Comments on: Your first steps into teaching http://www.newteachers.info/first-steps/ The Teacher Support Network Starting Out Guide For Newly Qualified Teachers and Teacher Trainees Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:51:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: will http://www.newteachers.info/first-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-17 will Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:51:28 +0000 http://www.drew3000.net/newteachers/?p=34#comment-17 When I first started teaching, my mentor was one of the senior management team. She was overloaded with work and seemed far too busy to give me much time. I tried to tackle her, but she couldn’t seem to even spare the time to discuss it. Eventually, I had a confidential chat with another senior teacher. She had a tactful talk with my mentor and offered to take over the mentoring, which meant I finally got the support I needed. When I first started teaching, my mentor was one of the senior management team. She was overloaded with work and seemed far too busy to give me much time. I tried to tackle her, but she couldn’t seem to even spare the time to discuss it. Eventually, I had a confidential chat with another senior teacher.

She had a tactful talk with my mentor and offered to take over the mentoring, which meant I finally got the support I needed.

]]> By: kirsty http://www.newteachers.info/first-steps/comment-page-1/#comment-16 kirsty Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:45:36 +0000 http://www.drew3000.net/newteachers/?p=34#comment-16 I felt my mentor - also my head of department - was over-critical, always trying to pick holes in me. I’d often go home in tears. After yet another lesson observation where she’d torn my teaching apart, I decided I’d had enough. I requested a meeting with her and asked for a senior colleague to sit in, as a neutral party. I told her how her behaviour was making me feel, how it was affecting my confidence. She looked horrified. I don’t think she even realised what she was doing. Things were a bit frosty for a while but she definitely made the effort to be more positive after that. I felt my mentor – also my head of department – was over-critical, always trying to pick holes in me. I’d often go home in tears. After yet another lesson observation where she’d torn my teaching apart, I decided I’d had enough. I requested a meeting with her and asked for a senior colleague to sit in, as a neutral party. I told her how her behaviour was making me feel, how it was affecting my confidence. She looked horrified. I don’t think she even realised what she was doing. Things were a bit frosty for a while but she definitely made the effort to be more positive after that.

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