Page 58: The transition part B - The must do easily forgotten about jobs for your first half term of teaching

 Page 58: The transition part B - The must do easily forgotten about jobs for your first half term of teaching.

There are a plethora of preparation bits and bobs that can be completed heading into any term of teaching. When initially focussing and thinking about what you might need there are the basics, but there also many little tips and tricks you learn along the way in that ever so vital critical reflection I am always talking about.

Lets start with 3 basics:

1. Peg labels, tray labels and name writing slips for morning routine to have a coordinating sticker/picture of the child. Having a picture of the individual is a lovely personal touch for any year group, however, in our younger years, having consistency between all named resources is super helpful when the children are learning to recognise there own name so they can draw the connection between the image and letters.

2. Print, laminate and chop all reusable display lettering/working walls. My school like many, subjects run on rotation. This means that all subjects do not run from September. As the year grows alongside your inevitable to do list, preparing simple display items such as lettering at the start of the year will save you later time and bring a smile to your face when you remember! Once made, these can be used for years to come.

3. Write down all your passwords. There are so many. From different schemes, work email, council logins, personal and shared drives, you will have lots of different accounts, usernames and passwords. Having a notebook kept safe and secure, will really help you when you are trying to log into your emails after a long day when you have been rather annoyingly logged out!

Moving onto 3 little tips and tricks:

1. Print and multiple class lists with tick boxes, you do not realise how much you will use these.

2. Prepare time consuming folders that you will need throughout a year, such a creating your writing moderation folder (its takes longer than you think to make 30 labels and put 30 poly pockets in a folder)

3. Buy a sharpie! Lots of lost no named uniform and unhappy parents when they have lost their 3rd jumper, chuck a name on everything!

I hope these light hearted tips and tricks will be useful to do to your preparation to do lists; these are definitely on my list of next September. Join me next week for my final page exploring the transition from being a student teacher to an ECT where I will be delving into establishing working relationships with both additional adults in the school and parents.

I will end today's page with this beautiful quote where I feel many parallels to teaching and entering our profession can be drawn:

"Design a life that you are inspired to live" - Annette White

- Miss Yeoman