Latest / New Teacher Talk / EP 166: Breaking Through the November Wall: Why New Teachers Feel Isolated and How to Overcome It

Transcript

EP 166: Breaking Through the November Wall: Why New Teachers Feel Isolated and How to Overcome It · New Teacher Talk

Welcome back to New Teacher Talk,
where we help early career educators find clarity,
confidence, and connection.
I'm Dr.
Beth.
and I'm Dr.
Anna.
Today we're talking about something that hits hard in
November, isolation and self-doubt.
As a new teacher,
if you've hit what we call the November wall,
you are not alone.
That wall, it can look like exhaustion, second guessing,
and even wondering if you made the right career choice.
We've been there.
We understand.
and it's not just you.
Across pre-K-12 classrooms,
most new teachers are feeling this.
Whether you're teaching kindergartners,
letter sound connections,
or guiding high school seniors through essays,
this time of the year can feel heavy.
Let's name what's happening.
The adrenaline you felt in August and September has
definitely worn off.
You know, you've met your students, set up your classroom,
survived the first round of assessments or conferences,
and now, you know, it's just you and them every day.
And if you're feeling isolated,
it might be because the support systems that were loud and
visible at the start are petering off now.
Mentor check-ins, they think you've got it all going.
Welcome emails, they're over.
And PD sessions have quieted down.
You're in the middle stretch now.
And nobody's really seeing you.
This is really where that self-doubt starts to creep in,
when things just don't go as planned.
We've all been there.
Maybe your classroom management strategies are not working
the way you hoped.
Maybe your students are behind and well,
maybe you're behind.
And maybe you're comparing yourself to that veteran teacher
down the hall who seems to have it all together.
Spoiler alert, they've hit the November wall too,
but years ago.
So based on this topic today, which we feel is so timely,
we really wanted to share something important with all of
you.
Self-doubt is not a sign of failure.
It's a sign that you really care that you are reflecting,
that you are growing as a teacher.
Exactly.
And teachers who never question themselves,
they're not learning.
You are.
And that's powerful.
So consider this.
Let's just reframe our thinking.
Instead of saying, I'm not good at this, say,
I'm still learning this.
Or instead of saying either out loud or in your head,
you know, I'm failing.
Replace that with I'm experimenting.
One of my favorite reframes is, I'm not behind.
I'm responding to what my students need.
That's not weakness.
That's wisdom.
You know, isolation thrives in silence.
So here's our challenge for you this week.
Make one brave reach out to somebody to connect with them.
You know, we've had a recent podcast,
podcast episode 163 with Jessica Smith,
where she specifically talks about how to do this.
We will include that link in our show notes.
You can go directly there.
And it doesn't have to be big, this connection.
It's not like we have to go out for a three-course dinner
at a fancy restaurant.
Ask a colleague how they handle transitions.
Invite someone for coffee.
Compliment a bulletin board.
Just start.
Just start.
connect.
And if you're not sure who to reach out to,
think beyond your grade level.
You know,
some of the best advice I ever got came from a middle
school art teacher and actually one of the custodians in
the building.
It's really about who seems open and willing to talk.
And connection doesn't always have to come from formal
mentorship.
Sometimes it's a hallway chat or a shared laugh in the copy
room.
because we know time is so fleeting.
It's just reach out to somebody who seems open to that.
It can be a quick exchange.
But we also wanna offer a few resources that will go a
little deeper in support of you at this time of year.
We are gonna tailor those to a particular teaching level.
These aren't magic fixes,
but they're small steps toward feeling more grounded.
So for our pre-K through five teachers,
consider trying a feelings check-in activity with your
students.
That will build connection and also remind you why you're
there in the classroom,
doing what you are passionate about.
You can find a PDF for free activities about checking in
with your students in our show notes.
For the middle school teachers that are listening,
check out the blog, Cult of Pedagogy,
especially the classroom management posts.
They're really validating and super practical.
We'll put that URL in the show notes as well,
so you can go directly there.
You know I love Jennifer Gonzales, Beth.
Oh, you do.
I didn't realize that that's totally cool.
That's a great, great,
great blog for our high school teachers.
We encourage you to watch this super great Ted talk called
every kid needs a champion by Rita Pearson.
It literally has 16 million views.
It is the best seven and a half minutes of your time.
It's a reminder that the relationships matter more than
perfection with our students Rita's conversation is just so
empowering and the perfect shot in the arm at this time of
year.
We'll put the URL in the show notes,
along with the other resources.
And if you're looking for community,
join a teacher Facebook group or a subreddit.
Lurking counts.
You don't have to post to feel seen.
You'll see yourself 100 times in the comments.
So listeners before we go,
we just want to say this clearly,
you are not alone and you are not failing.
You are becoming the teacher you have always wanted to be.
And you're building something that matters.
And yes, it's hard, but you're doing it with heart,
with grit, and with more impact than you'll ever know.
And we're proud of you.
We're cheering for you.
A new teacher talk will be back next week with more
support, strategies, and stories.
Until then, take care of yourself.
And remember, you are not alone.