Teacher professionalism and peer relationships: Handling frustration constructively

One aspect of teacher training that often takes ITT students by surprise is the degree to which they need to learn to work alongside their teaching colleagues. Beginning teachers expect that there will be emotional labour involved in teaching pupils, but they rarely think about what it will look like to navigate professional relationships with … Continue reading Teacher professionalism and peer relationships: Handling frustration constructively →

Teaching interview mistakes: Avoiding generic answers

Photo by Ann H on Pexels.com It is that time of year again. You can feel the nervous energy of jobs season approaching, as our beginning teachers start to look beyond the safety of their placement schools and towards their first permanent posts. Previously, I’ve spoken about the ‘Krypton Factor’ nature of modern teaching interviews. … Continue reading Teaching interview mistakes: Avoiding generic answers →

Settling into a teaching practice placement – it’s a bit like staying at your Auntie’s house.

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. →

Getting email right: Learning to communicate professionally with colleagues in school

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 →

What New Teachers Should Know About Professionalism: It’s about more than your shoes.

Photo by Lukas on Pexels.com Most beginning teachers are very concerned about what they should wear on their first day at their school placement. Do they need a tie? Are these shoes (imagine a comfy formal shoe with echoes of trainer) ok? Do tattoos need to be covered, and piercings removed? Why is this one … Continue reading What New Teachers Should Know About Professionalism: It’s about more than your shoes. →