u/NoStretch9783

Hi everyone! I’m a first-year teacher, and I just had my IPC meeting today. I’ve been feeling extremely anxious about the possibility of my principal walking into my classroom at any moment for an informal observation.
I’m still learning the curriculum, figuring out classroom routines, and honestly just trying to get the hang of everything. I genuinely want to be the best teacher I can be, but I know I’m not going to be perfect, especially during my first year.
The thought of my principal randomly walking in and observing me makes me physically sick to my stomach. I’ve actually been throwing up from the anxiety because I’m constantly worried about making a mistake, being judged, or potentially losing my job.
I know observations are part of teaching, but I feel like I can never fully relax because I’m always worried someone is going to walk in and catch me doing something wrong.
Has anyone else experienced this during their first year? How did you overcome the fear of informal observations? Am I overthinking this? I would really appreciate advice from teachers who have been through this.

Hi everyone! I’m a first-year teacher in a 2nd grade classroom, and I’m realizing that I’m going to be teaching a lot of phonics/foundational skills this year.
One thing in my classroom is a sound wall, and I’m honestly not very familiar with how to set one up or use it correctly. I understand the general idea, but when I look at all the different categories like stops, fricatives, nasals, affricates, vowel sounds, etc., I get overwhelmed.
I haven’t really looked at phonics this deeply since I was a kid, and my teacher-prep program didn’t give me much practice with actually setting up or using a sound wall. I feel kind of embarrassed that I don’t already know this, especially because I don’t want to look unprepared in front of my co-teacher.
For anyone who teaches K–2, how did you learn sound walls and phonics well enough to feel comfortable teaching them? Are there any resources, videos, cheat sheets, or routines you recommend for a beginner? And is this something that usually starts making more sense once you actually start teaching it?
Any advice would be really appreciated.

Hi everyone, I’m a brand-new NYCPS teacher starting this school year and I’m a little confused about what I’m supposed to do.
I received the NYCPS email for New Teacher Week, and it says the event at Barclays on September 1 from 8:30–3:00 is mandatory. However, my school also scheduled its New Teacher Institute/orientation for September 1 during the same time.
We’re also supposed to report to the school on August 31, so I’m planning to ask for clarification then.
For anyone who has been through this before: if your school schedules its own new teacher orientation at the same time as the mandatory NYCPS New Teacher Week event, which one are you supposed to attend? Would the school normally excuse you from the Barclays event, or should I contact the New Teacher Week/Induction team directly?

I got hired on the spot for an NYC DOE special education teaching position a few weeks ago. I’ve already completed the DOE hiring/onboarding process and everything seems to be finished on my end, but I haven’t heard anything from the school since.
Since I was hired on the spot, they also never told me what grade I’ll be teaching, what curriculum they use, or when orientation will be. With the school year getting closer, I’m starting to get a little nervous because I want to be prepared and start thinking about lesson planning/classroom setup.
Is this normal for NYC DOE schools? When did you find out your grade assignment and orientation information as a new teacher? Should I email the principal now, or just wait for them to reach out?

I had a demo lesson last Tuesday for an elementary teaching position. The students were a little rowdy and not always listening, but I was still able to get through my entire lesson. Afterward, I had a short interview with the principal.
It’s been several days now, and I still haven’t heard whether I got the job or not. I’m trying not to overthink it, but I’m honestly really stressed.
For those of you who have gone through the hiring process, is it normal to wait this long after a demo lesson? Did anyone end up getting an offer even after waiting a week or more? I’m just looking for some reassurance or to hear about other people’s experiences.

Hey everyone! I got called in for a demo lesson as part of the NYC DOE hiring process. It’s 25 minutes long. I’ve planned it with a Do Now, an I do, we do, you do structure, and an exit ticket. My concern is whether the exit ticket might take too much time or if it should be integrated into the you do portion. If I run out of time with the exit ticket or don’t get to everything, will that negatively affect the impression? Does the principal just end it at time? I’d love any tips or tricks from folks who’ve done DOE demo lessons. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone!
I just got invited to a 10-minute Zoom screening interview for a general education elementary teaching position, and I’m really excited but also incredibly nervous because this is my first teaching interview.
Since it’s only 10 minutes, I’m wondering:
• What kinds of questions do they usually ask?
• Is it mostly about getting to know me, or do they ask scenario-based questions too?
• Should I expect questions about classroom management, lesson planning, or why I want to become a teacher?
• Any tips on how to prepare?
I recently graduated and completed my student teaching, but I’m worried I’ll get nervous and blank on my answers.

Hi everyone, I’m filling out my NYC Teach application and I’m confused about the NYC Public Schools experience section. I’m currently a per diem substitute teacher and work in multiple schools across different districts, not just one specific school.

The application is requiring me to enter a School DBN, but I don’t technically have one main school. What did other subs put for this section? Did you use one school you worked at most often or something else?

Any advice would help, thank you!