An honest take on teaching so far.
Hello friends,
It’s been 6 months since I started my teacher training, and 18 months since I quit my job. So, with the February sun peeking through it’s a natural time to pause and reflect.
When I embarked on this journey there was one grounding principle I had in mind, which is to be immersed in the world of education. I’m the type of person who typically has 30 different chrome tabs open at any given time, so it was initially a challenge for me to focus solely on becoming a great teacher.
However, I’m proud to say I’ve done that (probably the first time ever).
Here are some honest thoughts on teaching so far, written in my journal this morning.
Things I absolutely love 💙
The classroom atmosphere is electric.
That feeling when they “get it”.
Getting critical feedback from experienced teachers on how I can improve my teaching.
Developing rapport with the students and learning about how Gen-Z really think (beyond the stereotypes).
Every minute counts, there is no time for slacking off.
Things I’ve changed my mind about ⏪
As a teacher, sometimes I just need to shut up.
Often, the most effective “technology” is the simplest and cheapest. I now use mini-whiteboards (each pupil has one) in most lessons at some point. It’s fun, allows me to assess where everybody is at, and accessible.
Schools have moved on from the “Victorian age”. It was all too easy to project my experience of school and assume that things are still the same. From what I’ve seen there are countless examples of things used daily that simply did not exist 10 years ago. Whether that be software (Geogebra, Google Suite), hardware (VR headsets, iPads), AI (CenturyAI), psychology (“growth mindset”) or even in terms of how teachers teach (the latest neuroscience of learning e.g. cognitive load theory etc.)
Project based learning isn’t always the most effective way to teach, especially for underachieving pupils. Whilst it’s poetic to imagine teenagers running off and doing a “real world project”, without strong guidance and knowledge there is a strong tendency for them to do and learn nothing that way.
The not so great 🙅🏾
You can’t rely on pupils to ever remember their username and passwords!
Online teaching sucks. Especially downloading 30 .jpegs, marking them, and then uploading your annotated comments.
Zoom fatigue (I guess we’re all in this one together?)
£3.50 flat white’s vs. instant coffee from the staff room
Feeling like you haven’t done enough, even when you’ve given your all.
Things I miss about my old life 🏦
Honestly, I often think it would be so much easier to have remained part of the “1% club” that has a finance gig, not having to commute, exercising when you couldn’t previously, earning a nice pay-check and finding a better work/life balance.
However, I know that same feeling would have remained of, “surely there has to be more to it than this?
I miss having deep macro conversations about current affairs, economics and thematic investing.
Pret’s cheese and tomato croissant in the morning.
The best bit 🙌🏽
I love what I do, I finally feel like I can truly express myself, and I’m getting better at my craft each day.
So, on a lighter note… happy Friday!
I’m currently doing my PGCE at Oxford University and working at a nearby secondary school, teaching Mathematics. I comment on themes from Education & Learning, and how they might benefit you, and the next generation.
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