Teacher Training can be quite daunting. You’re going into a totally new environment, responsible for a host of students educations, without the faintest clue of what you’re doing.
Well that’s how I feel anyway.
It’s a whirlwind of emotion. Initially, you’re so pleased with yourself that you even made it onto a teacher training course. But all of a sudden you are dubious of the real requirements. Then you are excited for the prospect of making a difference and helping. That quickly passes and you’re now anxious that you’re not going to see anyone for the next two years because all you do is work.
I want to share with you a few of my considerations and expectations, as I prepare to begin my teacher training in the hope that looking back after my first year I can comment on my experiences and reflect on the year.
1. Workload & Time Management
With any job, a big factor you consider is how much work you’re going to have to do. Luckily with teaching your work provides a myriad of positive reasons for you to do it – and I’m sure I don’t have to explain them to you. Yet, it’s still a job and although we don’t want a different one, we also wouldn’t mind sipping and ice cold beverage on the beach.
You hear teachers moan I’m sure, that they work from the crack of dawn long until after the sun has set: marking or planning or report writing. Going into this, I am going to set myself the same boundaries (to an extent) that I set for myself at uni. During the day, between the hours of 8 and 5 (or however long is outlined) I will work and I will work hard. And when I leave at 5, I will leave everything until tomorrow and go and enjoy my evening.
Work load can be managed with good time management. I think we can often get into a perfectionist mind set, but I personally prefer a priority mind set. What needs to get done versus what can I leave for a little bit?
A good example would be, getting my lessons planned or making my classroom look good? For sure, it can be important, but it’s not a priority.
I’m in no doubt that I’m going to be busier than I’ve ever been – but I’m sure that organisation and time management are going to the two most vital skills to getting through this year.
2. Behaviour Management
I think every trainee teacher is nervous about behaviour management. There are so many variables and social queues to pick up on all while teaching a lesson. Behaviour management is an art form let me tell you that and it’s definitely something you can get better at and teach yourself.
I wonder about the kind of teacher I will be. As a TA, I often surprised myself by how patient and forgiving I was. On the other hand, I know that consistently firm and fair is always the best approach to behaviour management.
One thing I’m sure won’t work is trying to wing it. I am lucky to have had a years experience observing in school that taught me good techniques on behaviour management. But I recommend you equip yourself with strategies and plans to combat adverse behaviour in the classroom; then you can test them out and find what works for you.
If you want a few bits of inspiration check out my reading list here.
3. Balancing my Personal & Professional life
This links again into time management. When you’re a student, or as a TA I had a lot of free time floating about and I didn’t have to be as organised or structured as I imagine I will have to be throughout the next two years. I’ll soon have a full time job and a university course to manage on top of everything I was doing before.
Life is all about time and maybe I’m anxious that I’ll end up with no time to do a lot of the things I’ve really enjoyed doing. I quite like being free, and any restriction to that freedom can irk me. Trust me, a big consideration in deciding to apply to be a teacher was whether I could stick to school holidays.
I digress, anyway, to combat this, I am going to try and use a little trick I learnt as a revision presenter on managing your time. This works as a timetable/ schedule. First, you fill out all of your non negotiable events so, work, uni days, any classes that are time specific. Then you add in all the things you want to do, maybe you have a night out with friends on a Thursday or you go to the gym every morning you put that in next. Then you look at all the free space and you use those areas for extra study, or uni work, or catching up on planning. This enables you to have all the things you want to do mixed with all the things you have to do.
4. Impact
One of the main reason I liked Teach First is because it has an impact. It enables you to make a positive difference in the lives of your students. I spend a lot of time considering things I could do to make the world a better place, and luckily I will have an opportunity to start adding my little bit of impact into the world. Teach First found the gap in our education system and created a solution to fix it. I want to model myself on that, if I see a problem I want to find a solution to fix it.
Even at 24, I’ve considered legacy. What do I want to be known for? Taking this consideration into my teaching, what would I want my students to say about me? Did I impact their life? Was I kind and generous? Was I there for them? Did I inspire them? I would like to be spoken of highly and therefore my behaviour and conduct must reflect this desire.
I would like to look back on my year, and I would like to have begun my legacy.
5. Boredom
One of the things I love about the school setting is that no day is the same, and no day is boring. As a person, I may have been known for getting bored easily. I have quite an active mind and I like to be challenged.
I expect that I will be challenged daily, whether by a difficult student or by my lack of organisational skill. I’m sure that I will need to to adapt and overcome each difficulty all while balancing university, teaching and my personal life.
6. Self-Development and Personal Growth
I love to learn. It took me a while to find that passion, and I wish I had found it a bit earlier. But, I love knowing things. I also love applying that knowledge to myself.
I expect that this year, I am going to change massively as a person. That I’m going to become more knowledgeable, more aware of social issues, I’m going to become a better teacher and leader. I’m going to become a better communicator. I’m going to become more patient, generous and a better problem solver.
I will be forced to reflect on my actions in detail and change that which I’m doing wrong. I will be challenged to be the best version of myself everyday. I’m so interested to see who I have become after this year – and I know it will be for the better.
7. Frustration & Exhaustion
I have no doubts that this will be a difficult year. I expect that I will be at points extremely frustrated and extremely exhausted. Everyone has those days that just bring you to breaking point. The good thing about being brought to breaking point is that each time we stand on the edge we have an opportunity to grow stronger and more resilient.
But I have no doubt, we will come home frustrated and fall asleep after dinner. Therefore it will be essential to make sure that you’re prioritising things that allow you to recharge and relax. If you’ve had an awful day, there’s nothing wrong with getting a take out and venting to someone. I know that, I will aim to travel this year, I love to travel and it completely refreshes my mind and spirit. Make time for what make you happy.
8. Meet some great people
I love finding like minded people, I don’t always find them often and sometimes people disappoint you. Working in a school, you often find yourself surrounded by people like yourself. People who want to help, who will go the extra mile, that are fun and positive and encouraging.
I hope that I meet some people I’ll call friend and that work will be made all the more pleasurable because I get to do it with them. There’s something about having people around you who understand what you’re going through, support you and are there for you that makes the tough times easier and the good times sweeter. I expect I will meet some great people this year.
These are just a few of my considerations for the upcoming year. Let me know in the comments what you’re thinking about! I’d love to hear them.
Recent Comments