Teaching

[Amplesamples]

For your first lesson with each class, prepare reasonably straightforward work in great quantities. This keeps the class busy, leaving you space to concentrate on managing behaviour. Make seating plans, memorise names, establish what your expectations are...

As for what you should be doing now...Make you sure that how you are going to approach teaching the first few concepts of the term (you're Maths, right?) is _very_ clear in your own mind as there will be pupils who will be keen to test your ability to think on your feet. Prepare a stock of games/puzzles that can be used lesson after lesson - it's good to establish a routine early, especially if the routine involves fun stuff.

If the teaching is solid and the pupils feel that they are progressing, then you're winning, as word soon gets round to other pupils, teachers and parents.

This is all great advice.

You should have access to SOWs so you know what exactly you're going to be teaching. I'm starting at a new school later this week, and I'll be going in to make sure I'm aware of where stuff is (resources, things on school network etc) to make sure that nothing takes me by surprise too much next week.

For the first lesson, introduce yourself formally, make sure you have seating plans, establish classroom rules (I always get pupils to write them down), and ask pupils why the rules are important. Year 7s in particular will be great at this, and it gives the students a sense of ownership over classroom behaviour, which ultimately they are responsible for (although it's up to you establish the atmosphere as far as teaching and learning goes).

Have a positive behaviour management plan that ties in with what the school does ( ie merits) and set that out on the first day too. So if a pupil does particuarly well you can phone home, send a 'Good News' postcard or whatever. Stick to this religiously, and many of the kids will be on your side right from the start too.

 

[don_quixote]

thanks for the advice guys.

unfortunately i don't have any year 7's as i'm starting at a school that is year 10+, but at least that cuts out the dreaded year 9.

 

[mixed_biscuits]

Oh yeah, make sure that everything is shipshape for your induction - that your induction tutor is dependable and personable, that time for meetings is set aside and that you're getting your extra time for prep. Also make sure you've joined a union, as they can be useful in case of disaster (supposedly).

 

[luka]

you're grammer is pretty patchy craner....





(yeah it was deliberate.)

 

[craner]

I hope your jokeing.

 

[Mr. Tea]

you're grammer is pretty patchy craner....

Let's leave Ollie's relatives out of this, eh?

 

[Dusty]

I'm considering getting into teaching secondary ICT, and this thread has been a great source of hands-on info. It is hard to find brutally honest and detailed opinions like this on teaching elsewhere on the web.

I'm going to visit a local school in a few weeks to meet with the head of ICT, see if I can sit in on some lessons. I feel like 30 is a good age to make a career switch, and that I'm now confident and stubborn enough to handle a room full of teenagers.

 

[matt b]

I'm considering getting into teaching secondary ICT, and this thread has been a great source of hands-on info. It is hard to find brutally honest and detailed opinions like this on teaching elsewhere on the web.

I'm going to visit a local school in a few weeks to meet with the head of ICT, see if I can sit in on some lessons. I feel like 30 is a good age to make a career switch, and that I'm now confident and stubborn enough to handle a room full of teenagers.

Ah, the joys of teaching ICT.

'Ok, log on. Now follow the worksheet. Any problems let me know.

Have you tried turning the computer off and then on again?'



In general ICT teachers hate teaching more than all other teachers put together.


Any specific help/hints/tips, let me know.

I'm not back at work until tuesday, when I will be contending with post Notting Hill comedown. Joy.

 

[don_quixote]

on the other hand with the tools you get as a teacher now in computer rooms it looks a lot easier teaching ict nowadays than it did when i was at school. all we did was play this game all lessons. until we did some programming and i wrote everyone a penalty shootout game :slanted:

 

[Sick Boy]

If I learned anything about effective teaching from being a student it is this: crush the badly behaved into deference, and the rest will follow.

If you don't get the respect of these fuckers, the most you are going to get from anyone else is sympathy.

 

[padraig (u.s.)]

article worth reading re: teaching in the New Yorker, esp. as far as balancing the rights/needs of teachers & students:

Steven Brill - The Rubber Room

tbc I am generally a big fan of both teachers & unions, as well as, specifically, teachers' unions, but some of the stuff in there - & it may be just be unique to NYC - is just ridiculous.

 

[Dusty]

Ok, log on. Now follow the worksheet. Any problems let me know.

Have you tried turning the computer off and then on again?'

Easy money

It was either ICT or English, but after 9 years of web/graphic design and 3D modelling I felt like I could yammer on all day to kids about various ICT topics, whereas I've forgotten most of my English degree.

Plus from what other friends in teaching tell me, there is a demand for ICT teachers. After the stress of battling for work as a freelance designer actually being wanted would be a novel experience.

 

[don_quixote]

kids get back tomorrow. BUT: this feels so much better than pgce.

 

[craner]

I am digesting a lot of educational waffle that could all boil down to, "sit down, shut up, open your books." There are some cute girls on my course, though.

 

[craner]

Ahem, I am acquiring the correct attitude, fear not.

 

[mixed_biscuits]

Just make sure that you are replenishing the psychic resources that you are spending on assuming the right attitude.

 

[jenks]

I am digesting a lot of educational waffle that could all boil down to, "sit down, shut up, open your books." There are some cute girls on my course, though.

When I look round the staffroom I wonder - where did those cute girls go?

 

[don_quixote]

it's suprising how quickly the textbook comes out when youre planning 20 lessons a week rather than 10.

 

[craner]

Oh, I know. Just being glib. Actually, I'm very impressed with the teaching so far.

 

[don_quixote]

ok my main bit of advice once you get on placement, negotiate how youre going to manage things with the usual teacher right at the start because if youre constantly trying to second guess them it's fucking shit. especially if you're with a tyrant.