Articles
Articles from a selection I have written for The Times Educational Supplement
Teaching Practice
Your first visit to school
Canvassing my students shamelessly last week on things they would find useful as subjects for articles, one subject kept repeating like a bad fried breakfast: going into a new school for the first time on teaching practice - especially the long placement.
It seems that there is often a high level of anxiety associated with that moment where your sweaty palm first pushes against the school gate (or these days, the security button on the intercom). The whole experience can seem fraught with opportunities to mess things up. Transported back to your own schooldays by the smells and sounds peculiar to schools, you are desperate to make a good 'first impression' as the 'new kid'. Your head is ringing with your mother's advice about the supreme importance of a clean hankie, your tutor's advice about avoiding staffroom politics, and your fellow students' advice about being 'dynamic' (there are always, it seems, at least two or three slightly superior students who will spout forth to you on everything from 'the importance of triple mounting displays' to 'dealing with parents'. You may find yourself hoping that a particularly burly parent will soon return the favour and deal with them.) So how do you make a good impression?
- Introduce yourself politely to the secretary. She (not many male school secretaries as yet) is the gateway, in many schools, to everything and everybody. Befriend her, as she will be able to 'keep you right' with the general way in which matters of importance (such as photocopying, where to find supplies etc.) are conducted. Believe me, all schools have different systems and some have systems so complex that they seem to be bound up in arcane logic and often magic thinking.
- Try to dress in a vaguely neutral style. Err on the side of 'smart.' Although your preference out of school may be belly tops or Death Metal hoodies, teaching placement is not the best place to show your kooky fashion sense. Possibly not fair, but true.
- Call the Head teacher and class teachers by the names they offer. Learn these names as soon as possible. Calling the Head 'Mrs. Erm…?' will not impress her with your dedication. Unless you are very unlucky and the school is hideously formal, the staff will expect you to call them by their first names to their faces but by their surnames in front of the children. Try not to get it the wrong way round.
- Make sure you take notes as appropriate and collect together relevant information about the school right at the beginning, when you visit the school for your 'observation days.' Knowing something about the ethos of the school and it's systems will help you to fit in more easily once your placement begins.
- As you are introduced to people around school, a firm (but not crushing!) handshake, together with warm smile makes a much better first impression than nervously pulling your collar, or avoiding eye contact. An obvious point, but many people forget in a cloud of nerves.
- Don't be afraid to show an interest in the children if they are working, or playing in the playground. Whilst you should not interfere with a whole class session, if the children are engaged in tasks when you are shown round school, look at what they are doing. They will be keen to show you! Take your cues from the teacher in charge
- Try to relax! No one is trying to trip you up, and most schools will be doing their best to make you feel at ease. Remember to share your experiences (but try to avoid salacious gossip!) with fellow students. It will help you to remember that you are not alone!
Reproduced by kind permission of: Times Educational Supplement.
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