“The more we understand each other as extensions of ourselves, and difference as potential for our own development, the more critically literate we will be…”

I shared appreciation for Jennifer Orr’s book, Letters to a New Teacher: Real Advice and Practical Strategies for Getting Started in Elementary Teaching, in my July Learning Together newsletter. I have reread the book several times since then, and even though the book is geared for new(er) teachers, the advice offered is relevant and fresh for all teachers. The book’s table of contents is organized by topic, with letters addressing new teachers’ most frequently asked questions. Orr’s strength as a teacher mentor shines through in each letter as a voice from an experienced colleague who cares. 

Mentoring for new teachers is critical. A highly cited longitudinal meta-analysis by Richard Ingersoll and Jeffrey M. Kralik, The Impact of Mentoring on Teacher Retention: What the Research Says (2004), finds that new teacher mentoring programs reduce teacher attrition rates and increase both job satisfaction and teachers’ overall classroom impact.

As the school year begins and we welcome new teachers, it’s important to remember how much they bring to the learning communities they are joining. New teachers bring fresh energy and perspective, passion and hope - the parts of teaching that fade too quickly as the school year kicks into full gear. The sense of possibility is what I love most about beginning something new. This September, I invite everyone involved in enhancing a child's learning life to take a curiosity stance, listen more than you talk, and seek to understand your impact on children’s growth and learning every day. 

Starting mid-September, I'll share the practices and moves I see having the biggest impact in classrooms and schools on my @oliviawahlcoachingconsulting account, so followers can put them to use right away. Here’s how the week will flow:

• Mindful Monday: a nature clip, paired with a reflection prompt to anchor your week 
• Try it Tuesday: a teaching move from one of the 5 essential practices in my book
• Wisdom Wednesday: expert tips from Schoolutions guests
• Thoughtful Thursday: a nugget of research to consider and apply
• Feedback Friday: my plan to apply a piece of feedback I received this week

Join the Forever Getting Better community, where you are surrounded by educators committed to forever getting better through collective expertise.

What I’m Reading Now

Schoolutions Podcast Season Six: For Teachers, By Teachers

This September, Schoolutions kicks off Season Six: For Teachers, By Teachers, leading up to the release of my book, Forever Getting Better: 5 Essential Practices for Reclaiming Teacher Expertise, coming in 2027. This theme means a lot to me. For teachers. By teachers. Forever getting better. The expert who's already inside. The community that shows up. The belief that none of us are ever really done growing.

Follow Schoolutions on socials @schoolutionspodcast, where guests share how they use the five essential practices from my book, backed by research, to ensure every student finds their spark and receives the support they need to thrive. Each episode this season drops in two parts: part one on Monday, part two on Friday, with a quick tip highlight reel from guests every Wednesday.

Check out the September lineup below. And if you haven't already, join our Schoolutions Podcast community here.

09/14 (Part 1) & 09/18 (Part 2) Season 6, Episode 1

In this conversation, you'll learn how a peer-driven leadership model can reinforce handing expertise back to the people doing the work. Learn from the founder of The Main Idea and Masterminds facilitator, Jenn David-Lang. Masterminds groups are peer-led communities where leaders work together to solve their own problems rather than being handed answers. 

09/21 (Part 1) & 09/25 (Part 2) Season 6, Episode 2

In this conversation, you will hear from seventeen teachers from the Civics for Colorado Summer Institute, responding to the question: What is it like to teach civics and history at the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence? Teachers consider both the challenges they face and hopes for the future with the ultimate goal of strengthening civics instruction.

09/28 (Part 1) & 10/02 (Part 2) Season 6, Episode 3

In this conversation, you're going to discover how to build a classroom that runs itself and why great teaching happens in relationship, not isolation. My guest, Jennifer Orr, has nearly 30 years of experience in elementary classrooms, holds National Board Certification, mentors countless new teachers, and is the author of three books on teaching practice! 

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