Top 5 Challenges New Teachers Face in BC and How to Overcome Them
Starting your teaching career in British Columbia can be both exciting and challenging, especially if you’re coming from a different educational system like I did. Having taught in Ireland, where the education system is more prescriptive and structured, I found it difficult at first to adapt to the more flexible and competency-based approach in BC. I’ll share the top 5 challenges I faced as a new teacher in BC—and how I overcame them—to help make your journey smoother.
1. Understanding the BC Curriculum
Challenge: Coming from Ireland, where the curriculum is more defined and prescriptive, the flexible, competency-based learning approach in BC can feel daunting at first. There are fewer set guidelines and more emphasis on skills and competencies. There isn’t a lot of guidance on where to start or lesson plan examples to look at.
Solution: I found that taking time to dive into the key competencies and learning outcomes of the BC curriculum was essential. Attending workshops & events with other new teachers helped me find my footing. Connecting with mentors and colleagues also made a big difference in adapting my teaching style to fit the BC system.
2. Adjusting to Assessment Practices
Challenge: In Ireland, assessment was often more formal and exam-based. In BC, the focus is on formative assessments, student self-assessment, and reflection, which was a shift for me.
Solution: I learned to embrace more frequent, informal assessments as part of my daily teaching. It at first seemed more chaotic than what I was used to at home, but I soon realized the benefits. While the chaos was initially daunting, it transformed my teaching practice by making it more dynamic, responsive, and connected to student needs. Through this experience, I have come to appreciate the importance of flexibility and adaptability in education. So much that I don’t think I could ever teach Leaving Certificate anymore.
3. Building Classroom Relationships
Challenge: Establishing strong relationships with students can take time, especially in diverse classrooms. Coming from a more homogeneous system, I had to learn how to navigate different backgrounds and learning styles.
Solution: I focused on building open communication and fostering an inclusive environment. Getting to know my students’ individual needs and involving them in decision-making was key. By creating consistent routines and showing students that I valued their input, I was able to build much more positive relationships than I had at home.
4. Managing Work-Life Balance
Challenge: Like many new teachers, I struggled with balancing lesson planning and grading and adapting to a new system. Coming from Ireland, where work-life boundaries are more defined, I initially found the workload overwhelming.
Solution: Setting a structured schedule for work tasks helped, but I also made time to explore BC’s beautiful outdoors. Hiking, running, and simply enjoying the natural surroundings helped me recharge. Joining local teacher groups also gave me a support network and an outlet for stress. With the innovations in technology and AI, I was able to use these tools to my advantage to offload some of the more administration- heavy tasks and workload.
5. Navigating Certification and Administrative Tasks
Challenge: Coming from Ireland, the BC teacher certification process was entirely new to me, and at times, the paperwork and administrative tasks felt overwhelming. It can take quite a long time.
Solution: What helped me was using detailed checklists and templates to stay organized. I wasn’t able to attend workshops that guided me through each step of the certification process because they weren’t available. If you're going through the same thing, don’t hesitate to seek out support—there are resources, like Teacher Trails BC, designed to help you through the certification journey.
While starting as a new teacher in BC can be challenging, especially if you’re coming from a different education system like I did, there are plenty of ways to overcome these hurdles. By familiarizing yourself with the curriculum, adopting new assessment practices, and building a support network, you’ll find your way. BC offers a unique teaching environment, and with the right resources and mindset, you’ll thrive.
