In this section you will find web links to the following: There's a wealth of teaching and learning resources available online but sometimes it's difficult to know where to begin looking. This list is by no means exhaustive but it is designed to help you locate relevant resources quickly. www.bbc.co.uk/schools - BBC schools Lesson plans, worksheets and other resources. Also check out a superb range of educational games for all ages. www.byteachers.org.uk - The Association of Teachers' Websites This site provides two services: categorised links to educational websites that have been checked for quality and are free; and a virtual school which is beginning to provide online lessons and activities. www.ceismc.gatech.edu/busyt - Busy Teachers' Website An American site providing well described categorised links to external sites as well as lesson plans and activities. www.educate.org.uk - Schoolsnet Schoolsnet is designed for reviewing schools but in the classroom section you will find a growing number of lesson plans for primary and secondary. Free registration required to access site fully. www.homeworkelephant.co.uk - Homework Elephant Primarily a site to help children with their homework but it can be used effectively in the classroom. Also has links to a number of sites in the teachers' section. www.nc.uk.net - National Curriculum online For every subject this site has the programmes of study and non-statutory guidelines, attainment targets and notes and links to online teaching resources. www.primaryresources.co.uk - Primary Resources Free lesson plans, activity ideas and resources for primary teachers well organised for easy searching. www.schoolzone.co.uk - School Zone Searchable database of educational websites, rated by teachers. www.sitesforteachers.com - Sites for Teachers Links to loads of educational websites rated by popularity. www.teachernet.gov.uk/teachingandlearning/resourcematerials/Resources/index.cfm - Teachernet A searchable database of lesson plans and resources. www.teachers.tv - Teachers TV A video for every occasion - every key stage, every subject, every role - clips to use in the classroom and excellent ideas to try out too. www.teachingideas.co.uk - Teaching Ideas Free lesson ideas, activities and resources for primary years. Easily searchable with lots of useful links. www.teaching-resource.co.uk - Teaching Resource Links to lots of educational websites categorised by subject, also links to NNS and NLS worksheets. http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resources/ - Times Educational Supplement The resource section on this site provides free resources and site links submitted and reviewed by teachers – a great way to save time. www.topmarks.co.uk - Topmarks A site for the primary classroom, especially rich in fun interactive whiteboard resources to use as a whole class or individual activities. www.tre.ngfl.gov.uk - Teacher Resource Exchange A database of resources and activities created by teachers and checked by subject specialists. Requires login but is free. www.underfives.co.uk - Under Fives Provides lots of worksheets, topic ideas, planning help and links to other sites suited to the foundation stage and younger.
Online newspapershttp://education.guardian.co.uk - Education Guardian Online News and views with an educational theme. www.tes.co.uk/community - Times Educational Supplement Check out the discussion forum, noticeboard and blogs to really find out what is happening in other classrooms. Government sponsored siteswww.curriculumonline.gov.uk - Curriculum Online Search and view online curriculum resources, many of which are available free. Also gives advice on how to use technology in schools. www.education.gov.uk - The Department for Education Keep up to date with all aspects of policy affecting children and young people. www.gtce.org.uk - General Teaching Council for England Stay up to date by checking out the Research of the Month section or link to the Teacher Learning Academy to continue your professional development. www.ofsted.gov.uk - Ofsted Useful for checking out a school's Ofsted report before you go in! www.qca.org.uk - Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Order publications, search schemes of work, keep up to date with policy and information about the National Tests. www.teachernet.gov.uk - Teachernet A government website containing a wealth of material on educational issues. Behaviour management
Provides key information, resources and advice on a range of behavioural issues. The resources are designed to encourage pupils to think about their behaviour. Professional associations and support servicesUnion sitesUnion websites offer support and advice on a wide range of professional issues from health and safety to school trips. Membership is not always necessary to access the information. www.ascl.org.uk - Association for School and College Leaders www.askatl.org.uk - Association of Teachers and Lecturers www.nasuwt.org.uk - National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers www.teachers.org.uk - National Union of Teachers www.voicetheunion.org.uk - Voice, The Union for Education Professionals Teaching associationsTeaching associations provide support, advice, professional development opportunities, conferences and many other services to their members. Joining associations can be especially beneficial to supply teachers as they can help to prevent feelings of isolation from the teaching community. Follow the link below to view a list of the main organisations. www.teachernet.gov.uk/professionaldevelopment/professionalassociations/teachingassociations Subject associationsSubject associations promote their subject, perform and digest research, provide networking opportunities and their members share an enthusiasm for the subject. Joining a subject association will enable supply teachers, who have limited INSET opportunities, to remain at the forefront of their subject. Follow the link below to view a list of the main organisations. www.teachernet.gov.uk/professionaldevelopment/professionalassociations/subjectassociations Recommend a siteIf you find a site you think is great, please feel free to contact us to add it onto the site. Email me here >Interview tips
Interviews are often the most stressful part of applying for a new teaching post. Just the thought of performing in front of those interviewing panels can be terrifying. So here are some interview tips to ensure you are perfectly prepared, giving you the best possible chance of getting that all-important new job. Do your research Who - Who will you be meeting?
- What is their title and name?
- Who else will be present at the interview?
When - When should you arrive?
- Plan your journey carefully
- Find out where you can park or where the nearest public transport route is
- Ensure you leave plenty of time to allow for delays and getting lost. If you arrive very early then you can use the time to get a feel for the area and meet school staff
- Have the contact details of the school with you so you can phone in an emergency
What to wear Dress smartly. Irrespective of the school’s dress code it is essential that you dress smartly for any school visit or interview. It is expected that you will wear a suit, your hair will be neat, jewellery will be minimal and any supporting documents will be carried in a smart bag/briefcase or folder. First impressions certainly do count. Find out about the school - Research the school from as many different sources as possible
- Visit the school prior to the interview, this shows the school that you are interested and there is no better way of finding out about the school community. Ask if you could observe a lesson, meet the people you are hoping to work with, and talk to the head of department. Make sure you thank the school for the visit either by a follow-up call or letter
- Check out the school’s website
- Ask the school for a prospectus
- Read the Ofsted report - http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/
- Find out where they are in the league tables
- Find out what the key issues are for the school; what makes you the ideal candidate for taking the school forward in these areas?
Find out about the job Read the job specification carefully. The interviewers are looking for a person who will best fit or exceed this specification. Your past experience and achievements are obviously important but only as an illustration of how you can relate them to the job/school requirements.
Know your CV The interviewer may have a copy of your CV in front of them at interview. Make sure that you know all the information on your CV and that your CV is up-to-date. Ideally update your CV after any block of work or any completed professional development. Prepare for the actual interview - interview questions The questions that are likely to arise at interview vary according to the position but they may include the following: - Why you applied for this specific job
- What you think the job involves
- Your strengths and achievements in the profession so far
- Your future plans and ambitions
- Your weaknesses and development needs
- Why you left your previous position and what you are currently doing
- What you know about the school you are hoping to join, and your thoughts after any preliminary visit
- Why you think you would be suited to teach at this school
- Your ideas on dealing with difficult situations such as a confrontational parent, a child with disruptive behaviour, etc
- How your interests outside school could benefit extra curricular activities
- Your subject knowledge, and current issues in your subject and education
- Your qualifications
Make sure you have been reading about education and your subject in newspapers and subject association publications. After the interview Let your consultant know whether you are interested in taking the position should it be offered to you. If there are any clarifications or questions that you have following the interview, inform your consultant who can follow these up with the school on your behalf. Whether or not you are successful in getting the position, your consultant will contact you as soon as they have heard from the school. If you have not been selected for the post, the consultant will ask for feedback. Digesting and acting on this feedback will ensure that you are even more prepared for the next interview. Two final points Get those nerves under control early! Easier said than done, we know. But eating well the day before will ensure your blood sugar levels are balanced. And if you do feel an attack of the jitters, remember to do lots of deep breathing. Slow down! What happens when we're nervous? We gabble, rush our speech and leave important stuff out. Remember - silence can be your best friend. Pausing for a second or two before starting to answer questions can make you seem thoughtful, methodical and in control.
Writing your CV for Step Teachers Many questions arise when writing your CV. What information do I need to include? How should I lay out the information? How long should it be? Step Teachers has designed files to help. Download the advice and example CV to read and use the Word file to write your CV as easily as possible. Adobe - Writing your CV for Step Teachers, advice and example CV  Adobe - Writing your CV for Step Teachers, advice only Word - Example CV for annotation  Teachernet self-study materials This informative section of the Teachernet website provides information on the following topics relevant to supply teachers: http://www.teachers.gov.uk/supplyteachers/volume.cfm?&vid=1 Research of the Month Each month the GTC publishes a digest of research in an area of direct interest to teachers. They have now built up a library of over 40 topics divided into 5 themes: continuing professional development; curriculum; inclusion; management of learning; and teaching and learning. Each ROM begins with a summary page so that you can quickly decide if the topic is relevant to you. Reading a ROM will provide you with up-to-date research findings without having to plough through the original research. Find them at http://www.gtce.org.uk/research/romtopics/ British Educational Research Journal Subscribing to an educational research journal can be an expensive and time-consuming business. Fortunately the BERA has produced a series called Professional User Reviews. These are syntheses of research written by experts in their field with groups of teachers acting as consultants. The reviews are written in an accessible way to inform teachers of accepted practices and innovative ideas. The areas currently covered include numeracy, citizenship, music, early years, ICT, sustainable development and geography education. The reviews are available in hard copy for £4 each but can be downloaded for free at http://www.bera.ac.uk/publications/pureviews.php Promethean, a leading company in classroom interactive whiteboard technology, offers online tutorials. The foundation stage course is offered free, providing an introduction to teachers who have been unable to access training on this subject. There are further course stages (requiring payment) that enable teachers to become classroom experts. If you have ever walked into a classroom only to be confronted with a seemingly baffling array of technology, visiting the online tutorial will increase your confidence. Visit http://prometheanlearning.com/uk/ to access the training.
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