What advice would you give someone considering a career as a secondary mathematics teacher?

Rebecca HawkinsIf you have a passion for mathematics, learning or working with young people you should definitely research how to become a secondary mathematics teacher and why it could be the profession for you. I think the key is research, as there are so many different ways into the career, for example, PGCE, School Direct, Teach First, academy etc. You need to find the right way for you, as they are vastly different in how they deliver the program and the nature of the schools you will get placed in.

Once you have researched and been accepted onto your desired teaching course, I have 3 top tips to get the most out of your training;

Be organised!

This is in terms of just knowing how you are going to get to the school on your first day and being punctual to being on top of planning, university work, forms (for example, evidence record, meeting records) etc. Being organised will make your experience so much easier as it will help you stay in control, particularly with planning, will allow you to get stuck into the teaching much more and focus on your lessons.

Be brave!

 When you go on your placements try and throw yourself into the role as much as possible as you will be treated as any other teacher but have more time to experience what each school has to offer outside of the maths classroom. Make the most of your experience by helping run clubs you have an interest in, getting to know the children you teach in different settings (for example, form time, clubs, seeing them in the playground) and remember your colleagues are experienced teachers who you can learn so much from, never be afraid to ask questions.

Probably most importantly, be yourself!

If you try to be a “certain way” in the classroom whether that is extremely strict, overly friendly or another persona it will not work, you will see the children you teach almost every day and no one is that good an actor/actress to be able to keep that up! Also, being true to yourself is important so you can get a good feel for what being a teacher is like and if it is the career for you.

The final piece of advice I would give is just to smile and walk with your head held high. Be proud of yourself and that you want to become a secondary mathematics teacher.

By Rebecca Hawkins

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