NQTS NQTS
Secrets to success
SecEd readers followed Kate Drysdale’s first year as a Devon PE teacher closely when she wrote our
weekly NQT diary last academic year. Now she is reaching the end of her second year. As the eyes of
this year’s NQT cohort turn to September, she offers her 10 commandments for excelling during your
second year of teaching
remember thIs time last year fairly well. about from one lesson to the next. there was not the in your students. If you have taught the same lesson Just because you have completed your official training
I
Final observations just about out of the way, time to stop and think as much. to three different classes, the same as last year, your does not mean you now need to go it alone – and nor
bits of paperwork being signed off by the being able to organise your time was at the top complacency may push out your enthusiasm. will you be expected to.
relevant personnel, and those final reflections of the list for one of my old university housemates. shared practice is invaluable and taking 10, 20 or 60
being done. Is it a relief when it is all done? Knowing you have less planning, preparation and
Do not rest on your laurels
minutes of your PPA time to observe can save you time
I am not really sure to be honest; because I assessment (PPA) time means you need to use the PPA similar to the last “commandment”, do not sit back and in the long run – and you will probably learn something
guess (depending on who you are) it is never time you have as effectively as possible. think you are done, never to be observed again. For one and maybe save yourself a headache later on.
really in doubt. Put in place as much as you can for the couple of thing, performance management will be essential in
however, knowing you have moved on from being weeks, week, or even a couple of days ahead, rather than your second year, so you will have someone observing
Keep your enthusiasm
a Not Quite there and have completed that last bit of find you are teaching in five minutes and you have not you on at least one occasion. I would bet that most people can remember a teacher
your training is pretty sweet. got photocopies of your resources or have not booked remember, they are not there to judge and criticise at school who lacked any enthusiasm to be there. I
then that raises the question of whether your the video equipment. Organise to save yourself stress. – you were hired for a reason. Also remember that you remember my religious studies teacher being sat at his
training ever really stops. Not wanting to rain on are still learning so take advantage of their experience desk staring into space while we were copying from the
anyone’s parade, but I guess it doesn’t.
Keep reflecting
and learn from them and their observations. they want board. I am convinced this man fell asleep on more than
You will always be learning as a teacher and, not It is very easy to meander along and not reflect a great to help you progress, not hinder you by criticising you one occasion. his eyes were definitely closed!
only that, going into your second year of teaching, you deal on what you have just done. negatively. Did we enjoy his lessons? Not much. Apart from
might find you learn more about yourself than you did You do not have to evidence your standards so the process can also help you shape your goals for the fact that we could pass notes around without him
as an NQt. rigorously and you do not have to file and sign to show the next year, and encourage you to think about your noticing. Or perhaps he did notice but just did not really
Nearing the end of my second year, I have been you have done it. however, as I am sure we all know, ambitions, which leads nicely onto the next point... care…
asked by SecEd what advice I would offer current reflection is a way for us to progress. the point is, I remember this man for all the
NQts. As much as I wish I could impart my pearls of If something did not work as well as you thought it
Where are you going now?
wrong reasons. surely it is better to be remembered
wisdom knowing they applied to everyone out there, would, why didn’t it? Yes, it could be because they are It is important to think about where you want your road as an enthused member of staff who is motivated in
I can’t. It is different for everyone. however, what I their subject and wants to impart knowledge on their
can do is “call it like I see it” and share with you the students. that is a better legacy to have – if you have
thoughts of some of the people I trained with.
therefore, here are my 10 commandments of second
year teaching.
Getting to know your students
‘
You will always be learning as a teacher
not got enthusiasm, what have you got?
Work/life balance!
and, not only that, going into your second year
the balance is important. most NQts I know spent
much of their time working out of school in preparation
One of the biggest challenges you face when starting
of teaching, you might find you learn more about
for their lessons. Fair enough, it needs to be done, but
a job for the first time is getting to know staff and there is such a thing as overdoing it.
students. If you are staying on at the same school where
you have done your NQt year, this will be easier for
yourself than you did as an NQT
I know someone who would plan their lessons in
rough before writing it up neatly, and then they would
you because that foundation has been laid. type it up as well. that is a lot of time dedicated to
Last year, I found my most difficult year group to one lesson! Granted, this is an extreme case – but it
teach was year 9. No surprise there then, being as I one of the most challenging classes in the school, but to take you. this could be consolidating your role as happens.
remember when I was at school that year 9 was the equally, it could be that something went amiss on your a pastoral tutor; maybe you want to take charge of a make sure you have relaxation time. Use your
worst year group then too. part that you can rectify/alter next time. particular area of the department;
’
perhaps you want to weekends for you. I will not do any work (unless it is
they are at that awkward age when the moody If a lesson goes really well, think about what made it think about preparations for your first promotion and a absolutely, 100 per cent, vital) until sunday evening
“Kevin angst” is setting in and hormones are starting so good. maybe this can be applied to other lessons, or middle management course or an exam syllabus INset and this works for me. Find a way that allows you to
to fly around everywhere, and the “bitchiness” among perhaps you could alter it to make it better still. reflect is needed. relax and recharge. Work to live, not live to work.
the girls is at its worst ever. It can be a challenge on yourself and be honest. You can be your own critic Whatever your ambitions are, take hold of them
– especially when you do not know them. – but remember to acknowledge the good stuff too. and go out and get them. Use the aforementioned
Enjoy it
this year, I have found it so much easier with that performance management as a platform for this. Your I assume all teachers out there chose this profession
age group because I have known them and taught most
Do not be complacent
school should support you if it is able. sometimes you because, in part, they figured it was something they
of them. they know me because I have been around for New year, potentially new classes, but possibly the need to ask, and so... would enjoy. We all get lessons where we come out
a year, so it makes it easier for them too. but that does same syllabus. You could regurgitate old learning wanting to pull our hair out, but we also get lessons
not mean the effort stops. You should apply the same material constantly but would you not get bored?
Do not be afraid to ask!
where we feel pretty inspired by it all.
amount of effort because getting to know your students You definitely should not create work for yourself You are still new to this profession. there are plenty of If you are not enjoying it and find yourself very
and maintaining that effort pays dividends. though, and there is no point in re-inventing things, things you can teach or share with others, but there is reluctant to extract yourself from bed each morning, then
however, you should now have a foundation to work on equally much you can learn too. Do try and continue something has gone awry and you need to figure out
Organise your time
and a bank of ideas, so maybe modify these – change a observations of other staff. everyone I have asked for what. Work hard but have fun while doing it. Good luck!
It shocked me at the start of the year just how much of few things. Add a bit here or take away a bit there. advice when writing this cited this as essential.
a difference that extra NQt 10 per cent off timetable Complacency can restrict development and it can Get into lessons and watch others teach. Ask their • Kate Drysdale is coming to the end of her second
made. I am sure it was in combination with just coming encourage boredom. maintaining motivation is essential advice on a class, a technique, or a whole module. see year as a teacher of PE at South Dartmoor Community
back from six weeks off, but I did feel like I was rushing in this profession as you want to instil this motivation how they deliver it and transfer it to your own practice. College in Devon.
SecEd • June 25 2009 17
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