6 Ideas to Empower, Inspire, and Guide New Teachers

On By LaurenMKaufmanIn 1. Mission, Vision, and Core Values, 10. School Improvement, 2. Ethics and Professional Norms, 5. Community of Care and Support for Students, 6. Professional Capacity of School Personnel, 7. Professional Community for Teachers and Staff, Uncategorized

6 Ideas to Empower, Inspire, and Guide New Teachers

As summer begins to slip away, you find yourself drawn closer to the meaningful work that lies ahead. A new academic year breathes meaning into fresh starts, rekindling connections with students, colleagues, families, and the community in which you serve. For many of you, the summer has offered you moments of joy and ample opportunities to recharge, allowing you to renew yourself and strive to be the best version of you. As educators, you embrace the ever-evolving educational landscape, constantly seeking new and innovative ways to enrich your craft. That is because you are educators and you are constantly moving with the change that faces you.

For some of you, this transitional period brings about exciting new beginnings. Perhaps you have taken on a new role or switched schools, enveloped in a mix of emotions encompassing excitement, happiness, anxiousness, and nerves. Regardless of whether it’s your first year in the classroom or as a leader, or if you are a seasoned educator, you’re experiencing all the feels.

At the beginning of summer, amidst sifting through a checklist of to- do items, my office door opened slowly. It took me a second to look up as I was deeply involved in my work abyss. When I interrupted my own focus,  I was delighted to have a visit from my assistant superintendent who had an important question to ask me. “Lauren, will you consider presenting a session to our new teachers during teacher orientation?” Instantly, a spark of excitement ignited within me, for I firmly believe that nothing holds greater significance than dedicating time to nurture and guide new educators towards profound and enduring careers. With that, I never take a proposition like this lightly. And although I have facilitated professional learning experiences many times before, I was perpetually pondering how my contribution can intentionally add to their experience during their initial days in our organization.

Here’s a questions I often think about:

How can educational leaders design and implement impactful learning experiences for new teachers, setting the stage for them to embark on long, fulfilling careers and make a lasting difference in the lives of their students?

As I prepare for every professional learning experience, my paramount goal is to impart practical ideas that educators can readily implement in their classrooms from the very next day. Each idea is carefully crafted with the students at the core of the work, ensuring their growth and development remain the driving force behind our efforts. Over my 18 years in education, I have come to a profound realization: prioritizing people before programs and connection before content is the key to enriching everyone’s school experiences and fostering lasting growth and success.

Here are 6 ideas to empower, inspire and guide new teachers in their journey towards becoming impactful educators.

  1. Play Music to Ignite Collaboration: Music has the power to instantly set the tone and atmosphere of a space. The right music can create a welcoming and inviting ambiance, putting people at ease and making them feel comfortable. It can add a sense of excitement and enthusiasm, encouraging people to engage and participate actively. Music can act as an icebreaker, making it easier for people to initiate conversations and interact with one another. It can break down barriers and promote a sense of camaraderie among attendees. You will very often find me dancing to the music and inviting others to join. This act of fun ignites some laughter, excitement, and fosters a collaborative spirit. My good friend Meghan Lawson recently wrote a powerful blog titled: Let’s Be Fireflies. In her writing, she shares this beautiful sentiment, “This year, let’s be fireflies. There is enough light for everyone and when we work together, leveraging the individual and collective brilliance of the team, we all shine brighter for our students. And students shine brighter too.” Let’s shine brighter by incorporating music and dancing together!
  1. Share Stories and Photographs: In any presentation, I intentionally weave in stories that help teachers connect with me and develop an empathetic lens for teaching and learning. I often begin facilitating a presentation using a photograph of my first class and me as a new teacher. I share stories of practices that I have held onto and others I have let go. I also add some humor sharing the sentiment, “I hope my first class turned out okay with all the homework I gave them! What was I thinking?” 

Then I ask, “When you think back to your fondest memories of school, which experiences do you remember the most?” I can guarantee you that most educators will not talk about the best lesson their teacher taught, but rather the experiences that illuminated their interests and helped them discover their passions. Then, I will show them a picture of me acting in a school play, one of my most cherished memories. I will explain why these experiences shaped the human being I am today and contributed to my evolution as an educator.

  1. Delve into Gratitude – Lainie Rowell’s book Evolving With Gratitude and one of her many Edutopia articles including, Cultivating a Culture of Authentic Gratitude will provide a plethora of practical examples of how to cultivate a culture of gratitude in your school/classroom, but she also highlights how small acts of gratitude can positively influence connection, strengthen relationships, and contribute to a sense of overall well-being and happiness. That said, I will very often have educators utilize a digital tool like Mentimeter to curate answers in a word cloud to the prompt, “Describe a teacher who influenced your educational experience in one word.” This word cloud ignites profound conversation about the influence teachers can have on our lives. I have never facilitated this activity and had anyone talk about content, specific lessons teachers taught, or worksheets that were provided. Instead, they talk about the teacher’s ability to connect and show that they care, igniting fond memories that encourage the educators to want to emulate those qualities.

Then, I will ask the teachers to take 30 seconds to express gratitude via text or email to a person who has made an impact on them as an educator. My favorite part of this activity is when they start receiving responses back. Their smiles light up the room. Although I firmly believe that when you authentically make the decision to show gratitude, you shouldn’t expect anything in return, it sure does feel incredible when gratitude is reciprocated!

  1. Unlock Purpose and Reflection: This falls in line with the idea of gratitude. Educators should constantly revisit their “why,” their purpose for wanting to become an educator. Simon Sinek beautifully shares this sentiment, “The more organizations and people who learn to start with ‘why,’ the more people there will be who wake up being fulfilled by the work they do.” That said, I ask teachers the following question: “Why do you teach?” Providing teachers with journals or letting them answer this question in a digital space allows them to reflect on why they chose to be in this profession. In my own department meetings, I invite teachers to revisit this question and refine it as they evolve and grow. Here are some answers I have seen: “Teaching allows me to make a difference in the lives of my students, helping them discover their potential and achieve their dreams,” “The joy of witnessing a student’s ‘aha’ moment and seeing their growth motivates me to teach every day.”
  1. Offer Ways to Connect: George Couros says, “If you want to inspire meaningful change, you have to make a connection to the heart before you make a connection to the mind.” Share learning surveys and community questions to show teachers how they can learn their students by asking them meaningful questions over the course of the year and utilize their interests/background to embed into instructional planning. HERE are George Couros’ 5 Questions. These open-ended questions have elevated learning experiences across all content areas and have ensured that my instructional approaches are rooted in students’ interests. I have had students, families, and colleagues answer these questions through Google Forms, Flip Video, and in print/digital writing spaces (i.e. notebook or Google Docs).
    • OR utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to generate questions in CHATGPT using a specific prompt such as: Generate 5 questions you would ask middle school and high school students at the beginning of the school year that will illuminate who they are as human beings and their interests. Here are some of the AI generated questions (Not happy with the questions? Simply ask CHATGPT for more!):
      • If you were given the chance to create your own ideal community project, what issue or cause would it address, and how would you go about making a positive impact?
      • Think about a historical figure, fictional character, or real-life role model you admire. What qualities or values do you share with them, and how do they inspire you in your own life?
      • Describe a book, movie, or piece of art that has had a significant impact on your perspective or emotions. How did it affect you, and what elements resonated with you?
      • Reflect on a time when you felt a strong sense of accomplishment or pride. What specific achievements or efforts led to that moment, and how did it shape your perception of your abilities?
      • If you could learn a new skill or take up a new hobby this school year, what would it be and why? How do you think acquiring this skill or hobby might influence your personal growth?
  1. Provide a Book of Inspiration – Books bring teams together. Recently, as an administrative team, we read the book Trust and Inspire by Stephen M. R. Covey. When we had our book talk, it brought us closer as we shared personal stories and valuable insights we gleaned. Now we are reading Getting to Neutral by Trevor Moawad. In the book there is a quote from Pete Alonso, “It’s important to take care of the people who take such good care of us.” This quote deeply resonates because it reflects the essence of teamwork and the importance of supporting and appreciating each other as a cohesive unit. Recently, a friend recommended the New York Times best selling picture book, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and Horse by Charlie Mackesy. I can’t take my eyes off this book as the font encourages you to slow down and savor the words and the illustrations are full of beauty. I tweeted a quote from this book while thinking about how it would make a nice gift for new teachers. Giving an inspirational book to a group of new teachers can have a profound impact on them. The book serves as a source of motivation and encouragement, inspiring them to embark on their teaching journey with renewed enthusiasm and passion. It can provide valuable insights, practical advice, and stories of resilience from experienced educators, instilling a sense of confidence in their abilities.

Moving Forward

The exodus of educators from the profession is a concerning trend that demands immediate attention. We have an obligation to simply not let that happen anymore. The impact of the tone we set for educators cannot be underestimated, as they bear the entrusted responsibility of shaping the hearts and minds of our most precious stakeholders—our children. Guiding these teachers-to-be is a privilege I cherish, knowing that together, we forge a brighter future for our schools and, most importantly, for the young lives they will touch and inspire.