Beating Back to School Teacher Nerves

The start of a new school year brings a mix of excitement and anxiety, even for well-established, confident teachers. With September approaching, it's common for educators to feel a surge of nerves as they prepare to meet new students, tackle fresh challenges and adapt to changes in curriculum or school policies. If you're feeling this way, you're not alone. The following tips are designed to help you overcome those nerves and step into the classroom with confidence this September.

Table of Contents:

• Acknowledge Your Feelings
• Prepare Thoroughly for the New Academic Year
• How to Build a Support System at School
• Teacher Self-Care Tips

Acknowledge Your Feelings

The first step in overcoming teacher nerves is to recognise and accept that feeling anxious is normal. Even experienced teachers feel some jitters and ensure sleepless nights before the school year begins. These feelings are often a sign that you care deeply about your job and the impact you have on your students. Instead of ignoring or suppressing these emotions, take time to reflect on what specifically is causing your anxiety. Is it the fear of the unknown? Concerns about classroom management? Or perhaps it's the pressure to meet certain educational standards? Identifying the root cause of your nerves will help you address them more effectively.

To effectively manage your nerves, it’s important to dig deeper and understand what’s causing them. Ask yourself these specific questions and try to be as open and as honest as you can:

• What am I most anxious about? Is it meeting new students, managing classroom behaviour, or covering all the required material? Are you starting at a new setting or in a different year group? Has the curriculum changed leaving you feeling unsure about what you will be teaching? Have staffing changes led to further changes impacting you?
• Are there particular situations from the past that are influencing my current feelings? Perhaps a difficult class from a previous year, a challenging parent interaction, or a lesson that didn’t go as planned is weighing on your mind. Were these resolved in the end? Did you seek help and support at the time or deal with it alone? Do you have a good support network at school e.g. a mentor or line manager?

By pinpointing the exact sources of your anxiety, you can start to address them in a more targeted way. For example, if classroom management is a concern, you might focus on refining your strategies or seeking advice from colleagues. If it’s about connecting with students, you could plan relationship-building activities for the first week.

Acknowledge the Positive Side of Nerves

While nerves are often seen as negative, they can also be a sign that you care deeply about your work. Your anxiety reflects your commitment to providing the best education for your students and your desire to succeed in your role. This level of care is an asset, as it drives you to prepare thoroughly and continually improve your practice.

Instead of viewing your nervousness as a weakness, try to reframe it as a sign of your dedication and passion for teaching. This shift in perspective can help reduce the stigma around feeling anxious and empower you to harness your nerves in a positive way.

Practice Self-Compassion

Teaching is a demanding profession, and it’s easy to be hard on yourself, especially when you’re feeling nervous. However, it’s important to practice self-compassion. Acknowledge that it’s ok to feel anxious and that you’re not expected to have all the answers or be perfect. Remember, even the most experienced teachers (including senior leaders and headteachers too!) have moments of doubt and uncertainty.

Give yourself permission to feel nervous and remind yourself that these feelings don’t define your ability to be a great teacher. By being kind to yourself, you create a supportive internal environment that allows you to move forward despite your anxieties. Consider whether there may be others in your setting who feel similarly to you. 

Express Your Feelings

Sometimes, simply expressing your feelings can help alleviate the burden of anxiety. Consider talking to a trusted colleague, friend, mentor or your line manager about how you’re feeling. Sharing your concerns can provide relief and often leads to discovering that others feel the same way. It’s a reminder that you’re not alone in your experiences, which can be incredibly comforting. Could it be worthwhile creating a support network together? Despite being surrounded by lots of people in teaching, it can also at times feel like a lonely place, so make use of your colleagues where possible.

If talking to someone else isn’t an option or if you prefer private reflection, journaling can be a powerful tool. Writing down your thoughts and feelings allows you to process your emotions in a safe space. Over time, this practice can help you identify patterns in your anxiety and develop strategies to address them. If you're concerned about your levels of anxiety, seek professional support from your GP. Many schools also buy into counselling services which you may also find supportive.

Prepare Thoroughly for the New Academic Year

Preparation is one of the best ways to reduce anxiety. The more prepared you are, the more confident you’ll feel. Here are some key areas to focus on:

• Get ahead with lesson planning: Start by organising your lesson plans for the first few weeks. This doesn't mean every detail needs to be ironed out, but having a clear roadmap will give you a sense of direction. Consider incorporating a mix of activities to engage different learning styles and keep students interested. Also, consider the strategies you will use to support pupils with SEND.

• Start your classroom set-up: Arrange your classroom in a way that promotes a positive learning environment. Think about seating arrangements, accessibility of materials and areas for group work. A well-organised classroom can help ease your nerves and create a welcoming space for students. Ensure you designate a space for yourself too. This includes cupboard space for your belongings, a desk with positive reminders in your drawers and a space where you can work once the students have gone home. Bring in things such as photographs of your pets or family or images that bring back happy memories to personalise your space.

• Get familiar with technology: If you’ll be using new technology or software, take the time to familiarise yourself with it. Practice using it in a low-pressure setting so that you’re comfortable when it’s time to introduce it to your students. If you have not yet received logins for these from your school, ask your line manager for access or see if you can gain entry to a free trial via the website.

How to Build a Support System at School 

As we mentioned above, teaching can be an isolating profession, especially if you're the only one feeling anxious. However, building a support system can make a significant difference. Here are some ways to do that:

• Connect with colleagues: Reach out to fellow teachers, especially those who have been at the school longer or who teach in the same year group or subject. They can provide valuable insights, share resources and offer reassurance.

• Seek out professional development: Consider attending workshops or online training sessions that focus on areas where you feel less confident. This not only boosts your skills but also connects you with other educators who may share your concerns. If you're struggling for time or finding that many of the options available to you come with a cost, try accessing some of the social media groups on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. These can be really supportive networks and a great place to ask an anonymous question if you're unsure about something and don't feel comfortable asking your colleagues. 

• Mentorship: If you’re an ECT or feeling particularly overwhelmed, finding a mentor can be incredibly helpful. A mentor can provide guidance, answer questions and help you navigate the challenges of the school year. If you're an ECT, you should have been allocated a mentor who will be your go-to person for any questions or worries you may have. 

Teacher Self-Care Tips

1. Develop a Self-Care Routine

Nerves can be exacerbated by stress and fatigue, so it's essential to take care of your wellbeing. A balanced self-care routine can help you manage anxiety and maintain a positive outlook. Here are some tips:

• Exercise regularly: Physical activity is a great way to relieve stress. Whether it’s a morning jog, yoga or a walk during lunch, incorporating movement into your day can improve your mood and reduce anxiety.

• Mindfulness and relaxation techniques: Practices such as meditation, deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation can help calm your mind and ease tension. These techniques can be especially helpful before the school day begins or during breaks.

• Healthy eating and sleep: A nutritious diet and adequate sleep are fundamental to managing stress. Try to establish a regular sleep schedule and prioritise meals that fuel your body and mind.

• Try a digital detox: While there's no doubt you need technology to support your work for planning, communication and teaching, it can be hard to switch off. Ensure you turn off notifications when you get home so you aren't informed of any late night emails or messages. As tempting as it may be to quickly answer them now, start as you mean to go on this academic year and prioritise time for you.
  
  

2. Start Small and Build Confidence

Rather than trying to tackle everything at once, focus on small, manageable tasks. Start by setting achievable goals for the first day or week. This could be something as simple as getting to know your students' names, establishing classroom rules or successfully implementing your first lesson. Celebrate these small victories, as they will build your confidence and momentum for the rest of the school year.

3. Remember Your Why

When nerves start to take over, it can be helpful to reconnect with your passion for teaching. Reflect on why you became a teacher in the first place. Was it to make a difference in students' lives? To share your love of a particular subject? Reminding yourself of your purpose can provide the motivation and resilience needed to push through anxiety and embrace the challenges ahead.

4. Be Flexible and Open to Learning

No matter how well you prepare, the reality of the classroom will always present unexpected challenges. Being flexible and open to learning from these experiences is crucial. If something doesn’t go as planned, view it as an opportunity to grow rather than a failure. Adaptability is one of the most valuable traits a teacher can have, and it will serve you well throughout the school year.

5. Embrace the First Day

The first day of the school year is often the most nerve-wracking (for both teachers and students!), but it’s also an opportunity to set the tone for the rest of the year. Focus on creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere for your students. Introduce yourself, share your enthusiasm for teaching them and start building relationships with your students. Remember, they are likely feeling nervous too, and your calm, positive attitude can help put them at ease.

Prepare for a New School Year with Pango 

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