March 1, 2021. Tips for a First Year Special Education Teacher. I'm excited to introduce this week's guest blogger, Kate, from Engaging Exceptional Learners, to talk all about tips for a first year teacher. Kate is a second year teacher in Canada who has worked in the field of ABA for five years. She has a degree in autism and behavior science. Kate is also on Teachers Pay Teachers here. I wanted to provide you with some things to think about no matter what year you're in, but especially for those first year teachers or if it's your first year in special education. General firsts for a first year teacher. Overwhelming. It is easy to get overwhelmed, especially with all of these new changes to teaching. Take a moment to step back and gain perspective. It's easy to get frustrated with behavior, with parents, or with other teachers. But keep in mind they are going through this too and may be dealing with a lot. Start small. Take each day one step at a time. Behavior isn't going to magically change overnight. It takes time. Pick one small thing to implement. Take data and see how it goes. For example, I noticed a shift in my students' behavior, so I printed and laminated token boards and implemented it with the whole class. After a week, I began to see simple changes. Special education firsts for a first-year teacher. Build a team. If you are anything like me, you will try to do it all. Your EAs, support staff, and payers are all there to help. Find a way to bring you together and create a team atmosphere. We constantly surprise each other with treats, write positive notes, or encourage each other through those challenging behaviors. Also, developing some sort of routine where each person has responsibility. For example, changing visual schedules, communication books, or cleaning toys. Pivot and change. Just like our school year that has changed from opening to closing schools, it's okay with change. Your students' behavior changes, and we can change. It's important to go with it. Rearranging day plans, changing how to track data, and adapting work for our students is all part of the job. I have changed my day plans 10 times this year, and that's okay. It's all part of the learning process. Implement things to promote independence. Think about things your students can do to alleviate some of the things you need to do, and in turn create independence. For example, learning to file work, adjusting visual schedules, classroom jobs, cleaning the room. From these classroom tasks, students can easily be reinforced. Boost self-confidence and learn some life skills. Create independence. Things to remember. As a first-year teacher, don't be afraid to ask for help. It does not show weakness. It makes you more of a team player and allows you to connect with your colleagues. I have asked people to share their day plans, perspective on behavior, data tracking, and so much more. You learn from it and adapt it to make it your own. You are not alone. Reach out to other teachers, EAs, paraprofessionals, admin, or fellow Instagramers. There are people and places to go to get things to help you begin this amazing journey. Have fun. Enjoy every minute of it. At times it may seem overwhelming. Take a step back. Take time for yourself and keep trying new ways. Nothing is perfect. What matters is that you keep on trying, learning, and growing. It's only year one. Read more about how to get you started the beginning of your school year here.