TOP 5 TEACHING TIPS FOR NEW TEACHERS

Whether you’re new to the profession or been in teaching for decades, it’s important to keep learning! That’s the one thing I love about teaching - it’s a never ending journey of learning new things.

Sometimes I even find the kids teaching me new things, just as they love to do so, and that’s what makes the classroom such an exciting place to be.

I’ve put together 5 top tips for teaching. I’ve made it so that they can be applied to any level of experience, even supply (which is what I’m doing right now). I am a Math teacher, but I’ve made sure that these tips can be applied to any subject and all ages - have a read and let me know what you think!

Tip One: Seating plan

A seating plan in the classroom from the get-go is crucial. It not only gives the kids a sense

of structure, but it also helps them feel that they know what to expect when they come into your lesson. 

If you have prior data on the children it is also useful to have a look at this and arrange your seating plan accordingly. I usually just use two colours - green for high ability and blue for low ability. (Just use excel - doesn’t have to be anything fancy!)

If you’ve never met the students before (or you’re doing supply) the best thing is to line them up at the back of the room and give them seats. Within the first few minutes of meeting children you can usually figure out who would need to be closest to the front and who can remain focused further away. Girl & boy seats are also ideal, it prepares them for the real world but also keeps them away from their friends.

Some teachers have classes with a few characters in them, it’s crucial to keep them at separate corners to avoid any behavioural issues - I would place them first before arranging the others. 

I never get it right the first time - I always end up changing a few seats a week or so in because some children are completely different once they get comfortable. Don’t be afraid to make those changes. I always say ‘I’m seating you where I think you will work best and gain the most from being in school - no point of being here otherwise’. 

Tip Two: Learn names - use the seating plan!

I found this most useful during supply teaching. As soon as I had my seating plan in front of me I would direct my questions to students and keep checking on them to try and remember their names. If you are a visual learner this probably works best for you. Eventually, I remember their names by their seats and as time goes on I can recognise them in the corridor, away from the classroom.

Tip Three: Use whiteboards to assess their understanding of a topic or prior knowledge

During a time like this where it’s in the best interests of your students and yourselves to keep a distance, whiteboards couldn’t be any more helpful. 

I like to use www.mathsbox.org.uk and get the bingo questions up to assess the students before or after a topic. For non-math teachers I would recommend quick questions, i.e. French - I’m going to put 10 words on the board, one on each slide. Each time I want you all to write the translation for the word on your board and hold it up. To make it more exciting I give out ‘positive/reward points’ for those who do it the quickest.

Tip Four: Don’t spoon feed or micromanage

Remember when you were a younger and you just wanted to be an adult, but no-one ever gave you the opportunity to show off your ‘adultness’. I’m not about to tell you to let the kids learn on their own and don’t do any teaching, but it’s important to guide them to becoming independent learners - especially in secondary school. Whenever there is incomplete work or something not done up to standards, make sure the ownership is on them, not their friend, mother, father, dog etc. Just them. 

Remember it is your job to guide them to become the best versions of themselves for when they leave school and approach the real world. By spoon-feeding them or assisting them with everything they do they just become more dependent, they might like you more as a teacher but you’re not helping them or their future selves. 

For maths I always get the kids into the habit of using youtube or internet resources when they’re stuck on homework or even just to get ahead. I like to encourage them to go home and learn new topics or math facts using the internet and bring any questions to me. 

Tip Five: Be human.

Be human. Be yourself. Be real! Share your experiences with your students -  you don’t have to be a robot. Think back to the times you looked forward to a lesson at school, was it because the teacher got through the syllabus on time? (highly doubt it) 

Teaching the topics on the SOW is important, but it’s even more important to show students that there is a life outside their school routine and that’s what you’re preparing them for.

Teach them about resilience, share your struggles with them - and the good times! Tell them about your experiences growing up and what lessons you’ve learned along the way. 

I also found it helpful to get students to meditate after lunch or at the beginning of the day, it helps them calm their nerves and let go of what they were worrying about over lunch or the night before.

I’m not saying to ramble on about your life for a whole hour - we all know those teachers who loved talking about themselves - hated those lessons! Definitely find a balance. You’ll be surprised as to how many students stop to talk to you about your traveling experiences, or ask you about the business you started over the holidays.

These are some of the things that have worked for me over time. It isn’t easy being a teacher and getting things right. Don’t be so hard on yourself when you make a small mistake - you’re only human! Just learn from them and be better next time.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas - drop a comment below or send us an email.

Even better, subscribe to get regular blog post and shop offer updates.