The Academy of Excellence in Learning want to help you on your journey towards becoming the best educator you can possibly be. We believe wholeheartedly that the first step towards being a good teacher is wanting to be a good teacher. If you’re really keen to get into the profession, you’ve already completed step number one. Having the desire to communicate with others and teach them new things forms the foundations of every good teacher’s career, so if this is something that you want to do, you’re definitely capable of success. Here are our top tips for making your career ambitions into a reality:
- Get some hands-on experience. It may seem daunting at first, but once you begin teaching, you’ll get used to it pretty quickly. If you’ve not worked with young people before (or adults if this is the age range that you want to teach), it will be useful experience and will look good on your CV. You may be unsure about which age group you want to teach – the only way to know for sure is to gain some work experience with different age ranges and to make your mind up from there.
- Find the right subject for you. Part of the joy of teaching is getting to spend all day exploring topics and issues which interest you. If it’s something which you are enthusiastic about yourself, you’re more likely to be able to enthuse others.
- Be confident. When it’s your first time working in a new field, you’re likely to be a bit nervous, especially when it involves responsibility for the learning and development of so many people. Act like you’re confident and at ease to get off on the right foot with other staff members. You’ll win their trust in your teaching skills more easily, and you’ll convince your pupils that you know what you’re doing.
- Be enthusiastic. Nobody will expect you to be perfect, especially when you’re just starting out and have little to no experience, but enthusiasm shows that you want to learn. This will serve you well throughout your career, too. It’s much easier for a driven, enthusiastic teacher to deliver high quality lessons and to thrive within the school environment.
- Work closely with your department. Whilst you’re training, they will be an important lifeline for you. Working with more experienced teachers within your subject is always beneficial and you can learn an enormous amount from them. Different departments will each operate in their own way, so learn as much as you can and transfer it with you when you move on.
- Never think it’s too late. When finishing high school, we’re expected to make so many important decisions in such a short space of time. Whatever you choose to do then doesn’t have to be forever. Everyone can change their mind, or develop new ambitions. Look into how you can gain your teaching qualifications – there are plenty of options, so you’ll be able to find something to suit you.