The first year of teaching can feel overwhelming because there are so many important things that all need to your attention. First year teachers are often surprised by how much time administrative tasks such as taking attendance and completing report cards can demand. There will be many deadlines to uphold, all while trying to establish authority in the classroom and to develop meaningful relationships with colleagues, parents, administrators and students. Developing a set of manageable goals will help you focus on your priorities and bring about a sense of accomplishment.
Less is more. The purpose of goal-setting is to gain control of the chaos in your life and to help you recognize your day-to-day accomplishments. Develop a set of three or four large goals for the whole year, such as, "increased parental contact." You can then refine these broader goals into more specific ones for each day or week. For example, you might set the goal of calling one parent each day as you move toward the larger goal of increasing your communication with parents.
Decide what you value most about your interactions with your students. Beginning teachers are often plagued by discipline issues. A reasonable goal in this area may be, "To not give instructions until all students stop talking," or "To not raise my voice and become angry if the students are not listening." Select goals that will increase your success in the classroom. A very important goal for all new teachers would be, "To ask for help from my peers or supervisor as soon as I recognize the need." Reminding yourself that praise and positive reinforcement is critical for student success may be reflected in the goal, "To call parents when their child does something good." Set goals that are reasonable and within your control.
Remember that taking care of yourself is the most important goal you can set. Take care of your health by setting reasonable goals for the amount of sleep you need and to eat regular, nutritious meals. Set aside time to relax and enjoy your family and friends. The first year of teaching will seem to include an endless stream of marking student work, learning new programs, attending professional workshops and handling student crises. It is important to not let yourself become so absorbed in everyone else's needs that you forget your own. Set a goal to take care of yourself so you will be able to take care of the students in your charge.