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Abigail
Student
Arlington, Texas
1
Question
Asked
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What are the biggest challenges that new teachers face, and how can I prepare for them while still in college?
I am currently a 17 year old high school senior planning to major in education, and I’ve heard a variety of perspectives from teachers about their personal experiences. I’d love insight into the significant challenges that I could potentially face as a new teacher and different ways to prepare for them.
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1 answer
Wong Loke Yuen
Head of Programme cum Senior Lecturer
645
Answers
Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Updated
Wong’s Answer
Hi Abigail. As a former teacher, I can share the most common challenges that many teachers talk about, along with simple ways you can prepare for them while still in college. These ideas come from what real teachers often say they struggled with in their first few years.
One of the biggest challenges new teachers face is classroom management. This means keeping students focused, handling behavior, and creating a calm, positive classroom. Many new teachers say this part is harder than they expected. To prepare, try to spend time in real classrooms as soon as you can. Watch how different teachers set rules, deal with problems, and keep students engaged. The more experience you get now, the more confident you will feel later.
Another common challenge is the workload. New teachers are often surprised by how much work they do outside of teaching, including lesson planning, grading, making materials, answering emails, and going to meetings. You can prepare by practicing good time management now. Try making weekly plans, breaking big tasks into smaller ones, and staying organized.
A third challenge is stress. Teaching can be emotional and demanding. Some new teachers feel frustrated or doubt themselves when lessons don't go well. You can prepare by learning healthy ways to handle stress, such as taking breaks, talking to supportive friends, or practicing mindfulness. Taking classes in child development or educational psychology also helps, because understanding how students think and behave makes your job easier.
Building relationships is another important part of teaching. You will need to communicate well with students, parents, and coworkers. You can practice this now by joining clubs, working on group projects, or taking a public speaking class. The more comfortable you are talking to people, the easier it will be to build strong, positive relationships in your classroom.
One of the biggest challenges new teachers face is classroom management. This means keeping students focused, handling behavior, and creating a calm, positive classroom. Many new teachers say this part is harder than they expected. To prepare, try to spend time in real classrooms as soon as you can. Watch how different teachers set rules, deal with problems, and keep students engaged. The more experience you get now, the more confident you will feel later.
Another common challenge is the workload. New teachers are often surprised by how much work they do outside of teaching, including lesson planning, grading, making materials, answering emails, and going to meetings. You can prepare by practicing good time management now. Try making weekly plans, breaking big tasks into smaller ones, and staying organized.
A third challenge is stress. Teaching can be emotional and demanding. Some new teachers feel frustrated or doubt themselves when lessons don't go well. You can prepare by learning healthy ways to handle stress, such as taking breaks, talking to supportive friends, or practicing mindfulness. Taking classes in child development or educational psychology also helps, because understanding how students think and behave makes your job easier.
Building relationships is another important part of teaching. You will need to communicate well with students, parents, and coworkers. You can practice this now by joining clubs, working on group projects, or taking a public speaking class. The more comfortable you are talking to people, the easier it will be to build strong, positive relationships in your classroom.