Tips for a new primary school teacher?

[Lolabirdy]

Hi all. Reposting here as I didn’t realise there was a staff room section!

I’m starting my school centred initial teacher training in September in a 1 form entry village primary school. I have a degree in primary education and will be working alongside my mentor teacher and teaching a year 6 class for a year to gain my QTS.

My degree didn’t require me to teach on placement, but it did have me working as a TA full time whilst I studied. I have school experience and have taught some lessons to KS1. However, I have minimal experience with year 6 aside from 1:1 interventions.

I understand my mentor teacher will give me the information I need but I’d like to feel a bit more prepared before September.

I am most concerned about behaviour management and feel like first impressions really matter with how they’re going to treat me for the year. I am quite young so I don’t want the class feeling like they can run circles around me. I have read a lot about positive discipline and logical consequences and will be applying these methods.

I would LOVE to hear any tips and tricks from primary school teachers please. All things from planning to classroom management, what works for you?

I'm a bit bamboozled that you can do a whole degree in primary education that doesn't involve any teaching placements...

Anyway, my tips...
Make a list of positive behaviour strategies that you have seen in your time as a TA and implement them rigorously. Watch the teacher in the class and see what they use.
You are not there to be their friend, you need to be firm but fair,
Year 6s are lovely but they have also got to the stage where they don't think teachers are cool, and they roll their eyes a lot!
Make your lessons varied and interesting.
Be prepared to work REALLY hard but know that it gets easier.

Good luck!

For behaviour, I would read/listen to ‘Running the Room’ by Tom Bennett. Lots of useful advice, which I wish I’d known earlier in my career. Also blog posts by Adam Boxer- aimed at secondary but lots relevant, especially for Y6.
Top tip is to never talk while anyone else is talking. Sounds obvious but it does take confidence to just stop and wait until everyone is really listening and focused.