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Teaching Secrets: Tips for New English Teachers

By Renee Moore

Brand new English teachers have much to learn as they boldly walk into a classroom for the first time. Fortunately, others have gone before us all, and we should learn from them. Looking back over my 20 years in the classroom, there have been four truly enduring lessons that have helped me to be a successful teacher, and I urge not only English teachers, but anyone entering our profession to consider them as they navigate their maiden voyage.

1. Join or create a supportive professional network.

Thanks to years of persistent hard work, professional learning communities and other types of teacher networks are more numerous and accepted than they were even a decade ago. I have been part of several such learning communities, and each of them has provided me tremendous information and encouragement. Not everything that calls itself a “learning community” is a truly supportive or collaborative environment for bringing out the very best in teachers, so some searching may be necessary. Nevertheless, it is worth the time to seek out a group within which a new (or veteran) teacher can ask important questions about daily classroom practice and...