Beginning teachers often make the mistake of isolating themselves from their peers. It is easy to do. Teachers are very busy people. As a teacher, you will arrive early in the morning, teach your classes, grade your papers, prepare for the next day, and if you are lucky, go home. When you’re new, you don’t have anything prepared ahead of time, so often you spend lunch trying to catch up. When you are tempted to close your door to get work done, think about this riddle. How many teachers does it take to create a lesson plan? If all of you are teaching the same story, you may want to work together to plan. Even if you teach differently, the plans will include the same basics. Soon you will find that collaboration does not take away from your creativity and individuality; it gives you time to develop and enhance it.
Most elementary schools have grade level planning. Take advantage of it. Dividing the work makes sense. You can modify after you get the basics. If you are in high school or middle school, find a buddy. Usually, people have strengths and weaknesses. If you write well, find someone who doesn’t. Offer to do the writing part of the plans, if they make the copies and staple the papers. You will find that not only will you have extra time because you are doing one-half or one-fourth of the work; you also will begin to develop some connections and possibly some friendships.
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Teachers are busy, but most of them are caring. They understand that as a new teacher, there are things you just don’t know. Most of them will help if they are asked.