My daughter the teacher :)

[BelaLugosisShed]

Sorry, just wanted to boast
Today my DD got her first teaching post ( starting September) , she's currently doing PGCE in Secondary Maths and this was only her second interview, she is over the moon and we are so proud, she will be a year seven form tutor as well as teaching maths to 11-16s in a local high school that has not long come out of special measures, well she wanted a challenge!

Any tips I can pass onto her for her first year of teaching?

After 4 years away it will be very strange having her back at home permanently.

[cuggles]

Well done! Fabulous news...I am a secondary teacher too...been Head of Dept (PE and then RE) and Head of year etc over the last 15 yrs and loved it! I worked in what is a socio-economically deprived and low attaining LEA so know what a challenge is all about! The one thing that sticks in my mind from those early days is that never feel you are alone in having a difficult class....if you are finding a class hard..track them around the school abit...maybe not formally but take a wander about during a non-contact lesson and you will see it isnt just you!! Makes you feel loads better to know we are all just swans looking graceful on the surface. Also, it is all about acting, be very very consistent and stick to your rules, act cross if needs be (but try to be calm inside)and if you are really angry, stop and walk away literally or figuratively as that is when you will say something you regret! Also, take time to relax, NQT year is really hard, it gets easier I promise! Use your mentor for support!
I am so pleased for your DD and what a lovely rightly proud mum you sound! Go for it girl!

[UnderwaterBasketWeaving]

Congratulations to her!

My tip: stop planning and go to bed! And to prioritise work by the mantra "but will it benefit the children?".

[cuggles]

so true underwater...you could actually perfect plans 24 hrs a day...excellent tips!

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

Congratulations to your daughter! I'd echo the good advice above.

Also, when a 'tough' class are driving you bonkers, take a look around, notice the ones who are on task, give attention to them for a while, ignore the challenging ones. She'll soon realise that there are more on task than off.

Be really strict with that year 7 form. You're likely to have them for the next five years so set your expectations high!

[WhatchaMaCalllit]

Can I suggest that she reads this thread before she starts work so that she is fully informed about what not to say
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_staffroom/1695303-Things-not-to-say-to-pupils-alternate-title-please-floor-swallow-me-up

[VioletStar]

Tell her to get onto Twitter and follow @teachertoolkit. Packed full of fab ideas. And 5 minute lesson plan - will save her hours over the course of her career. In fact all teachers: Times Ed resources website or google/youtube it.

[BelaLugosisShed]

Thanks everyone

She's on twitter so will ask her if she knows about teachertoolkit.

[Katisha]

Don't worry about them liking you or not. Old chestnut but children prefer the teachers who are firm and fair over the ones who try too hard to be pally/down wiv da kidz.

[Amphitrite]

Bela - I have a tips for trainee teachers page on my website here. I'm an English teacher but lots of the links on the page are applicable to all teachers.
I'm on Twitter too, it is an amazing resource for teachers.

[sashh]

If she has facebook get it set so only trusted friends can use it.

Do not go clubbing anywhere near the school, you don't want to run into Y11 when you have had a few too many.

[Phineyj]

Eat and sleep properly and plan to take at least one evening during the week and one day at the weekend off doing something non-teaching related if at all possible. Be very careful with use of social media -- ideally do so under a different name to her teaching name, posts restricted to friends only etc. Do not friend students on Facebook! Look into good vocal technique to protect her voice. Make sure all computer equipment at home is in good order & plenty of supplies of paper, toner etc (saves late night meltdowns...) A good portable hard drive also saved my life a few times! Back up files regularly. Do not trust school server/IT to do that for you!

[LockedOutOfMN]

Yes, be very strict and firm for the first time - the myth about not smiling isn't true, but the best way to form long lasting and productive relationships with the students is to be firm and fair and show you have high expectations of them in terms of their behaviour and their work.

Year 7s are usually quite giddy and having them as form tutor first thing in the morning can make you feel like you're in a crèche, but once you have them 'trained' (that sounds horrid, I know), it's plain sailing as Year 7s are so sweet and enthusiastic. They will also appreciate a calm environment in the mornings and feel more secure if the form room is quiet and controlled, (even if your daughter feels like she is saying "sit down, stop talking" like a broken record for the first six weeks). Have a sheet on the wall that lays out the basic expectations. They do actually want someone - the tutor - to be in control and they will be more likely to come to her with problems in the general anonymous chaos that is secondary school compared to primary.

[LockedOutOfMN]

Sorry, didn't realise this was a zombie. Hope your daughter's enjoying her role, OP.

Happy New Year to all!