Weeks of a Beginning Teacher – Week 1: Organise Your Space

Takeaways in 10s

• Stay organized—a cluttered desk = a cluttered mind.

• Small wins matter—weaker students thrive with one-on-one coaching.

This Week in My Teaching Journey

It’s been a tough week, to be honest. I knew the transition from practical training to being a full-fledged teacher would be challenging, but I didn’t expect it to hit me all at once. Setting exam papers, managing my CCA, and taking on form teachership... it’s a lot. There were definitely moments of feeling like I was barely keeping up.

Talking to a few friends who are also starting out, I realized we’re all in the same boat. This is hard, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed sometimes. What has kept me going, though, are the small wins—the moments where things clicked, even just a little.

One of the best things I did this week was taking the time to declutter my workspace. It wasn’t glamorous, but I spent about an hour tidying up, sorting through my materials, and setting up a filing system for each class. I know it sounds simple, but it gave me a sense of order and control. For the first time in a while, my desk felt manageable, and it helped me feel less stressed.

I also had a small revelation with my students. I realized that some of them do so much better when they get time to work with me one-on-one or in small groups. It’s a bit humbling, because I’ve been focusing so much on whole-class teaching, but seeing them engage more and get excited when they succeed in small steps was eye-opening. It made me feel grateful that I’m able to be there to guide them in those moments.

If I Could Tell My Younger Self One Thing…

"If you want to feel less overwhelmed, start by organizing your space and your plans."

I’ve learned this week that a messy desk reflects a cluttered mind. I’ve been so caught up in trying to manage everything, but organizing my materials and making a plan for the week helped bring a little peace. If I could share one thing with new teachers, it’s this: small steps in organising and planning can make a big difference in reducing stress.

I’m definitely still finding my rhythm, but I’m thankful for the chance to learn and grow. It’s a humbling experience, and I’m grateful for the support I have from my colleagues and friends. Here’s to more small wins and finding balance as I move forward.

Disclaimer: This blog post is a summary of my written takeaways by ChatGPT and the cover image is generated by using the takeaway as the prompt in Gemini.