Leeds SCITT Newsletter
Issue 10 Summer 2016
Welcome to the Leeds SCITT Newsletter
Welcome to our final Leeds SCITT Newsletter for this academic year. Our aim has been to share good practice across our Partnership, keeping all interested parties up to speed with key information and share tips on how to become outstanding trainee teachers. This final issue (quite lengthy!) is dedicated to celebrating your success by sharing some of your stories from this year, as well as looking at ways to ensure you feel fully prepared for your NQT year.
Celebrating Your Success
Our Stage 3 Priority – Becoming an Outstanding Trainee Teacher
Precise Target Setting
Pupil Progress
Oustanding Trainee Teacher
Think about how you will continue to strive to become an outstanding teacher, what support will you need to do this?
The NQT Year
Induction for Qualified Teachers - Department For Education
Teachers' Standards - and the ways in which they can be evidenced
When it comes to induction -don't panic TES
https://newteachers.tes.co.uk/content/when-it-comes-induction-dont-panic
From ITT to NQT - Vikki Taylor (ITT Co-ordinator Ralph Thoresby)
Life as an NQT: 10 survival tips from those whom have lived to tell the tale
100 Tips for NQTs: Sue Cowley
Special Strategies for Managing Behaviour
Here are some of your experiences from this year..
'It's been a complete whirlwind of a year! There have been intense highs and lows and everything in between. I can't believe we're at the end already! I have learned so much, not just about music, education and teaching, but also about myself. I have learned that I'm tougher than I ever thought I was. I've discovered a resilience that has surprised me and I'm so grateful to everyone involved in SCITT for helping me discover my potential. I also want to thank all the wonderful friends I've made, I've met some of the best people on the planet this year and I don't think I could have done this year without them and they are an inspiration.
Before I started this course, I was told that this would be one of the craziest and best years of my life, and I can really see that now.
The advice for a trainee starting out on this course, I'd say; Be prepared. Be prepared for a non-stop 9 months. Be prepared for your lessons. Be prepared for your assignments. Be prepared to give up your social life at certain points (generally there is such thing as a work life balance, but at certain times of the year the scales tip more in favour of work than life!). Be prepared to feel so giddy you could burst when a lesson goes well. Be prepared for crying in the toilets when one doesn't (everyone does it, it's okay, it doesn't mean you're failing, it means you've got passion for what you're doing). Be prepared to make some of the most wonderful memories of your life. Be prepared to meet some of the best friends you will ever make (your 'comrades' will help you celebrate the good times and get you through the tough times - they're in the same situation as you and are a fantastic source of inspiration, solace and encouragement). Be prepared to learn more than you ever thought possible in such a short space of time. And finally, be prepared for the craziest and best year of your life.'
Rebecca Senior (Music SCITT Trainee)
Some great tips from a voice coaching session
Robin Gloor (Music SCITT Trainee)
'My tip for this year is to take up mindfulness and ignore politics.
Also...
To remember that this course and teaching is all 'swings and roundabouts'
For example, the other day I was conducting Pupil Voice with my year 9 group to try to find out what they like and what they don't like about D&T; so the department can improve their SoW. The first group told me that they hadn't liked anything, if they could make anything it would be 'nothing' and that actually the best thing to do would be to 'get rid of D&T... no offence Miss'.
So there I am thinking oh dear, maybe I should just give up now and save myself years of agony! Just then, the next group came in and told me, ‘We would pick the GCSE if you could be our teacher’, and that they need 'more'young teachers that show us that they like us and want to be here, just like you Miss’! Faith in teaching restored!
This seems to be a pattern in this job, just when you think you've had enough of those pesky teenagers, they somehow pull at your heart strings and make it all worthwhile!
Finally, one lasting memory I have from Stage 1 is observing a year 10 Food class with Kim Sykes and trying with all my will power not to look at her. I knew I'd explode into a fit of giggles! One particularly amusing boy was analysing some soup and when asked about the packaging he remarked that 'it's orange because old people like orange and intelligent people and old people like reading'! The second remark referred to why there was writing on the packaging!
I love hearing all the weird and wonderful things that go through children's heads, sometimes I feel sad having to correct their misconceptions!'
Bethan Lord (D&T SCITT Trainee)
I was teaching a lesson focusing on the Battle of Hastings and "Why William Won".
It was a nice summery day and rather warm in TS54.
Student A moans about the weather and how it is too warm, while other students joined in complaining about how nice it is and how we should be outside.
I settled the class down and they went back to their silent work.
However, Student B crops up...
"It's only warm in here because I am in here" Then gives a cheeky wink.
I had to leave the classroom very suddenly due to fits of laughter.
I know it doesn't sound funny when written down. However, if you were there and you knew student B! You would be laughing too.
James Bellamy (History SCITT Trainee)
The purpose of the wall is to show that the history of Britain is the history of migration and to show both the key events and the individual stories of migration. The wall supports British values as it brings people together and shows respect of different ethnicities.' Matthew Sanderson (History SCITT Trainee)
EAL pupils Spray the word for 'Wall' in their first language
The History of Migration to Britain
A Family's Story of Migration
Jessica Holmes (Drama SCITT Trainee)
Remember Sharing is Caring!
This hopfully says it all!
Here is a video of James Bellamy and Harry Leigh enjoying the drive home from work
Always challenge yourself
Gaining Success can be a slow process
Believe in yourself
'The Road to Success' by Tony Hassini
Along the road, you will face may stumbling blocks, twists, and turns. You may never know how far the road will take you. Or is it just around the corner?
Your journey along the road will be determined by faith, hard work, belief, courage, and above all persistence.
Your willingness to take chances and fail only to get up and try again and again.
Along the way, you may face fear, doubts, unfairness, and setbacks.
I promise you. When you succeed and overcome all the obstacles, there is no greater joy than making your dream come true.
Finally...
Success?
"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." Charles Darwin
"Whenever you see a successful person, you only see the public glories, never the private sacrifices to reach them." Vaibhav Shah
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." Eleanor Roosevelt
Over to you!
Leeds SCITT would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank to you all, for all your successes this year, including the small ones as well as the big ones! A big thank you to all the ITT Co-ordinators, Lead Tutors, Mentors and colleagues whom have been involved in your SCITT 'journey' supporting you and guiding you towards success. We know it has been a hard journey at times, many have quoted 'a roller coaster ride', but as they say success is not served on a plate!
We wish you all the best with your future successes in you teaching career. Keep in touch, maybe in a couple of years time you will be guiding Leeds SCITT trainees in their journey of becoming an outstanding practitioner, in your role as a Mentor or Curriculum Leader.
Take care & best Wishes,
Sinead & Michelle