reading time 2m 48s

“Teaching is easy”

Or at least that’s how all of the ‘veterans’ in my Maths department made it look.
But it wasn’t always been like that for them, they too have walked in my shoes, fought similar battles with tricky students that I have, developed a catalogue of resources, learned the tricks of the trade and been through the trials and errors, to find what really does and doesn’t work.
‘Teaching is easy’, but only once you have overcome those challenges, sought the help of peers to develop those resources, had those tough conversations with peers and students alike and come out the other side a hardened veteran that doesn’t struggle day by day but instead has total control.

I can’t stress enough the dire importance of planning and organisation, and honing that ability to find the 25th and 26th hours in the day to get all those extra little tasks done. This term hasn’t been perfect and I look at colleagues and I’m in sheer awe at the brilliance that they exude. At first it was disheartening when I was struggling to find resources for a starter, or planning that first lesson. I was spending an extortionate number of hours to get any sort of progress. But now I can appreciate the blood, sweat and tears that some of these professionals have put into their work to make it look as easy as it does.

“I have made progress!”

Looking back at my first term, I have made progress. I’ve gone from dreading being in front of a class for the first time; a nervous wreck barely held together by sheer fear and adrenaline to ‘owning it’. I live for being in front of that class and showing the pupils just how interesting Maths can be and most importantly, I’m enjoying being there, teaching. I’ve created relationships with students, I’ve built rapport that has allowed me take those risks in the classroom.

The support my mentors have shown me and the path they’ve outlined for me, in terms of what I need to do to be the best version of Mr Walker has been unbelievable. At times it hasn’t been easy, these have been difficult conversations to have, but they’ve always been constructive and completely valid points have been raised. It’s up to me to use that guidance and strive for brilliance. I need those conversations. I need those developing moments. I need that feedback, idea rejection, and praise for thinking outside of the box. I need to work more within a team.

Coming into this year, I thought teaching was about being in front of a class and helping them to understand a facet of Maths or Physics or French, but no. Teaching is much more than that, it’s a team sport, it’s working with colleagues collaboratively, regardless of who is teaching that class, to ensure students get the very most out of every second in and out of a classroom.

“Excited for the future…”

I’m excited for the future, to see the teacher I can blossom into, but I know the onus is on me to make that happen and to strive for my own greatness and reaching my potential in the same way I hope the students I teach, aspire for the same.

Mr J Walker
Trainee Maths Teacher, 2020 entry