Teaching 101: The Dos and Don'ts of Changing Schools

There are many factors that might prompt you to think about changing schools.

After teaching at the same school for the first five years of my career, I made the decision to move on. I loved my colleagues, my school was close(ish) to my house, and the kids were familiar and relatively well-behaved… but for whatever reason, I just wanted more.

I was settled and comfortable in my role, but I wasn’t growing professionally. Unfortunately, my school didn’t provide many opportunities for me to do that.

I needed a new challenge.

When I decided it was time to move on, I was filled with exciting and anxious thoughts all at once. Moving to a new school can be just as daunting for a teacher as it is for a student. But as the old saying goes, life begins at the end of your comfort zone!

A change of scenery, moving suburbs, even a promotion – whatever your reason, changing schools can be a great chance to spread your wings and press the refresh button on your career.

Once you’ve decided to take the leap, there are a few things you can do to help the transition go as smoothly as possible and make it a move for the better.

Dos and Don’ts of Changing Schools

Do: Get Involved

Teachers are so lucky – our jobs allow us to expand our family and be welcomed into a close-knit community like no other.

Become actively engaged in your new school community by getting involved from day one. Why not go along to weekend sports meets, take on extra-curricular responsibilities and put your hand up to help organise school functions?

By showing you are happy to be involved, you won’t be the ‘new kid on the block’ for long!

You’ll quickly establish yourself as a familiar and approachable teacher – to students, parents, and colleagues.

Don’t: Fear Change

If you’ve been at your past school for a long time (particularly if it’s your first school!) change can seem scary.

Embrace change for what it is – a chance to grow and challenge yourself professionally. Don’t go to work every day telling people how things were “at my old school…”.

By all means, bring your experience and ideas to your new environment, but be open to new ideas and ways of teaching and learning. Ask your colleagues for ideas and collaborate with your teaching partners. Sharing your knowledge together is the best way to continually improve your practice!

Do: Form Your Own Opinions

We’ve all been there – the beginning of a new year, and a new class. You’re approached by a fellow teacher and told: “watch out for that one, he/she is trouble/needy/has overbearing parents”.

It can be easy to have your opinion swayed by others, but is that really fair on the student in question?

Give them a chance, get to know them, and you may be surprised. Don’t believe everything you hear through the grapevine… and that goes for colleagues as well!

Don’t: Be Underprepared

Where possible, get into your classroom nice and early. The earlier before term starts the better!

Knowing what space you’ll be working with is the best way to ensure you’re ready for the first week. You’ll know the furniture you have available, the resources you’ll be able to access, and the technology you’ll need to juggle. Connect up to the projector, printer, and internet so you’re not caught out on the first day trying to print that last minute class list!

Orient yourself with the school grounds. Memorise routes to and from your classroom to places such as the assembly hall, admin and library. You’ll thank yourself later when you have 30 students trailing behind you and you can confidently lead them from A to B!

Do: Learn the Rules

There are universal unspoken rules that most schools follow – don’t run on the concrete, no hat no play, and of course, raise your hand to ask a question!

When it comes to enforcing these rules, however, it’s important that you educate yourself on what exactly is expected of the students.

How many warnings does a student receive before they’re sent to the office? At what point should you request a parent interview? Knowing these things can save you a lot of hassle, especially when dealing with a tricky student.

Other areas where it’s important to understand the ground rules include homework, lunch and food etiquette, and absenteeism. Getting these rules solidified in your mind will help you be more confident with students and their families.

Don’t: Isolate Yourself

Unless you’re the world’s most confident extrovert, it can sometimes take a few weeks to form new friendships and connections in a new workplace!

Help speed up the process by actively socialising with your new colleagues:

• Make an extra effort to eat lunch in the staff common room. Even if you have to walk all the way to the other end of the school!
• Go and have a chat with the admin staff. They usually are the backbone of the school office and will appreciate your interest in getting to know them!
• Walk around the school during lunchtime and have a chat with the students. Get to know more than just the kids in your class and help them get to know you.

Do: Create a Solid First Impression

On your first day in your classroom, you no doubt will want to project an aura of authority and confidence.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that!

Showing the students that you are confident and knowledgeable will help them trust you to lead them through their learning journey. Your confidence and authority will come with experience, but if you don’t have that – fake it ’til you make it!

You will be full of nerves and anticipation as you greet your class, but don’t forget that a relaxed demeanor projects confidence. Ensure you are prepared for the day and be assertive with your directions.

This doesn’t mean, however, that you need to be a tyrant! Smile and share personal anecdotes with your students – let them see your quirky side. They will appreciate your authenticity and feel safer in your care.

Don’t: Put Too Much Pressure on Yourself

Repeat after me:

I am a professional, who has valuable experience in my field. I trust myself and my judgement in the classroom. Mistakes will be made, and they will be an opportunity to learn. I am a good teacher.

When you start at a strange new school, it’s easy to feel like you’ve gone right back to square one. You may feel like a fish out of water, and it’s easy to lose sight of how far you’ve come since graduating from university.

No matter how differently they do things, be gentle with yourself. Give yourself time to settle in and learn things – you would never expect a student to get it right first time, so why place those expectations on yourself? Back yourself as a professional – remember, they wouldn’t have hired you if they didn’t like what you had to offer!

What does your school do to help teachers settle in?

Comment below to let us know your own dos and don’ts!