diary of a first-year teacher

Diary of a First-Year Teacher: Looking Back

19Jun2016

by Shelby Denhof

Our first-year teacher shares what she’s learned, what she’ll do differently next year, and what she wishes she’d known from the start.

Building Relationships with Students Through Books

8May2016

by Shelby Denhof

Talking about and sharing books has become an integral part of my daily interactions with students and a pivotal part of relationship-building with them.

Diary of a First-Year Teacher: Balance

9Jan2016

by Shelby Denhof

When the school year started, I told myself that I need to focus on one thing at a time, not stretch myself too thinly. But even as I type this, my mind is racing. It’s come to a point where I have so many projects to be working on, I find myself not working on any.

Diary of a First-Year Teacher: The Power of a Thank-You

8Oct2015

by Shelby Denhof

I can still picture his defiant look, sitting on top of his desk, shoes smearing dirt on a pile of unfinished assignments spilled on his chair. I didn’t know how to deal with a kid like that.

Diary of a First-Year Teacher: Setting Goals

26Aug2015

by Shelby Denhof

“When I was student teaching, I gave it my all, consistently working thirteen hour days, and I’d find myself crying out of stress at least once a week. But is that lifestyle sustainable? Heck no. And I’m not going to let myself get like that again.”