School started for staff and students in Worcester, MA last week.  After spending a year working with a mentor teacher and completing the requirements of the Clark University MAT program several of our graduates launched classrooms of their own.  This blog is intended to be a support for those new teachers–and any new teachers–who are figuring out how to ‘go solo’.

As I think back on my own first year as a teacher I remember the nerves and the excitement.  That first week was a blur–there was so much to do!  Learning students’ names, figuring out the procedures for the school, sorting through all the paperwork, getting to know my colleagues and establishing our classroom routines were all challenges that pressed on me from the beginning.  I am wondering how our grads are doing?  Did we mentor them and teach them what they would need to know to be successful first year (first week!) teachers?  What do they still need for support?