Your first teaching placement is an unrivalled learning journey, and will completely change your university experience. Lectures and seminars at university will educate you on theory and teaching strategies, but there is no bigger learning experience than your first teaching placement.
Teaching placements: How to prepare
Here are eight things I wish I’d known before starting mine.
1. Teaching is a lifestyle, not just a job
You’ll never start bang on 9am or sign off for the evening at 5pm. You’ll spend your Saturdays collecting random objects for activities, and you’ll never pop into B&M again without filling a basket with glue sticks and craft supplies. “Switching off” from work will require a conscious effort, and you’ll rarely be able to go to a shop or restaurant nearby without hearing “Miss, Miss!”
2. It will take time to master a work-life balance
On your first placement, it’s hard to know when to stop working and spend time doing something non-school or university-related. But the more placements you do, the easier it becomes to establish a healthy routine and lifestyle.
Make sure to keep one evening free each week to enjoy an activity that’s just for you.
3. You’re not going to have the same university experience as everyone else
Whilst you’re on placement, you’re not going to be out clubbing on weeknights, playing sports matches all weekend or having lie-ins until 2pm. You probably couldn’t even think of anything worse than having a hangover!
Of course, it’s important to take breaks and still enjoy life when you’re teaching, but you’re just not going to have the same priorities and goals as the other first-year students.
4. You have to make mistakes to learn
It’s something we are always told in school, but hate to acknowledge. Nobody likes making mistakes, especially in front of those who are assessing us. However, if you don’t take risks and try out new things, then you are wasting your creativity and enthusiasm by staying within your comfort zone.
Schools love students who have enthusiasm and a willingness to try anything. Trying out new things will not only show you what you’re capable of but also showcase your ideas to your mentors. The best kind of feedback you can get from a mentor is when they tell you that they want to teach an activity they saw you teach.
5. Be open-minded
Don’t go into your placement assuming you know what age group you want to teach, or in what type of school. Empty out all the preconceptions in your head before going into school.
If you start with the attitude of “I don’t want to teach nursery”, then you’re going to find it much more difficult to motivate yourself and enjoy teaching that class.
6. You are a performer, and the classroom is your stage
Growing up, I used to want to be an actress. Now, when I’m teaching, I can actually be one. Especially when teaching early years, you will constantly find yourself singing, dancing, and storytelling.
Seeing your teaching as a live performance will help you to capture the attention of the children and inspire their learning, and it’s also a lot of fun to do.
7. Your TA is your best resource
If you’re lucky enough to have a teaching assistant working with you in your class, then appreciate them and thank them every day. A TA can bring years of experience and knowledge, and will teach you just as much as your mentor and the children will.
Your TA will also be on hand to support you while you’re teaching, so make sure you’ve briefed them on what your lesson is and what you’d like them to do.
8. Value your mentor
Your mentor will be your teacher, colleague, assessor and (hopefully!) friend. Above all, they want you to do well. Don’t forget that they have also once been in your shoes as a trainee, so they know exactly how it feels.
Sometimes it may seem like they’re being hard on you with their feedback, but they only want you to improve and succeed as a teacher. You need to earn the trust of your mentor and prove that you are organised and ready to teach, by completing your planning on time and showing them everything you are going to do.
In return for all the guidance and support they give you, doing little things for your mentor like making them a brew, or covering their break duty will show them your gratitude.
Caroline Cartmill is a trainee primary teacher at Bangor University in Wales
