Teaching A Level Maths by @Bigkid4

Name: Bigkid4
Twitter:  @Bigkid4
Sector:  Secondary
Subject: Maths
Position: Teacher
5 Bits of Advice About: Teaching A Level Maths

1. If pupils weren’t motivated, independent learners in year 11 then they still won’t be… Unless you teach them to be.
2. Practice is vital. The more practice they get at everything the better.
3. Your class is highly likely to have a wide range of abilities. Plan to have to break everything down more for at least some of the class.
4. Don’t assume that they can do GCSE maths content. At least some of them will probably not be able to.
5. Set a lot of homework right from the outset. Make them respond proactively if they can’t do it.

Sports Day by @bigkid4

Name: Bigkid4
Twitter:  @bigkid4
Sector:  Secondary
Subject: Maths
Position: Teacher
5 Bits of Advice About: Sports day

1. Get yourself a role. Volunteer early to avoid being on crowd control.
2. Throwing and jumping events are good things to supervise. Starter and timekeeper are pretty good too.
3. Don’t just tell the kids what to do. Show them if you can and never underestimate the pupils’ ability to injure themselves.
4. Have fun. If you can’t have fun, pretend you’re having fun.
5. Don’t expect everything to go according to plan. It probably won’t.

Union Reps by @Bigkid4

Name: None given
Twitter name: Bigkid4
Sector: Secondary
Subject taught (if applicable):
Position: Union representative
What is your advice about? Union reps

1: Join a union as soon as possible. Join the union with the most members in your school if you have no strong feelings about which union to join.

2: Go to your union rep to get advice and/or support as soon as possible. Do not wait for things to get serious.

3: Remember that being a union rep is at times stressful and time consuming. Your issue will not always be at the top of a rep’s priority list.

4: Attend union meetings as much as you can. Get to know the people you may depend on for support at some point in the future.

5: Union reps can only do so much. The strength of a union group comes from the unity and mutual support of its members.

Advice by @Bigkid4

Name: None given
Twitter name: Bigkid4
Sector: Secondary
Subject taught (if applicable): Mathematics
Position: Teacher
What is your advice about? Advice

1: You will get a lot of advice from a lot of different people. Do not try to implement all of it at the same time.

2: Advice you agree with is not necessarily GOOD advice, Conversely advice you disagree with is not necessarily BAD advice.

3: You can disregard advice. If someone has a problem with you not taking their advice then what they’re offering is not advice.

4: Not all techniques, methods and styles are transferable If something works for someone else it doesn’t necessarily mean it is right for you.

5: Most people that offer advice mean well. Remember that when someone’s advice turns out to be terrible.

Observations by @Bigkid4

Name: Bigkid
Twitter: @Bigkid4
Sector:  Secondary
Subject: Maths
Position: Teacher
5 Bits of Advice About:  Observations

1. Find out what the observers are looking for.
2. Give them what they want.
3. Don’t confuse a great observation with great teaching. All too often they’re not the same thing at all.
4. A great observation is one after which the outcome is you being left alone to get on with the job of teaching.
5. A bad observation is one that necessitates further observations.