Leeds SCITT Newsletter
Issue 1 2018
Welcome to the Leeds SCITT Newsletter
Welcome to the Leeds SCITT Newsletter. Our aim is 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 is your newsletter, so please feel free to email and share your experiences of how you or your colleagues have used innovative strategies/resources, which have contributed to pupils making excellent progress. This newsletter is compulsory reading as it will always include some course information that is critical to your training.
It is really important to keep communication going throughout your placement. If you have any concerns at any point, the chart above shows who to get in touch with and how your concern is escalated.
At the start of Stage 2:
Up to now:
- You should have your timetable and the information about the classes you will be teaching.
- You should be observing all of the classes you will be teaching, or you have started teaching some classes.
- You and your mentor should have a 1hr slot pre-arranged for your weekly mentor meetings.
- You should have filled in for first week's targets on the Reflective Journal. This should be shared with your mentor a minimum of 24 hours in advance (either by email or on SchooliP).
- You should be linked with a Form group and be with them during every form time.
- You should know the process for reporting absence within your school.
It would be nice if:
- You were observing lessons outside of your timetabled classes (in and out of your subject or helping out in Year 11 lessons).
- You had started looking into extra-curricular activities to get involved in within you school. (TS8)
- You had started to think about the topic you will be preparing for your Progression Map.
Instructions related to SchooliP:
How to know if you have added your evidence correctly:
Each piece of evidence should be linked to:
- An Evidence Portfolio heading (e.g. Stage 2 A - Reflective Journal)
- A Teacher Standard heading (e.g. Part One: - Teaching - 1. Set high expectations which inspire, motivate and challenge pupils).
Your evidence does not need to be linked to Teacher Standard sub-headings, e.g. 1a or 3c for example.
(See the image below)
If nothing comes up when you type in an Evidence Portfolio heading, you have not linked your evidence correctly and need to do so.
How to add evidence and link it to an Evidence Portfolio heading:
Health and Wellbeing
You need to make sure you self-assess your wellbeing; in the run up to Christmas all teachers, including trainees, get tired and feel the pressure of workload as your timetable eventually increases. Be prepared to talk to your support network (other trainees, your mentor, other trainees you were in contact with in Stage 1, friends outside of the course) and at some point you will teach a lesson that does not go the way you want. When this happens, remember to reflect to improve, not to focus too harshly on the negative aspects.
- It is worth asking within your school if there are any teachers that previously were on a SCITT course (or even Leeds SCITT) as they will be able to offer advice.
- Work smart - organisation is the key to reducing your workload and keeping on track.
- See if your placement school runs any Staff activities in the week (e.g. after school staff sports).
- Make sure you still make some time for things you enjoy outside of your work for the course.
- Keep communicating with the people around you.
From next week...
A trainee of the week
An example of best practice
The best things you have seen / done in the week
Something funny from your lessons.
We need your help to do this - please send anything relevant for any of the headings above to f.towers@stmarysmenston.org
Over to you!
Leeds SCITT hope you have found this newsletter helpful. If you would like to send your suggestions, ideas, videos, sharing of good practice to include in the next newsletter please let me know. Have a great week and we look forward to hearing from you soon.
Fiona