Lauren Gaisford
My PGCE has been a tough but exciting year. It’s affirmed and re-affirmed my faith in the profession and my career path, it’s taught me to be patient and made me see that I can learn so much from others, but most importantly, it’s taught me that every single teacher is different.
Embarking on your journey from trainee to NQT is difficult, it’s a tough year that no one can really prepare you for. However, here are six tips that should help you along the way:
1. Ask for help
The most important piece of advice I can give is to ask for help. Seriously, I know it seems simple, but it’s hard to do. Whether it’s asking for resources, asking for advice on lesson plans, or just needing someone to rant to, you must ask for help. No one is expecting you to be perfect, so use the people around you!
2. Use the resources that are already there
When you first start teaching classes, it can be hard to know where to start, it might even seem like you’ll have to re-invent the wheel - you don’t. Chances are, the school you are placed at will already have a set of resources for the topic you are teaching, use them! Even if it’s just as a starting point, or to see the progression of the topic through the term, it will help!
3. Take time for yourself
This one is hard to do, especially in the months where the work is getting on top of you. But you must save time for yourself. Yes, there will be days where this seems impossible, especially in the week, but try and spend a day or even just half a day at the weekend doing something for you. Get enough sleep and don’t stay up all night working – it will do more harm than good.
4. Don’t worry
Do not spend time worrying. It can feel like the worst thing in the world when a lesson goes wrong or you just have a bad day in general, but the best thing you can do is draw a line under it and move on, this year is a learning curve after all!
Do not spend time worrying. It can feel like the worst thing in the world when a lesson goes wrong or you just have a bad day in general, but the best thing you can do is draw a line under it and move on, this year is a learning curve after all!
5. Start your folder as soon as possible
Don’t leave it until the last minute! As soon as you get your first piece of evidence, file it somewhere safe, put it in your folder and compile your evidence as you go along, trust me, your future self will thank you when its hand in time.
6. Enjoy it!
Make jokes, have a laugh with the children you teach, don’t take yourself too seriously and try to stay positive. It can be tough at times, but try to think about the positives of every day at school, instead of focussing on the negatives!
Make jokes, have a laugh with the children you teach, don’t take yourself too seriously and try to stay positive. It can be tough at times, but try to think about the positives of every day at school, instead of focussing on the negatives!
Lauren