Why we want to teach!

By three of ATL's new teachers who are already undergoing or have completed that first important step to becoming a teacher.

“Before I started my teacher training course I sent some time brushing up on my subject knowledge and looking at the reading materials I had been given, but I didn’t have a really clear picture until I started teaching.

“I must admit that I was worried about how my first year would go and how I would perform. I’d also heard a lot about behaviour management issues in UK schools and this was also a concern. Talking to other trainees and realising we’re all in the same boat really helped with this, as did observing experienced teachers and attending seminars and weekly sessions with my mentor. 

“I’ve got plenty of memorable experiences from my teacher training. Of course, I never got the dream scenario where I walked into the classroom at the start of every lesson and all the pupils were really keen to learn and had lots of questions on the topic, but who does? I did however manage to build a good relationship with the pupils so that some of them would come and see me at lunch time or after school to help improve their work and I really enjoyed that.

“I know it’s difficult, but if I could give one piece of advice to trainee teachers now it would be to be confident, even if you don’t necessarily feel it! My experience taught me that the pupils will pick up on it and might make it harder for you if you’re not.”

Dipesh Modha completed his Graduate Teacher Programme course through Bromley College in June 2006. 

 

“I volunteered to help out in some primary and secondary schools before I started my PGCE, just to give me an opportunity to get used to the environment and spend some time talking to teachers. I was still nervous about the pupils I would be teaching though as everyone’s different and nothing can fully prepare you, but I think that’s a natural concern for every student teacher. I don’t know if you ever fully overcome that apprehension, as you go to different schools and never really know what you’ll find, but the more experience you get, the more skilled you get, so it does get better! I find that the best thing to do is always have a well thought out lesson plan and also a back up plan in case the lesson finishes quickly, or things happen which interrupt you.

"Don’t be scared to ask other teachers for their opinions and advice. It’s when you’re on placement, teaching your own classes that you really learn so you’ve got to take advantage and get as much out of it as you can.”

Carla Powell is currently doing her two year PGCE in secondary school design and technology at Sunderland University, and will qualify in 2007.

 

“The number of lesson plans I knew I would need to do and how I was going to manage my time were certainly on my mind as I started my teacher training! The help and advice from my lecturers and course tutor was invaluable in helping me learn how to deal with this though as well as other issues that popped up, like managing behaviour for instance!

“You need to be realistic if you’ve made the choice to go into teaching: it’s not going to be an easy stroll, but if you plan well and you’re organised it will really help. You’ll also find situations where you’ll need to rely on your common sense rather than theory so it’s a real challenge. I found that shadowing a teacher before my first placement was useful as it gave me an opportunity to get used to the school and to start building a rapport with the kids I’d be teaching.

“I did two placements in very different schools and I learnt a lot from both of them. Looking back, I think the students enjoyed my lessons and that’s because they were well planned.

“If I could do it again, I’d try and get more of a balance between my work and my social life, although I wouldn’t advise planning too far in advance as you’re lessons can be interrupted which means you have to re-do things.

“My advice to someone starting teacher training now is enjoy it! Without a doubt my course was a roller coaster ride, but it has more than met my expectations. It’s fantastic being recognised as a teacher and being respected for it. I can’t wait to get into the classroom as an NQT!”

Fehmida Patel completed her PGCE course in secondary Applied Health and Social Care at Durham University in June 2006.

This article was taken from the Autumn 2006 edition of ATL's student publication, Student Focus.