Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.com Saima’s teaching practice placement is well underway, and she is getting used to the pattern of her teaching week and her regular mentor meetings. Things have been going pretty well, but she is gathering rather a formidable list of targets, including: "Improve classroom management around transition points." "Develop subject … Continue reading Setting granular targets for beginning teachers
Photo by Karola G on Pexels.com Crooks, V., London, L., & Snelson, H. (2025). “An incentive for innovation”: the impact of being a subject-specific secondary ITE mentor within an HEI partnership on the professional learning of teacher mentors. Professional Development in Education, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2025.2580324 This paper used a case study approach across three Higher Education Institution … Continue reading “An incentive for innovation”: the impact of being a subject-specific secondary ITE mentor on the professional learning of teacher mentors
Photo by Nicole Michalou on Pexels.com Nothing quite prepares you for the feeling of being in, but not of, the school where you on Teaching Practice Placement. But for the majority of beginning teachers this is the reality. So many aspects of the placement school are familiar, but you have entered a new ecosystem with … Continue reading Settling into a teaching practice placement – it’s a bit like staying at your Auntie’s house.
Photo by Los Muertos Crew on Pexels.com Mentor meetings are the cornerstone of support for beginning teachers, shaping their early experiences and helping them make sense of both the theory behind teaching and the realities of working in schools. When done well, these meetings offer a vital bridge between what new teachers learn in their … Continue reading Unlocking the Power of Mentor Meetings for ITT Beginning Teachers
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com In recent years, the proliferation of initial Teacher Training (ITT) routes has made the landscape baffling for the uninitiated. I am often approached by people who are pondering training to be a teacher but are not quite sure which ITT route will be best for them to pursue. I’ve written … Continue reading Get into teaching: Selecting the teacher training course that is right for you
Every school has its own culture, ways of being and patterns of interaction and communication. I learnt this sage lesson when starting a new post in my second school. I entered the profession in an age of scribbled notes or printed memos left in pigeon holes to be collected and responded to at the recipient's … Continue reading Getting email right: Learning to communicate professionally with colleagues in school
Photo by Gratisography on Pexels.com “Great teachers are born, not made” is one of the great myths of teacher training. Unfortunately, it is also a myth which makes its way into the subconscious of prospective teachers. As we prepare to begin a new academic year in initial teacher education, I know there are soon-to-be beginning … Continue reading You Don’t Have to Be a Natural: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Teaching
Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com During the past two years I’ve been on a rapid learning curve in my role as a basketball mum. I am still learning the rules of the game so this week, as I found myself watching a professional league basketball match, I was still having to seek clarification about … Continue reading Sensing a change in the weather: The importance of reading the room to pre-empt behaviour
Photo by saeed basseri on Pexels.com Back in March, British tennis player Jack Draper secured his first Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells, the biggest title of his career; securing a Grand Slam title now seems likely. I’m not an avid tennis fan but my ears pricked up when I heard Annabel Croft's radio analysis … Continue reading Serving Up Success: Helping beginning teachers to embrace change and growth
Becoming a History Teacher 