I survived! I know you were all thinking the same thing: “Am I going to make it through the first whole week as a real teacher?”
Well, we did. I have to say that I don’t think I have ever had a week fly by that fast before and by the Friday I was exhausted and more than ready for the weekend, which mainly consisted of sofa and trashy television. Maybe with a little bit of work thrown in (I suppose).
As I write this, reflecting on my first full week as an NQT, I can honestly say it was a real mix of emotions. I started the week extremely nervous (as I have previously mentioned). However, once the first lesson had finished, all those nerves went away.
On the whole, all of my groups are really nice. Although I have been told that this is the typical September “honeymoon period” before most students begin to show their true colours.
One of those students appears to have already gotten over the “honeymoon period” and has already reared their head in a lesson.
This was this student’s first ever lesson in chemistry at this school. I have to say their behaviour and general attitude towards both myself and the school took me back a little.
However, following my three rules – as set out in last week’s diary entry – for behaviour management and initial impressions, I decided to reroute the pupil and I am so glad that I did.
This week, the same student is almost unrecognisable. The behaviour in this week’s lesson was almost angelic compared to last week.
I really do think that having a high expectation from day one will work for anyone in the long-run. I know it’s cliché to say “don’t smile ‘til Christmas” – and that not everyone agrees with this idea – but, it’s always easier to command respect and authority at the start of the year instead of trying to gain it halfway in.
This week we have had our first faculty meeting and the main words on everybody’s lips at the moment is “Open Evening”. It turns out that recovering the boards in my room has been noticed and I have been asked if the chemistry department can use my room for the evening!
I think I went to the faculty meeting a bit unprepared. However, with this hindsight, I am beginning to formulate a few important approaches to meetings and general admin...
First, always take sticky notes with you wherever you go in school. I use these on a daily basis to make notes of anything to follow up – detentions or behaviour logs that need putting on the school system, for example. At the moment sticky notes are my filing system for things that need following up either at the start or end of the day. You can never have too many!
Second, take a notepad to any meetings that you have. Sometimes the meeting might not seem like it is targeted at you, but trying to use your knee as a clipboard is never easy.
And even if it is a note about a date in the distant future that you need to remember, if you always use the same notepad, you are always going to know where to find the info.
Finally, put your timetable, meetings, appointment and anything school-related into your email calendar. I know it seems silly once you have learnt your timetable, but it doesn’t hurt to have a reminder pop up on that Thursday afternoon when you sit down for your free period without realising that you are on cover or have an NQT meeting.
- SecEd’s NQT diarist this year is a teacher of science from a school in the Midlands.