’t have to be part of your clique for you and that person to click. ( I hate “cliques” anyway.)

Make room. Include. Encourage. Ask them to sit with you at lunch. Ask them to sit with you at the faculty

meeting. Be intentional and ask.

4. Let Them Know You Notice Them4. Let Them Know You Notice ThemSo, my colleague and new friend Jill Johnson has been so thoughtful. She gave me several gifts

throughout the year — a travel bag, a candle, and a hilarious mug I keep on my desk, “Geek on Fleek.”

My friend and colleague Sabrina Davidson remembered my 50th birthday and decorated my room with

50 balloons and 50 silver bells and surprised me. (See the video below.)

As a first-year teacher at a new school, your colleagues don’t know the days that are special — or hard

— to you. They don’t know much about your story. But if you can notice and encourage that first-year

teacher, it sure does leave an impact as it did me. Just notice people. Don’t wait for them to notice you.

Notice them!

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

5. Be Uplifting and Fun5. Be Uplifting and FunPut yourself in the presence of those who have a habit of being uplifting and you’ll lift your head to a

brighter day too.

Listen to podcasts or books that reframe your attitude. Have a healthy way of responding to stress –

vent and then move on to a brighter day. Share quotes. Send encouragement. Be the light.

But also have fun.

Ernest Hemingway said, in True at First Light

“When you stop doing things for fun, you mightas well be dead.”

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

So, we are at Disney this past week for a PD opportunity sponsored by Disney (more on that later) andwe rode everything we could. In fact, we’re on Splash Mountain and the Disney cast member says weshould all get in one seat. Well, once we got in, it was too late. And although everyone in line, eventhe little kid who could barely walk, laughed at the three teachers crammed in the back seat of theboat — we just laughed and had fun. Sometimes when we’re in the “squish” and “splash” of life, wecan have great joy if we just relax and enjoy the ride. These laughs happen at school with me and mycolleagues all the time. Take time for fun!

The impact you have when you’re positiveThe impact you have when you’re positive(or negative)(or negative)So, there’s this incredible study done back in 2002 called The Ripple Effect: Emotional Contagion and

its Influence on Group Behavior. – it was quoted in a 2015 article by InformED ”Refuse to Be a Boring

Teacher

In this study, Yale University researcher, Sigal G. Barsade put 94 business students into groups all doing

the same task. However, each group secretly had one “planted” student who would act out one of four

emotions: enthusiasm, hostility, serenity, or depression. This “infiltrator,” for example, would show

enthusiasm by smiling, looking intently in people’s eyes, and would speak rapidly. Those showing

depression would speak slowly, avoid eye contact and slouch in their seat.

When Barsade measured participants’ moods before and after the exercise, he found that the groups

with the “positive plant” perceived themselves as more competent, cooperative, and collegial than

those in the bad-mood groups.

Interestingly, though, none of the students picked up on the mood plants – instead, these students said

they had better skills.

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

“People don’t realize they are being influencedby others’ emotions,” Barsade said.

As quoted in Refuse to Be a Boring Teacher by InformED

Mimicry is part of who we are and has a massive impact.

So, let me ask you this. If you are “planted” in a group — are you a positive plant or a negative plant?

When people mimic you, what kind of face will you see? You can help new teachers and your

colleagues with your attitude.

Consequently, our attitudes are never neutral.

Your mood and vibes are either successing or depressing to any group you join!

So, what is it?

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

Or perhaps, I should say, what are you?

What are you to your colleagues?

What are you to your classroom?

What are you to the new teachers in your school?

6. Celebrate and Nurture the Unique6. Celebrate and Nurture the UniqueCreativity of Your New ColleaguesCreativity of Your New ColleaguesThis world should be a win-win. It can be. I believe a school can have hallways and classrooms full of

amazing teachers. All of them.

Just because someone dresses up down the hall doesn’t mean you have to. I had a great talk with Dr.

Valerie Camille Jones, Presidential Math Award winner and teacher at Ron Clark University, this past

week as we were both going through the Disney Youth Program (sponsored by Disney – more on that

later.) I asked her about how Ron, Kim, Hope, and Wade dress up and ask her if she did too. She said

something that struck me,

”Dressing up is not my thing but I believe I’m stilla great teacher.”

Find your “thing”Find your “thing”Your thing doesn’t have to be the same thing as the teacher next door. In fact, in today’s age of easily

bored children, I think it is massively better if we are all unique, different and passionate about different

things in our lives.

As an illustration, one teacher can be a knitting fanatic and bring it to math class while another loves

gardening and uses it in her science class and another teacher dances his way to teach adverbs.

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

Diversity, uniqueness, and creativity should be celebrated in every role in our school from the principal

to the janitor and certainly in every classroom.

Your way may work for you but not for others.Your way may work for you but not for others.

Some amazing teachers think that just because they are amazing that everyone else has to be like

them. In reality, I would feel sorry for a world where everyone was like me — because that would be

boring. I hope you also release your colleagues from having to be like you to have merit in your eyes.

Be encouraging and celebrate and nurture the uniqueness of other teachers. Also remember that while

they might come to you for advice, look to them for their unique skills and passions. Encourage them

to find their own passion and angle for teaching their content.

7. Don’t Throw Darts or Be Cynical7. Don’t Throw Darts or Be CynicalCynicism is a poison that is contagious. So, Just because you’ve sat through seemingly one thousand

staff meetings doesn’t mean you have to pass along the poison.

Furthermore, the first step in dealing with cynicism is to realize you have it. As soon as you know you’ve

gone down the drain of cynicism, go on a cynicism detox cynicism detox and challenge yourself to do everything

without grumbling or complaining. All of it.

Personally, I keep a list every day of three things I am grateful for. After doing this for over a month, I’m

so full of joy (faith has a lot to do with it too.)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

But also know that new teachers are looking for someone to trust. If you push someone “under the bus”

their first week of school, will that person trust you again? Can you help a new teacher who you

threaten with your criticism?

Encourage and help. Don’t stoke the fires of discontent. Don’t make your new colleague watch their

back around you.

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

Be trustworthy, helpful, and positive. And if you can’t, take some time alone for a moment to consider if

you really want to be human toxic waste. It is a waste of your life, time, and purpose to be negative,

angry, and fussy all the time. You are better than this.

It isn’t easy to turn around such an attitude but I’m living proof you can. I’ve certainly had my own bouts

of negativity but thankfully have moved past that to be full of joy.

8. Be an Advocate for the Profession of8. Be an Advocate for the Profession ofTeachingTeachingSome people talk about “students these days” but I would like to comment on “teaching these days.”

Teaching isn’t easy. It is hard. The pressures are more than ever. You know this! And yet, we have an

amazing profession.

Now that I’ve taught seventeen years and going into my eighteenth, I can see some amazing things

that have happened. I have a treasure trove of stories, heart events, and transformation from hopeless

to triumphant with students.

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

Share Your Treasure of TransformationalShare Your Treasure of TransformationalTeaching Stories to Help New TeachersTeaching Stories to Help New TeachersThese stories are the flint to light a lifelong fire and love of teaching for colleagues.

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

We can get down, but let’s try not to all get down at the same time. Let’s remind each other of the

beauty and splendor of the life of a teacher who really gets it. The teacher who loves relating to kids.

The teacher who has a passion for their content area. The teacher who shines a spotlight on the unique

beauty of each child.

I get to do this! You can too!

People have told me to leave the classroom and alas, as time passes, eventually I will have to. It will

come.

But these are my glory days.

The days where I am in love with the kids and in love with this profession and in love with what I’m

teaching.

I Was Going To Quit Just a Year A GoI Was Going To Quit Just a Year A GoBut lest you think I’m perfect, just one year ago, I was about to quit teaching. I was ready to leave the

classroom.

But I will say it had nothing to do with the kids or the subject and much more to do with other “stuff” for

which I’ve forgiven in order to move on and thrive in my new school. I have nothing but love for my

previous school and jump any time they call to help them when they let me. And yet, I’m right where

I’m supposed to be and love where I am now. Change is hard but sometimes it is necessary and we

have to be brave and do it.

They Made Room for MeThey Made Room for MeAnd a big reason I’m so happy is that when I was a first-year teacher at my new school, that some of

my colleagues saw fit to schooch over at the lunch table, make room in the break room, and decided

to let the new kid on the block be part of their inside jokes and lives.

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

And that, my friends, is the power of what you can do.

You can change the lives of your students.

But you can also change the lives of new teachers.

Take this challenge to not only teach kids with love but to help new teachers and colleagues. This, my

friend, makes you more exceptional than X Men, more marvelous than any Marvel superhero, and a

greater guardian of future than any Guardian of the Galaxy. You are more super than Superman and the

fact we can do this job is more wonderful than Wonder Woman. I am a teacher, watch my students fly!

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)

We get to teach.

And that is exceptional, marvelous, super, wonderful that we are guardians of the future of these kids

and also the attitudes and longevity of our colleagues. Your impact is immense. So, what kind of impact

will that be?

How will you help new teachers? How will you help other teaches?

8 Ways to Help New Teachers Thrive (and Veteran Teachers Too!)