Dear First Year Teacher,
A 16 year old letter ready for a new audience
While doing some New Year’s cleaning, I came across an old external hard drive.
Before tossing it, I decided to take a peek and, to my surprise, came across some grad school papers and written reflections that moved me.
In this, and perhaps subsequent posts, I will unearth and ‘publish’ them for the first time.
First up is a letter I wrote to a first-year Teach for America corps member as a sixth-year TFA alum.
This piece of writing grabbed my attention for its heartfelt idealism and optimism about the possibility and power of teaching and learning, as well as the need for educators to look out for and care for one another (mind you, I had never met the person I was writing to; I was matched with them in an almost pen-pal-like fashion).
After re-reading my letter and realizing that much of what I wrote then (way back in December of 2010) still rings true today, I am sharing it in full (with minor grammatical and structural edits).
I hope it will find a larger audience of first-year teachers, so please do share widely if it resonates, and let me know in the comments below if the advice I shared then holds up, or, given recent developments in the world and state of education, if you’d offer any advice differently today to a teacher in their first year in the classroom.
Dear First-Year Teacher,
I am a 2005 corps member still teaching science at my placement school in the heart of the South Bronx. I’m reaching out to you as we near the halfway point in the school year to thank you for all that you do.
I remember days during my first year of teaching when I felt like nothing was going my way. As I’m sure that you now know, the work that we do isn’t easy. But let me assure you that all of the effort, care, and dedication you put into your lesson plans, parent phone calls, and after-school activities are appreciated more than you can ever know.
Thinking back to my first year of teaching, I remember the struggles I had with Jumel, a student who, despite my best efforts, did little work and was frequently found with his head down in the middle of class. While Jumel slept, the rest of his classmates were constantly getting out of their seats, calling out answers, and throwing the occasional paper ball across the room.
My struggles during my first year were all-consuming. Jumel and his classmates were in my head as I rode the 2 train home at night and were still there when I was brushing my teeth the next morning.
Gradually, things improved.
Constant reflection, the creation of a consistent and warm classroom environment, and a focus on relationship building ultimately led to an incredibly rewarding and successful first year.
Just this past week, Jumel, as he does every year since graduating, visited my classroom to update me on his progress towards a college degree.
You see, that’s the thing about teaching, the rewards of your efforts are rarely seen until weeks, months, and possibly even years later.
Surely, in the coming days, as you may have already experienced, you will be filled with a great sense of satisfaction for the incredible work that you do each and every day. Because the rewards of teaching are sometimes few and far between, it is important to find ways to stay grounded.
As you may be well aware, lesson planning and grading papers until the wee hours of the night isn’t exactly as fun as a Friday night out in the city, so take some time to reconnect with what inspires, motivates, and makes you happy.
I know that every time I got the chance to take a yoga class or participate in a soccer match, I found myself recharged and rededicated to my teaching, my school, and my 8th- and 9th-grade science scholars.
Now in my sixth year of teaching, I have come to realize that my experience teaching and dedication to closing the achievement gap have become the foundation for my current work as a doctoral student at Columbia University’s Teachers College. Whether or not you choose to pursue teaching after your time as a corps member is complete (the third year really is the charm), be confident that whatever you do, you will be more than prepared for any challenges that you may face.
Finally, teaching can be an isolating profession.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to any TFA alumni in the city, or, if you prefer, feel free to contact me (jaredfox@aol.com). I’d be more than willing to share a classroom management strategy or a great place to unwind after a long day at work.
Before closing, let me leave you with a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that hangs in my classroom and reminds me that the dawn of each day presents a new opportunity to move one step closer to the day when all children in our nation have the opportunity to receive a great education.
Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.
All the best,
Jared Fox
NYC ‘05
Phoenix, ‘07 here. Thanks for your work. 🙌