Lauren Manganiello teaches grades 9, 10, and 12 at Wilmington High School in Wilmington, Mass.

The most valuable tip I can give to a prospective first year teacher is that you should expect to work very hard, and sometimes verylate, every night. The summer before I started teaching I worked diligently at preparing units and lessons; still, I had no idea how much work I had coming to me. Granted, the amount of work you'll need to do will depend on your school and your curriculum; I have total control over what I teach, which translates to a lot of work for me. I spend between one and two hours correcting on weeknights and even more on weekends; I spend most afternoons securing the next day's lessons.

Next, expect to do a lot of learning in your first year. Most new teachers are fresh out of college or graduate school and know their specific subject matter very well; however, knowing material and knowing how to teach material are two completely different concepts! Making the switch from higher education back to high or even elementary school education is a challenge.

Finally, expect to:

• Struggle—practice makes perfect, and if you push yourself too hard at the beginning of your career, you might burn out before your time (think of teaching like a marathon).
• Be overwhelmed with paperwork; there's a letter or form for everything.
• Meet amazing students that will keep you coming back to your job.
• Have responsibilities outside of your classroom, like corridor duty, study halls or, my favorite, bathroom duty.
• Be shocked by the sometimes cynical conversation in the lunchroom.
• Find some amazing teachers in your department and school that can be your best resources, and best allies.

Be surprised—what you worry about now will seem ridiculous once you're finally in the classroom, and what you've never even given a thought to will suddenly become your everyday amusement, pleasure, or headache!