How long did it take for you to become a good teacher?

A

ATwainedTeacher

Rookie
I am going to be starting my second year of teaching next year, and I already have a pile of books on my reading list for this summer dealing with areas that I feel I need improvement in. My first year has been very hard, and while I have received good evaluations this year, my confidence has really been shaken, as I don’t feel like I really did all that great. This isn’t just my perfectionist speaking, either. I know, objectively, that I have a lot of room for improvement. The evaluation system at my school is not very rigorous. It is supposed to be, but the principal and AP at our school are rather lackadaisical. If there’s a serious problem with a teacher, they would address it, but most of the principals in the county do not take the evaluation process seriously, and there’s very little constructive criticism. Thus, my good evaluations are kind of meaningless to me.

I realize teaching is not a discipline that an individual is going to be naturally good at from the get-go. It's learning a process. It's not an inherent skill. I just feel like I have all of this great knowledge in my head, but I’m having a hard time translating knowledge into effective application. Does it just take a lot of time and practice? If so, how long did it take for you to both become and feel like an outstanding teacher? Or, at least a very effective one?
 
Going by test scores alone, my first year was terrible. My second year was much better, and I almost matched my teammates. By my third year, I blew them away, and have continued to do so since.

My P has always said that new teachers need 5 years to get ALL of the kinks out. Academically, I had them all out in 2 years. Consistency, communication, and documentation wise, it took me a little longer.
 
I disagree - I believe teachers can be good from the get-go. I received a great evaluation my first semester and I knew, compared to many of my coworkers, that I was a good teacher.

I am by no means the best teacher. I have a ways to go until I'm great. I'm always learning and refining how I do things. But good? Yeah, I was there from the start.
 
ATwainedTeacher said:
I am going to be starting my second year of teaching next year, and I already have a pile of books on my reading list for this summer dealing with areas that I feel I need improvement in. My first year has been very hard, and while I have received good evaluations this year, my confidence has really been shaken, as I don’t feel like I really did all that great. This isn’t just my perfectionist speaking, either. I know, objectively, that I have a lot of room for improvement. The evaluation system at my school is not very rigorous. It is supposed to be, but the principal and AP at our school are rather lackadaisical. If there’s a serious problem with a teacher, they would address it, but most of the principals in the county do not take the evaluation process seriously, and there’s very little constructive criticism. Thus, my good evaluations are kind of meaningless to me.

I realize teaching is not a discipline that an individual is going to be naturally good at from the get-go. It's learning a process. It's not an inherent skill. I just feel like I have all of this great knowledge in my head, but I’m having a hard time translating knowledge into effective application. Does it just take a lot of time and practice? If so, how long did it take for you to both become and feel like an outstanding teacher? Or, at least a very effective one?
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Actually I think teaching came from naturally to me. I was good at it from the start. With that said, I was no where near as good as I am now, and I'm sure in 2, 3, 4 years I'll look back on this year and realize how much more I've learned. My first year I was in a general education classroom where my students were pretty much all on grade level, the only problems were some minor behavior issues. I look back on how hard that was for me now and realize it would be a piece of cake today.

I think how long it takes to become an effective teacher is different from everyone. But if you're committed to making yourself better it will come.
 
I think I had a great first year. Of course there were things I could have improved and more experience in general helps build a stronger teacher, but I got perfect evaluations from my university person who monitors first year teachers as well as from my administrators. I was faaaaar from perfect, but on paper it looked pretty good! Haha. I've actually never--not during student teaching, my first year internship, or any time in the past several years of teaching--been given anything to work on or improve. Of course I could identify things to improve upon, but I guess all my observers and administrators didn't think anything was concerning enough to mention.

My second year evaluation stated that I was a "master teacher early in (my) career". Hey, I'll take it, but :huh:!

I think the things that experience helped most with were:

1. Dealing with parents. Meetings made me incredibly nervous that first year.

2. Building better formative assessments.
 
I still don't think I'm a good teacher most days. ;) There have been years that were better than others-some years the challenges that arose really threw me for a loop and I felt very inadequate. I've been doing it almost 15 years and I still have a stack of books to read this summer. I think you can always improve.
 
KinderCowgirl said:
I think you can always improve.
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Exactly.

In a recent interview, I actually spoke about how I am not perfect. I told them if anyone told them they are perfect, they are lying. Education is always evolving, so have have to evolve with it.


You can have 'good' first years. But, once you look back after 5-10 years, you realize it wasn't that great. I've never had a negative evaluation. But, as I mentioned before, test-score wise my first year was pretty bad. There were a lot of factors- I had a stacked class- it was very low with 23 kids. 16 of them had failed 4th grade EOGs (NC's standardized test). I had also trained in Michigan for early childhood. I was teaching 5th grade in North Carolina. I had left my entire family and all of my friends behind and moved 750 miles all by myself. So, in hindsight, the fact that I didn't quit is a success.
 
I don't think I was ever a bad teacher, but there are just some things that you learn from experience. I've been teaching for 20 years, and I do a lot of things differently than I did back then.

It took me awhile to become comfortable in my skin as a teacher. I was initially without my own classroom, and I taught multiple subjects in multiple buildings.

Some people have more natural talent for teaching than others do. That's really true with anything. Some people are just naturals. However, EVERYONE has something to learn.
 
Ima Teacher said:
I don't think I was ever a bad teacher, but there are just some things that you learn from experience.
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I agree with this. I am a good teacher. I think I was a good teacher my first year. I think I did a good job my first day. But, I'm learning to be better every day. It's one of the things I love the most about the profession. Every day I can improve. Every day I can be better than the day before.
 
I also believe some teachers are naturals, and are more comfortable in their roles from the beginning, but it doesn't mean they know everything. Sometimes they are just natural leaders so their temperament fits the role better.

To answer your question, I think 5 years, too. By then, teachers should have worked out most of the kinks and feel more comfortable and less stressed about everyday teaching. It doesn't mean every day goes well, or you won't face challenges, or you won't continue to learn, but, all in all, you feel like a solid teacher.

I think I work hard every day and every year to improve, but, unfortunately, I see many "seasoned" teachers such as myself who at some point start resting on their laurels and no longer put the thought and effort into their teaching. In other words, some get lazy. Don't let that happen! Keep on being reflective and be willing to learn and change throughout your career.

It sounds like you are on your way to being a great teacher because you are reflective of your weaknesses and are willing to work on them. Good luck in the future.
 
I think I improve every year. If you're taking the time to self evaluate and figuring how to improve, then you wuill too.
What really helped me get beyond the cute room/ cute bulletin board/cute project stage of teaching was when I was going through our state's extra pro. cert process. ( after teaching 2 years you need to do either pro cert or natl boards or if your initial cert expires)We were given a list of sorts of what highly effective teachers do.
 
giraffe326 said:
Exactly.

In a recent interview, I actually spoke about how I am not perfect. I told them if anyone told them they are perfect, they are lying. Education is always evolving, so have have to evolve with it.


You can have 'good' first years. But, once you look back after 5-10 years, you realize it wasn't that great. I've never had a negative evaluation. But, as I mentioned before, test-score wise my first year was pretty bad. There were a lot of factors- I had a stacked class- it was very low with 23 kids. 16 of them had failed 4th grade EOGs (NC's standardized test). I had also trained in Michigan for early childhood. I was teaching 5th grade in North Carolina. I had left my entire family and all of my friends behind and moved 750 miles all by myself. So, in hindsight, the fact that I didn't quit is a success.
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I couldn't agree more. No matter how good a teacher is now, they look back and shake their head sheepishly at their "good" practices of yesteryear. I also agree with the previous sentiment--that sometimes, no matter how long you've been teaching, you question whether you can teach at all. I think it is actually healthy both professionally and personally, and an important insight.

First of all, it shows introspection. It shows a willingness to question one's self. It shows that you are willing to consider the possibilities. e.g. It isn't necessarily "they talk too much". It is "what am I doing that causes such an environment". Secondly, teaching is something that can easily go to one's head. I know a lot of teachers (some on this board) who take their given authority as a teacher, and let it affect their personality, particularly in how they talk and treat others (adults, as children-->to be told).

Questioning one's self as it relates to something as vast as teaching, shows that you have some of the makings of a good teacher.
 
John Lee said:
...it shows introspection. It shows a willingness to question one's self. It shows that you are willing to consider the possibilities. e.g. It isn't necessarily "they talk too much". It is "what am I doing that causes such an environment".
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Well said. Oh, to be wise from the get-go. ;)
 
I'm finishing up my first year, so OP, I can relate. I am naturally extremely critical of myself, so no matter how many people tell me I'm doing a great job, I will believe otherwise. I don't think I am a BAD teacher, because I really work at it and truly care about my students. But do I feel like I was an amazing teacher this year? No way. I tried very hard and I put a lot into it, so I don't have a LOT of regrets. I was given good evaluations. But I could have challenged my higher kids more, could have built up my lower ones more. I have a student who is being retained and even though the kinder teacher told me she knew that would happen with this particular student, I have to wonder, could I have done more? Would she have fared better with a more experienced teacher? So many times this year I've felt sorry for my kids, thinking about how great Mrs. ______ is at teaching writing or Mrs. ______ is with phonics. I've been learning how to teach 1st graders as I go, so I've felt far from confident this year. I think next year will be much better. I, too, have a list of books to read this summer in preparation.

I truly hope I never get to the place where I think I have arrived. My mom is in her 16th year of teaching and she still is always finding things to improve upon.
 
I was always a good teacher...it took a while to learn to reflect and become a great teacher.
 
Wow! Thank you all for all of the great responses. It really does make me feel a little better going into next year. I think some of the problem was that I went into this year having so much confidence. I received perfect evaluations from my mentor teacher and professor during my student teaching, and I actually won the award for the outstanding future secondary teacher in my graduating class. After having such confidence boosts, the hard times I ran into this year had me feeling pretty down. When I did my student teaching, it felt so natural to teach, and I had this feeling that any hard days I had were just a part of being a student teacher. Now that I have had the sole responsibility to educate my students, however, I don’t feel quite as confident in my abilities. I feel like I did a good job, but only in relation to being a first year teacher. When I have observed master teachers at my school and have compared myself to them, I felt like I was not "there" yet. I felt, like yellowdaisies said, that my students deserved a more experienced teacher.

I keep trying to tell myself that learning how to be a master teacher is a continual process of self-reflection and experimentation, but I hate the thought that some of my students, until I get to that point, are going to be at a disservice. Then again, from what some of you have said, there really isn’t a “point” at which you reach some apex. Perhaps there’s a point where you realize that you’re currently being an effective teacher, and part of that is learning where you’re still not up to your own personal high-standards. Maybe focusing on that will make me feel more secure as an educator.
 
I'm still working on it! In some form or other, I have taught all my life, but I've only been an official teacher for 5 years now. My first year was horrible (I was in a madhouse with the lunatics in charge). My second was okay. I find that I get better (and more comfortable in my own skin) each year.

Honestly, some days I think the kids learn in spite of me.

One thing that sets me apart from some of my peers is that I am almost constantly on the lookout for ways to improve. I spend time getting to know my kids and their personalities/needs. I take the time to reflect and look for why things didn't go as well as I would have liked. I spend a lot of time on AtoZ, I read a ton of PD books, attend workshops like an addict. . But then again, I have no life, lol!
 
I am twenty years into this, and I agree with all of the above. I learn something every day that makes me a better teacher. I don't remember when I thought I crossed from being a good teacher to a great teacher. I guess I don't really think there was a point since I am constantly learning and trying to improve. I always see the need for improvement. I can't seem to give myself credit for what I do well.

I do remember the day our assistant superintendent told me about all of the great things my principals had said about me during different meetings. I almost fell over! I didn't know the principals discussed us at meetings. That day I started to seriously wonder how others see me in this profession. I also started to wonder if maybe I was pretty good at what I do. That just fueled me to work harder;)

One valuable tip....You will never be everything to every child. Difficult to accept, but true. I end every year wondering and dealing with what if's. You will end every year wondering what you could have done better or differently. The year you stop wondering is the year you might want to consider getting out of the teaching profession.

Based on your post, I think you are off to a great start. Celebrate the good. Set some goals for improving and enjoy your summer!
 
I think I was a good teacher in m first year in a few areas. I made a good connection with my students. I was good in class room managment.

I think it took me 3 years to really really become an excellent teacher. I'm talking about the classroom, the politics, the data, and assessments. I look back on my first year and now realize I didn't know as much as I thought I did.
 
I don't think there's a real timetable to becoming a good or great teacher. But I do think its hard to become a great teacher without self reflection and a willingness to continue learning and evolving.

First years can be rocky. Take the summer and reflect. It'll come :)
 
Adding, sometimes you don't realize how good you are until 1) you see examples of bad and 2) you hear how others talk about you when you're not around.

This year I was visited by two of our interns. Their cooperating teachers told them they had to sit in on one of my classes and on another teacher's class. Because it was known that we have excellent class management skills. I do? News to me, lol. I would have never known that my peers see me in that light had they not come and visited.
 
I've learned so very much over these past 8 years. I can reflect fondly on my early teaching days, but there was a lot I didn't know and had to learn by simply being in the trenches every day. I've always been super confident and I think I've always been a good teacher, but I feel like I become better and better each year because I've gone through so much trial and error!

Anyway, I'm still evolving! It'd be boring if I wasn't!
 
Based on test scores, I've been "good" since my first year. I've yet to have a year where 100% of my students did not pass TAKS and now STAAR Chemistry. While I would consider this to be academically good, my classroom management skills have gone from average to exemplary over the past several years. I would still rank myself somewhat low on documentation and parent communication, but it's something I'm consistently working to improve. As others have stated, in about 5 years I'm sure I'll look back and think, "Wow, I've really come a long way!" I hope so anyway.
 
I think that it's 90% experience, 10% preparation. Becoming a good teacher simply takes time. Build up your resources, read about current thinkings and strategies. Speak with those more experienced. After you've done all those things it's still going to come down to experience.

Good luck!

Fergy
 
I don't think good teachers ever stop trying to improve themselves. I just finished my first year too, and I think I am good at quite a few things, but I'm bad at others, or some need improvement.

I am going to be making a list of things I want to see growth in next year, and things I will be doing differently.
 
It so sharply goes against my personality to say that I am "good" at anything so I don't know where to begin here. I don't think my first year was bad, but I definitely think I improved a lot since then. There are just little tricks and strategies you pick up along the way that make you a more effective instructor. I have seen tremendous growth of my students this year - a major spike in DRA levels, math skills, communciation skills, etc. I'd like take some credit for that. ;)
 
Probably like two years. I'm still growing. This year started out great , really smooth , then around March/april I got several write-ups, one of which left me in tears. I still have no idea what kind of rating I'll get. Fingers crossed.
 
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