How to Survive and Thrive as a Teacher: Unwritten Rules You Need to Know

Teaching is a rewarding but challenging profession that requires more than just academic skills. There are some unwritten rules that can make or break your career as a teacher. Here are some of them:

1. Treat your students as your customers. They are the ones who pay for your services and keep the school running. You have to meet their needs and expectations and respect their opinions and feedback.
2. Build rapport with everyone you work with. You will interact with many people in your career, such as students, colleagues, administrators, and parents. You have to establish trust, communication, and cooperation with them and avoid conflicts and misunderstandings.
3. Set clear rules for your students from the start. Don’t wait for them to misbehave before you tell them what to do. You have to communicate your expectations and consequences consistently and enforce them fairly and firmly.
4. Be prepared for anything. Teaching is full of surprises and challenges. You have to be ready to deal with any situation that may arise, such as technical issues, emergencies, disruptions, or difficult questions. You have to stay calm and composed and think on your feet.
5. Keep learning and growing. Teaching is a dynamic and evolving profession that requires constant updating and improvement. You have to keep up with the latest trends, research, and innovations in your field and seek feedback and professional development opportunities.
6. Leave your personal problems at the door. Teaching is a demanding and stressful job that requires your full attention and energy. You have to avoid letting your personal issues affect your performance and mood in the classroom and find healthy ways to cope with them.
7. Protect yourself and your safety. Teaching can expose you to some risks and dangers, both inside and outside the school. You have to be aware of the potential threats and hazards and take precautions to avoid or minimise them.
8. Understand your bosses and their expectations. You have to work under the supervision and guidance of your administrators, who may have different styles and preferences. You have to know what they want from you, how they evaluate you, and how you can impress them.
9. Know your students well. You have to be familiar with your students' strengths, weaknesses, goals, and challenges. This information helps you tailor your instruction, assessment, and support to students' individual needs and abilities.
10. Listen more than you talk. You have to be a good listener who can empathise, understand, and help others. Listening will help you gain insights, information, and feedback from your administrators, colleagues, students, and parents.
11. Admit your mistakes and learn from them. You are not perfect, and you will make errors along the way. You have to acknowledge your faults, apologise when necessary, correct your actions, and avoid repeating them.
12. Seek advice from experienced teachers. You can learn a lot from those who have been in the profession longer than you. You can ask them for tips, tricks, resources, support, or mentorship. They can help you overcome challenges, solve problems, or improve your skills.
13. Be flexible and adaptable. You have to be able to cope with changes in the school environment, student behaviour, or curriculum requirements. You have to adjust your plans, methods, or strategies accordingly, without compromising quality or standards.
14. Encourage rather than discourage your students. You have to be a positive influence on your students’ learning and motivation. You have to praise their efforts, celebrate their achievements, provide constructive feedback, and inspire them to do better.
15. Don’t mock or ridicule your students’ academic performance. This will only harm their self-esteem, confidence, and progress. You have to respect their differences, acknowledge their challenges, and help them overcome them.
16. Have fun teaching and learning. Teaching should be enjoyable for both you and your students. You have to find ways to make your lessons engaging, interactive, and meaningful. You have to show enthusiasm, passion, and humour in your teaching.
17. Talk to your students outside the classroom. You have to show interest in your students’ lives beyond academics. You have to chat with them about their hobbies, interests, dreams, or problems. You have to be approachable, friendly, and supportive.
18. Use technology wisely and effectively. Technology can enhance your teaching and learning in many ways. You have to use the tools and platforms that are available, appropriate, and beneficial for your purposes. You have to keep up with technological advancements and innovations in education.
19. Take care of yourself mentally and physically. Teaching can take a toll on your health if you neglect it. You have to balance your work and life, take breaks when needed, relax when possible, exercise regularly, eat healthily, sleep well, etc.

These are some of the unwritten rules that can help you succeed as a teacher. Some of them may seem obvious or intuitive but they are often overlooked or ignored by many teachers.

If you follow these rules consistently throughout your career, you will not only survive but thrive as a teacher.