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Looking back over the induction year
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Judith Moulds teaches at Wexham School, Slough. She is now in her second year of teaching. We asked Judith to reflect on her induction year and how the things she learned can support you. This is what she said.
Why teach?
Teaching was always a profession that attracted me, though I was not confident that I could cope with its challenges. I took a PGCE in Secondary Mathematics, and found myself trying to balance an idealistic view of teaching with the realities I faced each day. When looking for my first post, my challenge was to find a school that sought to bridge that gap. I found a job at Wexham School, Slough – a comprehensive school whose aim is to make a community out of an extremely diverse intake of pupils. |
Realism and idealism
My induction year was filled with highs and lows, as I imagine most are. Though at times I wasn’t sure I would survive, I was encouraged to see pupils progress, and breathed a sigh of relief when SATs results came out! During the year I learned that while an element of realism is important in teaching, so is maintaining a sense of idealism. You should not lose sight of the reasons you chose to teach in the first place, even in the face of challenging classes!
Learning from colleagues
The year was also a great opportunity to learn from colleagues both inside and outside my department. Often the informal help given by members of the maths department was as influential as the more formal support I received. It was also encouraging to speak with other NQTs, who were facing many of the same challenges.
Why don’t you...?
I would suggest those doing an induction year think about the commitments they make. Time is limited so you cannot necessarily do everything you would wish. Conversely I think it is a mistake to separate yourself from all out-of-school activities. I was involved in a few events that allowed me to see pupils’ talents and hard work outside the mathematics classroom, and I think this helped in building relationships.
Beyond induction
Now, in my second year of teaching, I want to explore teaching strategies for low attaining students while also developing the use of ICT within my teaching. I hope to be able to share what I learn with others in my department, while continuing to learn from their good practice. I have survived one year of teaching, but recognise that there is still so much to learn.
What can you learn from Judith?
- Remember the reasons why you were attracted to the profession.
- Set yourself realistic expectations.
- Take every opportunity to learn from the people you work with.
- Try to maintain a work – life balance (tips on time management available here).
