As the saying goes, preparation is everything. Whether you are new to
teaching and beginning your first placement or an old hand moving to a new
school environment, it’s natural to feel nervous. As each school is different,
it can be incredibly daunting to think about all the new people and procedures
you'll be unfamiliar with, so it’s a good idea to make sure that you have every
aspect of your day planned out well in advance.
Aside from good lesson plans, there are many things you can do to help you
prepare for not only your new environment, but also for those early days of
employment where you'll be unsure of how the school runs - so here's a
checklist of what you can do to make your day - and teaching life - run more
smoothly.
First of all, ensure that you are clear on the school’s official policies and
procedures before you begin your new position. Not only is it good for you to
know these items, but chances are the school will expect you to know - and if
it doesn't, it will be impressed that you do.
Plan lessons well in advance and have plenty of resources ready to use. Always
make sure that you have a plan B, just in case - there's nothing worse than
relying on something only to have it pulled away when you discover a subject is
too advanced, too facile, or has been covered already.
Make sure that you are given a timetable of the day and you know when breaks
and lunch are to be taken. This will contribute to your day's planning and
ensure that lessons aren't interrupted by breaks.
Familiarise yourself with the department and physical layout of the school. If
possible, meet your head of department and colleagues. It'll be good to see a
friendly face during those early days and peer support is crucial to your
development in your new job.
Find out what the protocol is on basic admin tasks such as photocopying. It
might sound simple, but schools have different policies on these issues and you
don’t want to photocopy 500 sheets of paper only to be told that you have an allocation
of 200.
Once you are in the classroom, try to maintain order as quickly as possible by
learning pupils’ names quickly and creating a seating plan. Ensure that you are
consistent in your communication, discipline and attitude and always keep your
cool with pupils - even if you’re peddling like mad underneath your calm
exterior! Remember, the pupils will likely be as anxious about meeting their
new teacher as you are about meeting them!
In the long term, it can be a good idea to commit to personal and professional
development programmes. Getting involved with extra-curricular activities, such
as sports and after-school clubs is also a good way of making your presence
noticed and making friends with your fellow teachers. Not only will this help boost
confidence, it looks great on your CV too.
Your first forays into new teaching jobs – either as a newcomer or an experienced hand
- are exciting, nerve-wracking periods; but they can be made easier! Just
remember: preparation is everything - so make some notes, learn some protocols
and then just enjoy getting to know your new pupils and co-workers.
About the Author: Isla Campbell writes for a digital
marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said
agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered
professional content.
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