After a long day at school, teachers will often find their last class of the day largely not engaged in learning or paying any attention at all, which can be a very frustrating experience, both for them and for the students who are willing to learn. Keeping them engaged therefore becomes of paramount importance.
Doing this is more easily said than done, with many of the techniques which teachers tend to rely upon in a normal class failing when there are so many students not prepared to do anything at once. One of the best ways to do it is to make sure that you time your intervention correctly; the earlier the better. A lack of attention to the subject at hand is often contagious, so tackling the issue when it is just one or two students can stop the spread, so to speak.
When you’re a new teacher, nerves can get the better of you, but it’s important to make sure you start your career strongly, and we’re providing novice teachers with a selection of tips.
Speaking at the Right Moment
You should only speak when the classroom is ready, and if you wait for a short period of time, the students will soon quieten down because they want to hear what you have to say. Patience can certainly be important in this situation.
Address Behaviour Issues Quickly
When a child is being ‘naughty’ it should be dealt with quickly. If they keep interrupting you could say ‘it looks like you have a question’ or ‘have you got something to say to the entire class’. This will then put the spotlight on them, and the majority of students will ‘zip-up’ to divert the attention.
Make your Lesson Engaging
When students are not engaging with you and the work, they’ll begin engaging with each other, and that’s why classes should have different engaging activties. Remember it’s better to run out of time than to run out of run short in a lesson.
There are so many different stages of a job hunt, and that can include writing a CV, a cover letter, carrying out work experience and attending an interview.
If you have all of the qualifications you need for a particular role, but you’re lacking experience, then a voluntary work placement can help, and it’s a great starting point for a newly qualified teacher.
If you feel as though you have the experience and the qualifications but no school is willing to take you on, then perhaps you could spend some more time on your application. Are you really getting your skills and passion across? Is every piece of information relevant? The slightest tweaks on a CV or cover letter could catch a recruiter’s eye, so do pay attention to detail.
Are you applying frequently enough? To find your perfect job in education, you need to apply for a lot of jobs. The more you apply for the greater chance there is you’ll hear back.