You need to take on more responsibilities as a form tutor, but it’s an incredibly rewarding role. If you’re keen to develop your skills in this position, then here are some top tips:
Don’t be a typical teacher
Take on a more active role with the students in your form group, and interact with them differently to how you would with students you teach.
We need more teachers, and we must work to keep those who have already signed on in the fold. This isn’t an opinion, it’s a fact as unions have informed that the number of losses in teaching is quickly becoming unmanageable. It is important to take action, investing in the future of our teachers and developing their careers. Currently, there is very little being done in this area.
Working as a teacher, you might think that you’re the only one who hates the GCSE study preparation period, but we’re here to tell you that you’re not alone. While students look forward to a time with no lessons, they quickly realise how boring studying for GCSEs can be. Particularly if there is no class structure.
It’s fair to say that education is in a constant state of flux. All governments make promises about making changes, then make more changes when they realise things aren’t quite going to plan, and the cycle continues like this for evermore. It’s also fair to say that if these sweeping changes and trends had a positive impact, we would all welcome them with open arms. But are they successful? Let’s take a look at the most common educational trends and look a little closer at their effectiveness.
Exams are a source of constant debate among educators, policymakers, and parents. Recently, ministers revealed plans to introduce testing for 4-year-olds in England. The baseline assessments have been widely criticised, but how do you feel about the proposed move? When is the best time to start exams, and is there a right answer to this question?
If you’re a parent, you probably have an opinion when it comes to your child’s homework. Do you feel that they have too much work to do or has the amount of work children bring home decreased over the course of time? How much homework is too much, and is there ever a way of answering this question that satisfies every parent and educator?
Ever get the feeling that the grass is greener at another school? It’s a thought that will have gone through the mind of almost every teacher. However, not everyone acts on this impulse.
But if you are serious about leaving your current position in search of something better, it helps to have a clear idea of what you want, especially in terms of culture and career prospects.
Teaching in the 21st century has been heavily dominated by technology. From digital eLearning tools to student created media, the classroom experience is benefitting from the latest and greatest trends in a number of ways.
But does artificial intelligence (AI) pose a threat to teachers? It’s already having an increasing influence in daily life with smartphone personal assistants and self-driving cars. So, whose to say it won’t be commonplace in schools and colleges in the years to come?
According to the National Autistic Society (NAS), around 700,000 people in the UK are on the autism spectrum. This means that along with their families, nearly three million people are affected by autism in daily life.
But while some young people with autism need a highly-specialised education, others can follow a more mainstream path and attend school alongside every other pupil.
It goes without saying that preparation is key to being a great teacher. With lesson plans and homework schedules in place, you can rest easy that students will benefit from an enjoyable and effective learning experience throughout the year.
But is it also your responsibility to prepare pupils for the next stage of school life? Their main priority will probably be the summer holidays and escaping the classroom for half a dozen glorious weeks.