Guide to Chapter 10: Thriving in This Profession

This chapter is our gift to you—with advice, support, and ways to experience joy in our profession. We set up this final chapter in a bit more of a relaxed format without frontloaded vocabulary and with a less formal tone. 

It is really important that we (as a world) support you (as new educators) with what you need to stay in our profession and make that difference for kids. That is what it’s all about: supported, respected teachers make happy students who learn and grow. 

We appreciate you. 

Activities for engagement: 

Build your village map: Identify and visualize your support system. Consider different needs and different contacts that may support you—and whom you may support in turn.

Create a visual map of your support network (mentors, colleagues, family, online communities).

• *Reflect on how each connection supports your growth and well-being.

• *Share your map with peers and discuss strategies for expanding your village.

• *Reflection jar or journal: Cultivate a habit of daily reflection.

• *Choose a method: anything that fits your needs, whether tangible or electronic.

• *Record one positive moment or lesson learned each day with the date to identify it. There may be some days that it feels a little more difficult and the positive moments may be small; that’s ok. If you have many positive moments, feel free to add them all. (This is an example of “going rogue” when working with positivity.)

• *Share selected entries with the group and discuss how reflection supports growth.

Connection before curriculum role play: Practice building relationships with students—even when things don’t fall into place easily.

• *Role-play classroom scenarios where connection leads to engagement and feelings of self-efficacy and belonging.

• *Discuss culturally responsive strategies for relationship-building. How may these strategies differ for various grade levels?

• *Reflect on how relationships impact classroom climate. The teacher sets the tone for the classroom climate; what are specific things the teacher must do to make it positive?

Mistake-friendly culture design: Create a classroom culture that embraces mistakes.

• *Design norms, routines, and language that support risk-taking and growth.

• *Share your design and explain how it benefits students and teachers.

Co-teaching communication plan: Foster respectful and effective co-teaching relationships through honest and effective communication.

• *Draft a communication plan for co-teaching partnerships. This may include specific dates for meetings, roles, expectations, and collaboration strategies.

• *Reflect on how modeling teamwork benefits students.

Ration your passion wellness plan: Prevent burnout and maintain balance.

• - Create a personal wellness plan designed both to support you in keeping up with your responsibilities and to maintain a healthy balance with your personal life.

• - Include boundaries, self-care routines, and time management strategies.

• - Share tips for maintaining balance in your first years.

Positive parent contact strategy: Build trust and support with families.

• *Draft a plan or schedule for initiating positive contact with families.

• *Choose methods (email, phone, notes) and timing.

• *Discuss how early outreach builds trust and support.

• *Keep notes in a central place to record interactions.

Purpose & success vision board: Visualize your goals and purpose in education.

• - Create a vision board that reflects your purpose and goals (electronic or not).

• - Include images, quotes, and milestones.

• - Share your board and discuss how you’ll measure success.