By Louise Holmes
Are you starting your teacher training in the autumn? If so, then congratulations! Of course you deserve a break after giving your all in the application process, but a little bit of preparation now will help you to get off to a great start in your training year and really make the most of it. Here Geography trainee Louise Holmes shares her tips on getting ready.
So, you’ve got the application process over with, secured a place on a course and sorted your professional skills tests. Firstly, it’s time to take a well-deserved breather and give yourself a pat on the back — you’re on your way to becoming a teacher! However, while your first day in school may seem like a while away now, it’s worth considering how you can best prepare yourself for your training year. These tips will help you make it as enjoyable and valuable as possible.
1) Get organised!
Prior to my teacher training year, I would have described my level of organisation as ‘organised chaos’. Let’s just say I knew what I was meant to be doing and where everything was, but I wasn’t particularly logical or planned. I got a shock when I arrived at my first placement and suddenly had to keep track of all my class data, homework and books; remember parents and open evenings; write my university assignments; and keep track of what seemed like thousands of sheets of paper.
Save yourself a whole lot of stress by investing in a teacher’s planner or diary, and get into the habit of writing everything you are going to do in it. It’ll be a godsend by the end of the autumn term when you can’t work out what day of the week it is.
2) Swat up
Almost every trainee’s biggest concern before embarking on their teaching journey is their subject knowledge. How on earth will you ever know enough?
Firstly, let me say that even teachers who have been in the job for 30 years will still have moments when they simply don’t know the answer, so don’t be too hard on yourself. However, it is worth brushing up on your subject knowledge, especially areas you know you are weaker in. For me, human geography was my Achilles’ heel, so I bought a couple of second-hand books to read and watched a few documentaries. Voilà! Subject Knowledge Enhancement courses are always worth looking into as well. Nobody expects you to be an expert, but it doesn’t hurt to brush up on your knowledge!
3) Say yes
Before and during your training year you’ll have loads of opportunities and offers thrown your way, both big and small. These might be optional training and courses, networking events or a chance to see some different approaches to teaching.
My advice is to say yes to as many of these opportunities as you can. Although it may seem like extra work or an evening you’d rather have spent relaxing, your training year is the best time to make the most of all these chances to develop yourself. You’ll learn some really interesting skills and ideas that’ll make you an even better teacher. Also, it’ll all look good on your applications when you’re looking for your first NQT job!
4) Ask questions
Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as possible, both before and during your training! Not sure what you’ll be doing on your first day? Ask. Not sure what the rewards policy is? Ask. Your mentor uses an acronym and you have no idea what it means? (This will happen all the time!) Ask.
Remember, this is your training year. Teachers always tell their students that there’s no such thing as a silly question, and that’s absolutely true. Nobody expects you to know everything; you’ll just make your life harder if you don’t ask.
5) Plan time for yourself
Do you have hobbies and interests that you pursue in the evening and at weekends? Great. Don’t stop doing them. It can be really easy to let your teacher training take over your life: you’ll find yourself getting to school early to get on with planning and staying late to mark books. You’ll have to work hard to become a great teacher, but you mustn’t put your training ahead of what makes you who you are. Otherwise you’ll find yourself exhausted by the second term, which is not good for your development or your students’.
If you feel like you need a new activity or hobby to pursue, then your training year is a great time to start! With so many after school clubs to get involved with, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Why not ask your new colleagues to come along with you?
Whatever you do, make sure you enjoy yourself! Your training year will be a real challenge at times, but one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do. Good luck!
Still got questions about life as teacher? Find out more on the Get into Teaching website.
