tickedoffteacher New Teachers, Teacher Tips

What to expect on INSET day

INSET, also known as “in-service training”, can feel like your ‘first day of school’. This is our guide to what happens on INSET day.

Timetable of the day

INSET days vary in content depending on the time of year, phase and priorities of the school. However, most INSETs at the beginning of the year will involve at least one day of safeguarding training, sharing school priorities/ vision, CPD, time to prepare classrooms and meeting colleagues.

What should I bring with me?

Your school should have communicated if there is anything specific that they want you to bring. Make sure to bring a notebook, diary to note important dates and pen. If you have gathered some items to decorate your classroom, INSET can be a good time to bring them in to get set up in your new room.

What should I wear?

Have a look at any dress-code policies on the school website and think about what you saw other people wearing if you attended an in-person interview. Expectations for dress are normally more relaxed on INSET than normal work days, however, it is generally better to be over than underdressed. It is unlikely that anyone will be wearing suits and ties, but also generally not sports clothes either.

Expect to be overwhelmed

You will be receiving a LOT of information. No one expects you to remember it all, especially if you’re an ECT or new to the school. Try to note down key information but make sure to utilise the experience of those around you, and remember that policies should be clearly accessible on the school website if you need a refresher. Subject leaders are there to answer your questions and were all new starters at one point!

Make time to chat and EAT

Prioritise time for forming connections with colleagues. Yes, it may be tempting to spend your lunch break putting up that beautifully laminated display, but don’t neglect getting to know people who will be able to support you and help you put up displays terms or years from now! One of the best ways to do this is eating lunch in the staff room and chatting to anyone wandering around. INSET days are busy and there are lots of moving parts and people, so equally, don’t get disheartened if you feel that someone seems occupied or not up for a chat. Finally, make sure you eat something! Fainting during safeguarding training is not the first impression you want to be making!

Signed,

What are your questions or advice for INSET days? Comment below.

tickedoffteacher Opinion, Teacher Tips

The most powerful CPD to try before September

Try something you’re really rubbish at

Do you have a memory from school that you totally cringe at? Something you were so awful at that you swore you’d never touch it again?

Baby Ticked Off teacher still remembers their art teacher holding up a piece of work from a ‘child in the other class’ and declaring that it was ‘the worst piece anyone had handed in’. With their name clearly permanent markered on the side and children sniggering around them, they vowed to never again even touch a Crayola crayon.

Fast forward, and today’s blog is coming to you from under a mound of shiny new drawing pencils and an ambitiously thick sketchbook. Teachers-in the main- enjoyed school, this one included. To become a teacher requires jumping through a near-decade of academic hoops and learning about a wide range of subjects and disciplines. Many of us have had a pretty easy time learning and are passionate about our jobs, this can actually make it harder to connect to our most difficult students.

I say ‘difficult student’ and one immediately pops into your head. The one that you see is full of promise and you don’t understand why they can’t just ‘get it’. My challenge to you is to try and improve at something you’re really rubbish at, whether that’s art, languages, sport etc. You’ll soon find that the hours spent creating your growth-mindset display didn’t make it all the way into your brain.

Remember the discomfort you feel, the inadequacy and sheer additional effort you have to put into something you don’t like and aren’t immediately good at. That is likely close to the experience of not just ‘that’ student, but of many others sitting in your classroom. Remind yourself of the successes and strategies in overcoming your own rubbishness and share them with your students. It’s a powerful exercise for educators to become empathetic learners.

Signed,

What are you going to challenge yourself to try before September? Comment below.

tickedoffteacher Teacher Tips

Struggling to relax over the summer holidays? Tips for teachers who still can’t unwind

Still lying awake thinking about your planning? You need our help!

Most teachers in the UK have been on holiday for a few weeks now. However, if you’re anything like the Ticked Off Teacher, you’re still struggling to slip into full holiday zen mode. Today we’ve gathered up some tried and true techniques for making the most out of your time off.

1) Get away early and have a change of scene

If you’re lucky enough to be going on holiday, try to suppress the urge to keep working and get yourself straight on a holiday. The change of scene can really help to put distance between you and work. Try to go somewhere with no visual reminders of school or children, think adults-only resort! If you’re planning on staying at home, do your best to remove cues that are going to remind you of school. Leave your teacher bag in the cupboard for at least a week so you can begin to unwind.

2) Unplug

It can be tempting to relax by spending those forbidden midday hours scrolling mindlessly through your phone. However, you’re bound to come across posts from a teaching group, an update from a colleague, or yet another classroom ‘inspiration’ picture to drag you mentally straight back to work. If you have time, perhaps think about creating ‘teacher’ social media to keep your personal and professional scrolling separate. Try and spend the time doing things you wouldn’t normally have the time to do and making the most of places being less busy midweek.

3) Routine

You have sleep to catch up on right? Yes, but try to keep yourself in a somewhat regular routine of sleep, eating and exercise etc. otherwise you can find yourself becoming more groggy and exhausted! You will spend the first weeks of term getting the children in a good routine, now listen to your own advice!

4) Indulge in some self-care

Bubble baths, gardening, walking, whatever it may be. Make time for the things that make you feel good and you don’t normally have time for. Try making a list at the beginning of the break and seeing how many you can tick off. It can be useful to schedule things in advance and try to hold yourself accountable to stop self-care from being something else to put off to tomorrow.

5) If you must work…

Some people benefit and feel more relaxed by getting things done. Try not to get yourself into a cycle of finding yourself work-related jobs to do to keep yourself busy. This can sometimes feel easier than thinking and organising things that you actually want to do. As with self-care, try and make a list of tasks that actually need completing and days you’re going to block off to complete them. Make sure the tasks are meaningful and productive and not an excuse for not having found anything better to do.

Overall, enjoy yourself! You have worked very hard all year and deserve this break. Come back in September rested and refreshed and ready for another round!

Signed,

What works well to help you relax? Comment below.