Let’s Support a Struggling Teacher – Five Ways

Education in the United States has definitely been changing over the last couple of decades. As teachers and administrators turn toward technology more and more during the school day, students are becoming better equipped for life in the 21st century. However, the teaching profession seems to be in constant upheaval.

The latest stats show that about 30 percent of all new teachers leave the field within the first five years. Don’t be fooled by all of those movies where the new teacher comes in and changes the whole school around in a matter of an hour and a half. It can be a jungle out there.

Plenty of districts are facing teacher shortages across the board as educators are choosing early retirement or are opting out of teaching altogether. Speaking firsthand, I get offered numerous teaching positions every school year as I focus on raising my toddlers and my writing. I am friends with a countless number of retired educators and they are in the same position.

One way to address the teacher shortage is not by reaching out to others but instead by focusing on helping the struggling teachers in each district before they turn in their resignation. Here are five ways to support struggling teachers and, hopefully, keep them in the profession.
 

#1: Assign a Mentor

A highly qualified teaching mentor could be the difference between a young adult exiting the field after a couple of years or helping them become excited about the possibilities available through teaching. 

The key is the mentor should be on top of their game and flexible with their advice. No one wants to be assigned a mentor who is struggling or dictating what should or should not be done in the classroom with a Brainy Smurf-type attitude. A highly qualified mentor should be someone to lend a guiding hand and offer wisdom like Morgan Freeman in almost every film he has ever made.

#2: Focus on Professional Development in Classroom Management

One of the most troubling aspects of teaching nowadays is the lack of respect some students (and even parents) show towards their teachers. With all of the education courses, a person must take before becoming a certified teacher, very little time is actually spent on classroom management and how to handle discipline problems.

Having administrators bring in professional development that provides helpful classroom management tips is crucial. And don’t be fooled for a second that what works for one teacher will work for all when managing students. Every educator needs to find their own groove, and professional development will offer possibilities and options.

#3: Share the Experiences

Every teacher is essentially their own island. They are in their classroom and have no idea what is happening in the other classrooms down the hallway. Struggling teachers often believe they are the only ones suffering through each day. It is time to open their eyes to the fact that we are all going through similar experiences. And it is better to laugh about these issues as a group rather than cry alone in the car ride home listening to REM’s Everybody Hurts. I still remember when my principal came to me in my first year and shared some of the horror stories he had experienced back when he was a teacher. At the end of our talk, I felt much better moving forward.

#4: There Are Other Options to Consider in the Education Field

While a person may be struggling as a teacher with 20 to 25 students in their classroom, perhaps they would be better off in another position. As an example, I have my Master’s degree in Reading and Literacy with a Reading Specialist certificate, and for a few years, I only taught small groups of students who were struggling with their literacy skills. Very few behavior problems ever happened in my small groups, with all of us sitting down at one table. Plus, it was easier to develop relationships with the students.

#5: Spend Time with Positive People

Have you ever noticed that if you hang out with negative people, you start to emulate their feelings? (It is like you need a soul cleansing afterward.) The same happens when you start spending time with positive people. You will adapt to the outlook of the people you surround yourself with. Struggling teachers need to be enveloped in positivity, and the world around them will change accordingly.