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Preparing to teach A-level Physics

Richard Bonella

Physics Teacher Network Coordinator (PNC)

Physics in the Field volunteer

Teaching & Learning Coach (TLC)

NQT Mentor

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 This session:

Suggested resources on paper, and

electronically from event organiser.

Opportunity to discuss concerns.

Slides to help me cover everything.

Crowded, but we are adults not Set 9-whatever,
so please bear with me.

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 Concerns about:

Teaching as a whole

Science teaching

Teaching A-level physics

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 Possible concerns
1. Will I get along with colleagues? Will I get along with colleagues?

2. Will I get along with the students?Will I get along with the students?
3. How will my NQT mentor treat me?How will my NQT mentor treat me?
4. How will the technician(s) treat me?How will the technician(s) treat me?
5. How will I know what to teach?How will I know what to teach?
6. I know what to to teach how should I teach it?
I know what to to teach how should I teach it?

7. I'm not confident about school practicalsI'm not confident about school practicals
8. Will I cope with the marking?Will I cope with the marking?
9. Will there be enough hours in the day?Will there be enough hours in the day?
10. How can I remember all the school policies that I am expected
to follow?How can I remember all the school policies that I am expe...
11. Will my pupils look for me on Facebook?Will my pupils look for me on Facebook?
12. What should I do if I am not getting enough support?
What should I do if I am not being provided with:

13. Will I pass my induction year?Will I pass my induction year?

14. What if I decide that I don't want to be a teacher after all?What
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if I decide that I don't want to be a teacher after...
 Will I get along with colleagues? Possible concerns

Begin with the premise that they are all decent, helpful,
hardworking folk.

Then quietly compile a mental list of those who are not.

Ask for advice and listen politely even if you choose not to
follow it.

Listen to gossip but don't spread it.

Volunteer for tasks/roles that you are confident about, then use
these to justify declining to take on others that you don't want.

Offer help if/when you can, but quietly.

Stand your round early, while the group is still small.

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 Will I get along with the students (1)? Possible concerns

Review your class management training.

Be polite and helpful, but firm. If you decide to lose your

temper theatrically, do it very sparingly.
Perhaps tell the story to colleagues in the prep or staff
room, before word gets around that you have been
overheard losing your cool?

Be prepared to admit mistakes or ignorance students need to

see adult role models doing this, because it doesn't come
naturally to many teenagers.
Feel free to tell pupils to research answers to their
questions. Easier if you have already recommended
some websites (see resources handout). Follow up.
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 Will I get along with the students (2)? Possible concerns

Challenge the students: eg with independent projects, posters,

5-minute presentations. You'll see different strengths and
limitations in them, as well as help set them up for the real world.
Ask for opportunities to observe colleagues teaching your set(s),
especially if they have a reputation for good classroom
management.
Mentally rehearse classroom disasters before they happen pilots
do this in a flight simulator throughout their careers.
Keep written records of incidents.
Follow the school sanctions policy scrupulously. Inform your
mentor in writing if reality does not match the policy when it comes
to support from the SLT, eg pupils not seen by SLT until ten days
after the incident that you reported. It happens.
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 How will my NQT mentor treat me? Possible concerns

Ideally, as a valued recruit to a demanding job, who needs

guidance beforehand and feedback afterwards, the chance to
make small mistakes without being shot, and occasionally to be
saved from making major blunders.

But: ask politely but firmly for the support that you are entitled to:
see the DfE policy on induction for checklists)

Keep in touch with your peers from ITT; compare your

experience with theirs.

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 How will the technician(s) treat me? Possible concerns

I don't know.
Some are brilliant, most do their best with limited resources
(time and money), a few will try to keep NQTs 'in their place'
Treat them with respect and courtesy: this will pay immediate
dividends with most, and win around almost all of the awkward
squad in time.
Follow their requisition procedure!

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 How will I know what to teach (1)?
Possible concerns

Ideally you'll get a comprehensive SoW before the end of this term.
If not, prepare your own: start with the spec, then the textbook, then past
papers with mark schemes and examiners' reports (online or in Exampro).
Make sure you can explain things that are set out as 'givens' in the textbook
turn to Muncaster? (see handout).
Could pupils get good marks using what you plan to teach them?
Start point is helping students to get good exam grades.
Then add the extra depth/breadth/context that a specialist can bring
(this contributes to good grades if it interests and motivates students).
Read New Scientist make a fuss if school library doesn't buy it
and IOP journals that are sent to affiliated schools.

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 How will I know what to teach (2)?
Possible concerns

In theory; A-level work is founded on GCSE work. But:

GCSE specs differ.
GCSE and A-level spec revisions are not in sync.
Students retain widely-differing amounts of what they learned in
Year 11.
In your first year, all the students will be unknown to you.
Try a no-notice, short test in the very first lesson: about 30-minutes worth of
top-end GCSE questions from past papers.
A baseline for lesson prep and for assessing student progress.
Expect weak maths, eg trig for work on vectors:
- plan maths revision session(s)?
- asks Maths Dept for their A-level PoS?

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I know what to to teach how should I teach it (1)?
Possible concerns

Easiest in subjects & Key Stages where you gained experience

during ITT.
A-level is often the issue, especially particle physics, but ask
colleagues, peers, IOP (www.TalkPhysics.org see handout).
Think your way through the SoW; add notes of bright ideas that you
may use in your lessons plan.
Lesson planning: as directed by mentor/SLT if they are observing,
but otherwise to suit yourself. No need to fill a page with
statements of the obvious if only you will read it.
SEN make friend of the SENCO early on ask for training if you
have a significant SEN task.

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I know what to to teach how should I teach it (2)?
Possible concerns

Stress to pupils: they should aim first to understand concepts rather than
memorise extensive detail.
- Don't start by throwing equations on the board; it's confusing for all but the
most mathematically-minded.
- Try: demo (if possible) discuss explain quantify calcs.
Teaching style: whatever works for your students and for you. There is no one
right way; think back to your own teachers & lecturers. We are told that even
OFSTED now accepts this, though I can't speak for your HoD.
Lesson content must include demos and pracs, but you may struggle to include
all the 'discuss/explain/quantify/calc' into lesson time.
- Either: discuss/explain/quantify in class, leaving most calcs for prep, or:
students read up in advance, leaving more time for calcs in class?
- You could let the class decide which they prefer, but then hold them to it.

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 I'm not confident about school practicals
Possible concerns

Consult technicians diplomatically: they may be expert, or limited but keen to

learn, or defensive about lack of knowledge.
Use IOP/Nuffield Practical Physics, and Teaching Advanced Physics (TAP)
websites see handout.
Use www.TalkPhysics.org to borrow, or ask for, ideas see handout.
Look out for new pracs in journals, at IOP meetings, online, but try them first, and
assess risk, in line with departmental policy on risk assessments.
IOP/ASE twilights and study days (IOP are free). Identify (IOP website) and
contact your IOP Teacher Network Coordinator (PNC) and attend, or even suggest
topics for, IOP workshops.
Go online to university websites: look for chances to take students to events, to
invite academics into your school (keep SLT informed) or to go on study days
yourself.
2014 cohort will be last to sit practical exams (ISA or EMPA). Make an early start:
read the rules, plan dates/times, coordinate with other sciences/depts. Go on
exam board study days.
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 Will I cope with the marking?
Possible concerns

Probably not at the beginning.

Understand the school policy.
Follow it as best you can if it's unclear or unrealistic: ask.
Keep a diary (day, class, time spent) in case you are challenged.
Be smart: use peer marking and skim marking where appropriate.
Consider model answers, for correct physics and decent English.
Be particularly scrupulous in marking if a student is not keeping up. You
will need evidence to support any suggestion that he/she should drop the
subject (though 'better grades in fewer subjects' is a valid line to take).
Tell mentor/HoD early if it's getting out of hand use diary and samples as
evidence.

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 Will there be enough hours in the day?
Possible concerns

No.
So prioritise.
Temper your own judgment on priorities with guidance from
colleagues and direction from management.
It is entirely legitimate to ask your line manager: Which of these
jobs needs the greatest attention to detail or Which should I
finish first or If I take on this task, which other task can I put to
one side in order to make time?. Ask in writing if you wish.
Your are entitled to a domestic and social life just keep it off
Facebook, and ignore friend request from current or recent
pupils.

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How can I remember all the school policies that I
am expected to follow? Possible concerns

Ask where the electronic copy is on the school's server. Copy it

to your laptop so that you can search easily.
Learn the policies dealing with things about which you'll have to
make immediate decisions: eg sanctions, child protection.
Where possible, check the appropriate policy before acting.
If it's ambiguous, contradictory, or just plain daft, raise the issue
in writing.

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 Will my pupils look for me on Facebook?
Possible concerns

Yes, so clean up and lock down now.

Will they write me up on RateMyTeacher?

Possibly. If you don't want to know, don't look.

Will they try to photograph me in class?

Yes, if the school does not effectively control phones in class.

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What should I do if I am not being provided with:
Possible concerns

the necessary employment task, experience and support to

enable (me) to demonstrate satisfactory performance against
the relevant standards throughout and by the of the induction
period?

Make sure that you know the rules (next slide).

Ask for what you need, informally and then formally, in
writing.
Keep a note of all verbal responses and a copy (off-line) of
any emailed ones.
Note that not all rules apply to academies, but study the text
carefully take no-one's word for it.
Governors are responsible for oversight of NQT induction.

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 Should I try to stay in this job after my NQT year?
Possible concerns

Yes, if you enjoy it, feel that you are valued and can see significant
career progression on a timescale that you are happy with.
No, if you dont feel that way.
Things to do anyway:
Keep an eye on the job market, eg TES and Guardian websites;
know what you are worth,
Avoid tying yourself financially, eg with a mortgage, if possible

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 Will I pass my induction year?
Possible concerns

Probably, but don't stick it out if failure looms: you cannot resit.

Move elsewhere, either to another induction post or to short-

term supply (less than one term) for the rest of the year.

This will develop your confidence and experience, and give you
credibility when applying elsewhere for induction.

Again, study the DfE rules. They are quite complicated.

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 What if I decide that I don't want to be a teacher
after all?
If you are seriously unhappy by the Spring half-term break, as opposed to
just thoroughly exhausted, make a list of the pros and cons.

Now ask yourself which of the cons apply to teaching in general and
which reflect your experience of this school.

Mostly the latter? Look for another post, to commence as soon as you
have completed and passed your induction.

A year in one school is not wide experience of teaching.

Schools vary hugely in their ethos and atmosphere, from brilliant to !!!

If you know that you could be a good teacher in the right environment, then
there is a Physics post somewhere with your name on it.

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 Thats all, folks

Happy to stay in touch: email address on handout

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