From Surviving to Thriving: Teachers Deserve More Support
Published 3 January 2025
“If I go back to my beginning days of teaching, smaller class sizes would have been great and the ability to feel like I had the bandwidth to teach the types of lessons I wanted to teach. I just felt like I was surviving and not thriving in that moment. So, I think anything that helps teachers feel more supported. So I know I mentioned more opportunities for professional development, mentorship, resources, smaller class sizes. I wish that our country valued education more and we spent more money on it than we do on our military. But there are just certain things that I wish we were prioritizing.”
Starting a career in teaching is both exhilarating and overwhelming. Many novice teachers enter the classroom full of enthusiasm, only to find themselves drowning in lesson planning, classroom management challenges, and administrative tasks. Too often, early-career educators feel like they are merely surviving instead of thriving. The key to changing this experience lies in providing targeted support, essential resources, and a community of guidance to help teachers build confidence and effectiveness in the classroom.
For new teachers, the challenges can feel daunting—–large class sizes, limited planning time, and a lack of support can lead to burnout before they even find their rhythm. While systemic changes like reducing class sizes and increasing funding for education are long-term goals, there are practical resources and strategies that can make a meaningful difference for new educators right now.
Mentorship and Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
Having a mentor is one of the most effective ways to help new teachers feel supported. A strong mentorship program goes beyond just assigning a veteran teacher to a novice—–it creates a structured, ongoing relationship where the new teacher can seek advice, reflect on their teaching, and gain strategies for managing challenges.
Similarly, joining a Professional Learning Community (PLC) provides new teachers with a space to collaborate, share ideas, and troubleshoot common classroom issues with colleagues. Whether in-person or virtual, these communities foster a culture of shared learning and collective problem-solving.
Curriculum and Lesson Planning Resources
Many novice teachers spend excessive time designing lessons from scratch when high-quality, vetted resources are available. Platforms like CommonLit, Newsela, and ReadWriteThink offer free, standards-aligned lessons across subjects. Open Educational Resources (OER Commons) and Share My Lesson also provide adaptable materials that can save teachers time while ensuring engaging instruction.
Additionally, using lesson plan templates and unit planning guides can help structure content delivery in a way that prevents last-minute scrambling. Many districts provide pacing guides, but new teachers should feel encouraged to seek out adaptable frameworks that help them feel more prepared.
Time Management and Work-Life Balance Tools
One of the hardest lessons for new teachers to learn is setting boundaries. Many enter the profession with the idea that they must be available 24/7, grading papers late into the night and responding to emails on weekends. However, sustainable teaching requires work-life balance.
Scheduling tools like Planboard, Google Keep, and Trello help teachers prioritize their workload while maintaining focus on the most essential tasks. Using a time-blocking system–—where specific tasks (lesson planning, grading, parent communication) are assigned dedicated time slots—–can help teachers stay organized and reduce stress.
Classroom Management Strategies
Many novice teachers cite classroom management as one of their biggest struggles. Without a solid strategy, behavior issues can quickly escalate, making instruction difficult. Luckily, there are numerous evidence-based approaches to classroom management, including:
The Responsive Classroom Approach: Focuses on building strong relationships and using proactive behavior strategies.
CHAMPS Classroom Management: Provides structured guidelines for setting clear expectations in different classroom activities.
PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports): Encourages teachers to reinforce positive behaviors through structured interventions.
Mental Health and Self-Care Resources
Supporting novice teachers also means ensuring they have resources for their own well-being. Teaching is emotionally demanding, and without self-care, burnout becomes inevitable. Schools should provide access to mental health resources, but teachers can also explore wellness strategies like mindfulness apps (Calm, Insight Timer) and support groups for educators.
Professional organizations such as The Teacher Self-Care Conference and Educators Thriving offer programs specifically designed to help teachers manage stress and maintain their well-being throughout their careers.
Five Practical Ways to Support Novice Teachers:
Pair Every New Teacher with a Mentor: Structured mentorship can provide guidance, emotional support, and problem-solving strategies.
Share High-Quality Lesson Planning Resources: Encourage the use of OERs and pre-made lesson materials to prevent overwhelm.
Provide Time Management Workshops: Teach strategies like time-blocking and prioritization to prevent burnout.
Offer Professional Learning Communities (PLCs): Create a space where teachers can collaborate and support one another.
Promote Work-Life Balance: Encourage setting boundaries, using scheduling tools, and prioritizing self-care.
Whether these types of support are distributed by administrators or self-sourced from educators, there is a plethora of helpful resources available to novice teachers to better manage their professional responsibilities during the early stages of their careers.
