Advice for New Teachers

[LolaSmiles]

Lots of people give time to share advice and experience with people new to teaching and considering teaching.

I thought I'd create a thread that we could signpost to for common tips/solutions/general advice, as well as share things that have worked well.

Mine for now would be:

1. Ignore scaremongering at the start of your training year. When I started some people seemed to delight in telling us we'd never have time to pee, and sex would be out the window in favour of lesson planning. It doesn't have to be like that. It's hard at times, but it doesn't have to take over your whole life.

1. Listen to experienced colleagues. Within reason you don't have to do things their way all the time time here there may be things you disagree with, but there will be things to learn in those circumstances. Even if you disagreed with them on particular things, the learning will come in handy later.

1. Have comfy shoes, a bag you can organise well and scarves/layers are your friend. Classrooms aren't well known for temperature control

Over to you staffroom.

If you do weekly award certificates write one for each child at the start of the year- that way you always have one ready and never leave any one out!

Can I join? Long time lurker here -ive been working as a TA for a couple of years, now starting a primary PGCE with MFL specialism in the same school.
These tips are so helpful. One I saw somewhere else that has worked for me recently is getting them to put two hands up when they want the toilet so you can distinguish the ones who've actually got an answer to your question!

@longsigh that is brilliant and I am stealing it.

[quote 13luckyblackcats]@longsigh that is brilliant and I am stealing it.[/quote]
It's o e of the best ones I've heard- Not my idea but you are welcome! 👍🏼

I'm secondary so some may not apply to primary

Similar to someone else, if you have your own room (we do!) Have all of your PowerPoints/video clips/other resources opened at the start of the day to avoid having to try to find things mid lesson.

When the whole school calendar comes out, populate your diary with all key dates. Then you can work out where the pinch points are and plan for them.

Plan a couple of quick, easy meals for during the week when you are busy. There's nothing wrong with soup/sandwiches/beans on toast a couple of nights a week. It's cheaper than a takeaway.

Make sure your work clothes (and kids uniforms if you have kids) are washed/ironed/hung up at the weekend to avoid midweek clothes sorting!

Do as much feedback and marking in lessons as possible. Pre pandemic, I got really into 'live marking/feedback' and it made a huge difference to my workload.

I go through emails when I have time to action things -either replying/passing on/planning what needs doing.

Finally, remember, not every lesson has to be whizz bang! Sometimes, it's fine to keep it simple, use textbooks etc. Some of my best lessons have been the simple ones!

These are fab! Keep them coming please

Routine, routine, routine. Start on Day 1!

Always over prepare, even if only by having a stash of subject related wordsearches, bank of games or online resources to draw on.

This works for me but maybe won’t suit others. Print off one master copy of worksheets you need at home, and then you can go straight to the photocopier when you get in in the morning.

Try to always take your lunch or at least a fifteen minute break. Go to the staffroom or base and chat. It will do you the world of good!

Be nice to support staff and never think you are above them. Chances are they know the students in a way teachers don’t, and have spent years observing different teachers teach so knows what makes a good lesson.
That’s my advice.

Textbooks are great, they contain all the information that students need, and usually have differentiated questions and exam style questions for revision too.

I've got another quick one for parents evenings, if you can't remember a student's name (more relevant in secondary) just ask what their last name is as your marksheet is alphabetical by last name. Not remembered last names is easily forgivable

Bring your laptop to the photocopier so you don’t have to keep running back to collect the maths then print the English etc. Also avoids the confusion of 60 pages coming out and no one claims it with 5 people waiting for the photocopier. Don’t do star of the day to spontaneously fill up the last 5 mins of your 1st day because they will remember and you will be doing it 9 months later. If you’re in a faith school get them to do the prayer even if tiny. Don’t give out resources all at once. 2 lots of 15 glue sticks will last longer than 30.

Great tips.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions or say that you don’t understand something. We have all been a new teacher at some point! Ask your colleagues for help if you are not sure how to do something. This is particularly relevant for classroom management, admin paperwork and moderation.

English marking - get them to self mark as much as you can (skills type work especially).

Be nice to the IT Staff!

Start fresh each day - don’t carry over issues from the other day.

Make the child (especially teens) understand that you like them, but not their behaviour sometimes.