anzuk has been a perfect fit for me this year!

After graduating mid last year, I was a little overwhelmed by the application process which teachers go through to gain full time or permanent employment, particularly how many hours I was spending researching and contacting schools, before I could even start my application.

In fact, it took time away from days that I could be gaining experience as a CRT.

Working casually before accepting full time employment: has developed my confidence and personal strength in many ways:

Strengthened my TIME MANAGEMENT skills

  • Being ready to walk out the door by 8am every morning has prepared my busy family for full time work.  So far so good!!
  • Creating a ‘go to’ resource folder to keep at home, so I have resources ready to go, as soon as I know which level I am relieving.  A lot of them came from online resources like Teachers Pay Teachers or Pinterest.
  • I keep all previous lesson plans/CRT notes in a folder, based on year levels. If something worked well, I indicate that for future reference.  The plans also jog my memory as to what reading, writing, spelling and grammar programs the schools are using, so repeat days at a school feels familiar.
  • Any games or activities that need photocopies, I have copied and ready to go from home.   If I use them at a school, I make copies at the end of the day before I leave.  Leaving the classroom, or obtaining a printer code can sometimes take up valuable time I have before students and parents come into the class in the morning.
  • Purchasing my own books to assist with Behaviour Management.  My most effective, and a stand out favourite for the students I have taught regularly are:
  1. My mouth is a volcano – Julia Cook and Carrie Hartman
  2. Personal space camp – Julia Cook and Carrie Hartman

Allowed me the opportunity to NETWORK with other educators

  • Getting to know teachers who you relate to and enjoy working with has opened up opportunities to discuss teaching related matters.  The ‘after school chat’ (let’s face it – we are all good at sharing) with a teacher in the next room offers great insight into ‘teacher life’ in general.
  • Offers to look over your selection criteria are priceless and something that I would have liked more help with at the end of my degree.  It also allows them a chance to preview your ‘skill set’ – which they may discuss with their team.

Given me the OPPORTUNITY to experience schools, to see if ‘I FIT’ into their community

  • I am going into teaching with my eyes wide open and having a supportive, enjoyable team around me is at the top of my list.
  • I am prepared to take the time to gain experience while finding a school that will value me as much as I value their community.

We are lucky in our industry that we have the opportunity to ‘experience’ a work place setting before accepting a position. As a recent graduate, I can’t imagine starting out any other way. Unless of course, the Government decides to introduce a Grad year for teachers, similar to what nurses experience.

AND that… is a whole new blog post.