If you’re a brand-new teacher, welcome to the wild ride that is your first year of teaching! Whether you’re fresh out of a graduate degree program or transitioning from another career, you’re probably equal parts excited and overwhelmed. And trust me—every veteran teacher has been there. This probably isn’t even the first “tips for new teachers” post you’ve read!

As a fellow educator who made every mistake possible during that tough first year, I’m here to share some of the best tips, effective teaching strategies, and high-quality resources to help you succeed in your own classroom.

This post is packed with essential tips for new teachers and first-year teachers alike. From lesson planning to positive reinforcement, from your first day of school to the end of the year, this guide will help you build a positive classroom culture that supports student learning—and your mental health.

Are you a first-year English teacher looking for tips, freebies, and resources to get set up for the new year? Check out my FREE Lit Teacher Series!

Tips for New Teachers #1. Take a Deep Breath—You’ve Got This

The first week can feel like you’re being thrown into the deep end. But the very first thing to remember?

Take a deep breath.

You won’t master everything in a day, but showing up with a positive attitude and the right strategies will help you survive those biggest challenges.

Still not sure what to focus on? Check out the 5 must-haves for new English teachers.

Tips for New Teachers #2. The Most Important Thing: Build Relationships

Seriously—strong relationships with your students, their caregivers, and your colleagues are the most important skills you’ll need. Student growth depends on mutual respect and trust, and the only way to build that is with time and intention.

Tips for New Teachers #3. Have a Backup Plan (and Then Another One)

A fire drill during your lesson? Tech not working? Your substitute teacher didn’t show? Always have a backup plan—and then a backup for that one, too.

I recommend keeping some sub-plans or simple worksheets students can use at any time in your filing cabinet.

Tips for New Teachers #4. Start with Basic Classroom Rules

Don’t overcomplicate it. Create 3–5 basic classroom rules that align with your student handbook and emphasize good behavior, mutual respect, and a positive learning environment.

My Lit Teacher email sequence helps you nail down a classroom management plan. Sign up for free!

Tips for New Teachers #5. Lesson Planning: Less is More

You don’t need to plan out every second of the school year. Focus on the beginning of the year and create flexible plans. Good lesson plans consider the needs of your students, their interests, and your own teaching style.

Need a time-saving tip? Use a high-quality resource from a trusted, experienced teacher (hint: Teachers Pay Teachers is your new best friend).

Planning your first novel study?​ Here’s my strategy for planning novel studies quickly!

Tips for New Teachers #6. The First Day of School Matters More Than You Think

What you do on day one sets the tone. Greet students at the door, introduce yourself, share something personal, and jump into a fun, low-stakes activity. The first day of school should be welcoming, structured, and engaging.

If you need some inspiration for day one activities, check out these back-to-school activities.

Tips for New Teachers #7. Create a Daily Schedule You Can Stick To

Map out your daily schedule in a way that gives you enough time to plan, assess, and reflect. Include time for professional development, grading student work, and—yes—self-care.

And if you need a daily routine for your class, steal my lesson plan format!

Tips for New Teachers #8. Classroom Management Strategies Are Everything

Great classroom teachers don’t have perfect students—they have strong classroom management strategies. Be consistent. Be fair. Use positive reinforcement more than punishment.

Not sure where to start with classroom management?​ Check out this blog post for the classroom management strategies you didn’t learn in college!

Tips for New Teachers #9. Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes

You will have a bad day. You might cry after school. (We all have.) What matters is how you bounce back next time. Learn from it and grow.

If you need some more advice about struggling during your first year, check out this post.

Tips for New Teachers #10. Use Positive Language

Instead of “Don’t talk,” try “Let’s focus on the speaker.” Creating a positive learning experience starts with the way we talk to our high school students.

Tips for New Teachers #11. Stay in Communication with Students’ Parents and Caregivers

Effective communication with students’ parents (or caregivers) is one of the best practices you can build. Don’t wait until there’s a problem—reach out early and often.

You’ll learn quickly that documentation is important. Log every email and phone call to parents. If there’s a problem down the road, you can prove that you did everything in your power to address it early.

Tips for New Teachers #12. Keep a Running To-Do List

There’s always so much time and so little to do! (Just kidding—it’s the opposite.) A running to-do list keeps your mind clear and your goals focused.

I love Post-its, and I’m constantly surrounded by them. Every Monday, write down your three most important tasks for the week. Then, no matter what, tackle those before Friday!

Tips for New Teachers #13. Balance Is the Key to a Healthy Work-Life Rhythm

You cannot be a great teacher if you’re burned out. Build boundaries that protect your mental health and help you find a healthy work-life balance.

Prioritize exercise, healthy meals, and rest. Plan grading and lesson planning around those three.

Here are some tools that make sticking to a healthy routine easier for teachers.

Tips for New Teachers #14. Seek Out Professional Development That Actually Helps

Not all PD is created equal. Look for professional development that speaks to your grade level, special education needs, or content area. You’ll find better ways to teach and connect with students.

Don’t discount listening to teaching podcasts or participating in educator Facebook groups. Those “mini-PD” sessions can be helpful in a pinch and keep you rolling in fresh, new ideas!

Tips for New Teachers #15. Use Open Houses and Conferences to Build Trust

That open house night is your first chance to build trust with students’ caregivers. Be prepared, be welcoming, and be honest.

My school didn’t do open houses, but we made a big deal of parent-teacher conference nights. Make sure you’re prepared to talk about each student’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as your class’s big goals for the year.

Tips for New Teachers #16. Start Small with Student Work Displays

Displaying student work builds pride and a positive classroom culture. You don’t need to wallpaper the room—just showcase one or two strong pieces at a time.

Decorating bulletin boards is more stressful than you can imagine when you’re prepping for a new school year. So just… don’t! Cover them with some pretty paper. Then, display model work throughout the year.

Tips for New Teachers #17. Learn from Veteran Teachers, But Don’t Copy Them

Veteran teachers are an incredible resource, but you don’t have to become them. Borrow what works, adapt what doesn’t, and find your own teaching style. Don’t be afraid to ask colleagues what they’ve done in difficult situations or what lesson they use to cover certain topics.

Tips for New Teachers #18. Celebrate Small Wins

Your first lesson that actually works? A student says they love your class? Celebrate it. You’re doing hard work, and it deserves to be noticed.

This is often a thankless job. You have to become your biggest cheerleader.

Tips for New Teachers #19. Figure Out What Motivates Your Students

Do they love music? Memes? Movement? The more you know about your students’ interests, the easier it is to make learning meaningful.

When in doubt, try to gamify or add movement to a lesson!

For reluctant readers, check out this post.

Tips for New Teachers #20. You Don’t Need to Be Perfect to Be Good

Good teachers aren’t perfect. They’re reflective. They’re compassionate. They show up—even on the hard days.

Prioritize good teaching and being respectful to your students. The rest will follow.

Tips for New Teachers #21. Ask for Help Before You’re Drowning

There’s no award for suffering in silence. Whether it’s a seasoned teacher, your admin, or your mentor—ask for help early.

Want a list of questions to ask a mentor teacher? Sign up for the Lit Teacher Series and get them for free!

Tips for New Teachers #22. Create Opportunities for Student Voice

Let your students choose how to show their learning once in a while. Giving them voice promotes academic success and ownership.

Whenever possible, let them choose a topic for a paper or a project. Have them vote on their favorite books. Ask them their opinion on the music you should check out over the weekend.

Students love knowing that you value their voice.

Tips for New Teachers #23. Document Everything—Just in Case

Especially during your first year, keep a record of parent communication, behavior issues, and accommodations. It’s not paranoid; it’s smart.

Tips for New Teachers #24. Reflect Often and Honestly

At the end of the year, take stock: What worked? What didn’t? What will you do differently next time?

Make a list. Then decide 2-3 big things to work on over the summer. 

When you come back in the fall, you’ll be so happy you revamped those lessons, modified those strategies, or adjusted that classroom procedure.

Tips for New Teachers #25. You’re Not Just Teaching Content—You’re Changing Lives

This isn’t just a job. You’re shaping your students’ lives every single day. It might not feel like you’re doing much on a daily basis, but I promise you, every day has a ripple effect.

Conclusion

Failures, lessons that don’t stick, and grouchy students are par for the course. If at any point during your first year of teaching you feel embarrassed, ashamed, or just like an idiot, then congratulations! You’re experiencing your first year of teaching!

But don’t worry. You’ll have successes and celebrations, too. And every failure is a chance to learn something new (just like we tell our students!).

Good luck! Your students are lucky to have you!