When we are just starting out at something new, it can be intimidating. It takes time to build confidence in a new skill or career. Teaching is no different! Over the years, I have had to build up my confidence in the classroom. Here, I’ll share some insights I’ve gained along the way that have helped me feel more empowered in my teaching.

• Skill up. The more skills you gain, the easier it will be to convince yourself that you belong in your role and are a valuable asset to your school’s team.

• Show up. Robert Rauschenberg, in his advice to art students, says, “come and go to everything,’ and I couldn’t agree more. It might be intimidating to go to work events, especially if you’re not feeling super confident and are the youngest or least experienced employee. Show up anyway, and face the fear.

• Be humble and open-minded. When you show up to work events, be open. You never know what you might learn by asking questions to those more experienced than you!

• Keep track of your learning. Remember what you have learned, so that you can call upon that knowledge with confidence. Make flash cards, or keep notes on your phone, and review them before bed. Revisit topics of interest from your past studies. Organize your learning materials in a way that suits you, and keep them handy. This might include getting rid of notes that you no longer need, and curating a short list of topics relevant to your current position. You can always re-visit other topics later on and re-learn what you’ve forgotten.

• Keep learning. If you keep sharp, you will be more confident! Find groups of people with similar interests, in real life or online, and connect with them regularly.

• You know a lot. Remember that there are things you know like the back of your hand that your students don’t yet know. You might not know everything there is to know about your subject right now, but you likely know much more about it than your students or than your average person. That’s why you’ve been hired to teach.

Keep these tips in mind next time you are struggling with confidence in your classroom. You’ve got this!