'THE NQT PAGES'
NEW FOR 2008-2009 ACADEMIC YEAR
NEW TEACHER NETWORKS
E-mail me HERE to get an invitation to the GEOGRAPHY NQT NING (GA MEMBERS only) or more information.
This is part of the support offered to new teachers by the Geographical Association.
Download a leaflet ABOUT THE GA (PDF, 472 Kb)
NQTs can JOIN THE GA for as little as £27.75, which brings all the benefits and a choice of JOURNAL, plus GA Magazine.
Why join the GA ?
The Geographical Association was set up so that modern, practical teaching
techniques could be shared and developed. Throughout, the GA has communicated
the power and potential of geography in education with passion. The GA has grown
to a membership that reaches most secondary schools and many primary schools.
When you join, you benefit in these ways:
The GA maintains its independence by relying on its membership, which provides the Association with its authority to speak for geography and its role in schools.
GA MEMBERS can access the NING, which will offer support and information on forthcoming events that would be of interest to NQTs
More information for new geography colleagues
OK, so you've got a new post. You've been to the school for an interview and you start in the first week of September.
Here are some suggestions for things you can do to ease your way into the new year and specifically the first term.
1. Try to go into your new school as often as possible in the last week before term starts. Experience the place before the start of the new school year when you'll find that you haven't got a moment to spare. You may find that your pigeon hole is already full of stuff. You may have a staff handbook, computer login codes, material from trade unions (I strongly recommend that you join a union - most of them will let you have at least part of the first year free of charge, or on a reduced rate) - they all offer excellent support should you need it, and you may find you need it when you least expect it...
2. Be prepared. Your first groups will arrive at the room expecting you to be 'the same' as their other teachers. Have a STARTER which grasps their attention. Try to think about when you were at school - which teachers do you remember fondly ? Did they have a particular 'trick' which seemed to get results ? Have decent quality resources - not a hastily / badly photocopied page straight from the book. Keep resources up to date, and scan the media for relevant articles and case studies that you can use. Check the subject communities, and go beyond the first return on Google or Google Images when looking for materials.
3. Keep an eye on the TV schedules. If you have SKY TV, there are no end of useful documentaries on the various Discovery style channels - there are plenty on the theme of Tectonics and the extremes of weather. Remember YOUTUBE, although this is likely to be blocked at school. Do preparation at home when using sites like this. Use ZAMZAR to convert the videos.
4. Become acquainted with the TOP TEN PLUS websites that I mention. They can save you a lot of time. There are plenty of people prepared to put their efforts on the net for free. Why not put something of your own on the NGfL site ? It'll make you feel good to see your name in print and someone else can benefit from your efforts just as you benefit from those of others...
5. Join, lurk, then contribute to the Staffordshire Learning Network FORUM. Visit on a weekly basis (or more frequently) to see which threads are current.
6. Do you have access to a DIGITAL PROJECTOR on at least a bookable basis ?
Go to the PROJECTOR page and see how to use Microsoft POWERPOINT to put together a presentation which will enthuse your pupils.
7. Learn how to use Microsoft Powerpoint and start to save your lessons on a disc. Try to do things ONCE only. If you've produced a worksheet, SAVE IT for next year. Try to use a clear system for NAMING your files so that you are clear about what they are.
8. Ask your colleagues. They may well have folders / years worth of resources that they will let you go through to try to see what is of use to you. In a good department there will be a frequent exchange of resources at meetings, or via pigeon holes, and an 'OPEN DOOR' policy, so that colleagues can feel free to come in and out of your room as necessary (although I always check first that I'm not disturbing someone who is 'in full flow')
9. Try to find cheap ideas for display materials. Make your room an attractive environment. Find some cheap coffee table type books in discount bookshops and have them laminated. Visit local travel agents and see if they have any display posters they've finished with. Become a magpie and collect anything that you think might be of use...
10. Try to have one day a week over the weekend when you avoid doing work. If you need to take work home (and you will) don't let it take over your house. Have one area where you keep it, preferably a room that you can close the door on.
11. Try to use any spare moment you have in the school day to do something useful in the long term. Time management is important. On a TRAINING DAY where you might have an early finish (especially the first day of the school year) stay as long as possible until you're happy that you've prepared. A good idea is to make sure that you have the next day 'sorted' before you go home for the day.
A colleague, who is now a head-teacher, used to have a system where each evening he produced an A4 sheet. It had a series of headings:
THINGS TO DO BEFORE SCHOOL
THINGS THAT NEED PHOTOCOPYING
PEOPLE TO SEE ( & WHAT ABOUT...)
12. Find out about the school's arrangements for reports to parents. Are they done electronically or are there paper report sheets for each pupil. If it is the latter, then get hold of a pile at the start of the year. When the groups have been finalised, head up the report sheets and put them somewhere safe for later in the year.
13. I use a simple system for cutting down on the time taken to do tasks. Whenever I get a piece of paper in my pigeon-hole, I do one of 4 things with it as soon as possible, ideally straight away:
ACT ON IT
PASS IT ON
FILE IT
BIN IT
14. Be consistent with discipline. Follow the school's established code for progression with incidents of varying degrees of seriousness.
Oh, and have fun...
Now you need to produce some resources. Check out my RESOURCES page for suggestions for a range of websites that can help, and the activities to go with them. Check out the various EXAM BOARD websites too and download all the SPECIFICATIONS and TEACHERS' GUIDES you need.
If you're an NQT and you have a tip you'd like to share, or perhaps you were an NQT last year, get in touch....