Just got my assignment for 6th grade in California. Any tips for a first time teacher?

I read posts like this and I cry because of what is about to happen to you, also because they are always responded to with the most feel good comments that do indeed feel good but ultimately don't help you. Here is some advice that will help you but it wont feel good so reading it or not reading it is entirely up to you.

1) Never Use Your Own Money: Tons of teachers do this and you should not. Use the school resources as best you can and thats it. If you use your own money you are subsidizing a failed system and setting up standards you cant maintain. You also build up internal bitterness about it.

2) Learn Spanish: If you have a high ELL/ELD community you need to learn the local language. My area was 40% Arabic so I learned Arabic. Learning the language will help you communicate with parents but really it helps in talking to the kids. You get dramatically more respect as well.

3) Find a Mentor: Find a seasoned teacher at that school and stick to them like glue, I cant tell you how helpful mine was.

4) Never Trust Your Own Administrators: School Administrators are highly educated, well mannered and well dressed people but don't trust them. They will eagerly throw you under the bus if they feel it gives them the smallest advantage or covers them from potential exposure. Fellow teachers are your friends. Admins are the enemy.

/r/Teachers Thread