Eteach ECT Community Newsletter 5th June
Welcome to this fortnight's edition of our Eteach Teaching Community ECT newsletter, where you will find tips for report writing, a summary of the benefits of supply teaching and some useful resources to support your pupils.
Surviving report writing
It's the time of year that many teachers dread: report writing time. Trying to put together individual reports, making sure you personalise each one and include?helpful comments for parents/carers can be extremely time consuming. Some teachers are super organised and will have already started the process, but some of us are guilty of leaving it until the very last minute, with a few even pulling an all-nighter to get them finished in time. To avoid any stress and make the process as pain-free as possible, follow these report writing tips:
Keep it simple
Try to keep the reports as clear and straightforward as possible. Don't overcomplicate them with terms that parents/carers may not understand - it is important that they are able to see clearly where the child has succeeded and where there is room for improvement.?
Personalise as much as possible
Every report should be personalised to the child, but this doesn't mean that every single sentence must be different to the other children's. It is absolutely fine to copy and paste comments referring to the child's progress against areas of the curriculum, as long as you make sure that you personalise statements relating to the child's behaviour, attitude to learning and interests. Parents should be able to see that you really know their child and that you aren't just using generic statements.?
Be specific
Avoid general comments such as 'he is doing well'. Be specific about exactly what objectives the child has succeeded in and what their targets for progression are. Reports should serve a purpose and broad comments will not give parents/carers any helpful information.
Have a bank of comments ready
Over the years, you should build up a substantial bank of comments for each subject or curriculum area. To get started, it is a good idea to come up with a few options for each ability level in each curriculum area, so that you can save time by copying and pasting into the reports. There are also ready-made examples available online and sharing with colleagues can help you build up your bank of comments to use in years to come.?
Pair constructive criticism with praise
It's important to be honest with parents and guardians, so reports should be a true reflection of their child's academic performance and attitude towards learning. If there is an issue that needs to be addressed, provide constructive criticism and soften the blow with some praise alongside it. Also, remember that none of this should be new information to the parents; if there has been an issue with a child's behaviour or work ethic, this should have been addressed separately beforehand.?
Use AI where possible
There are some amazing AI tools available to help lighten the load of report writing these days.?TeachMateAI,?Real Fast Reports?and?School Report Writer?all use AI technology to create reports from basic pupil information. This allows time-poor teachers to manage their workload more effectively, and concentrate on delivering exceptional educational experiences for their students.?
Make sure you proof-read (or get someone else to)
This should go without saying but after spending hours looking at the same documents, your eyes are bound to be tired. Take a break and proof-read each report that you have written, or ask somebody else to cast their eye over them. Many schools will have teachers submit their reports to a member of the senior leadership team for proof-reading before they go out to parents, but it is always a good idea to double check your own work beforehand.?
Benefits of supply teaching
If you don't have a permanent role secured for September, supply teaching could be more of a viable option than you think. Supply teachers enjoy many benefits, whether they are in it for the long haul or just a short-term fix.
Achieve flexibility and freedom
One of the main benefits of being a supply teacher is the freedom to work where you want, when you want: you choose which jobs you want to accept. There are no obligations to work a set amount of hours, so you can fit supply teaching around other commitments or make a full-time career out of it. You can even work as support staff if you fancy a break from teaching.
Escape school politics
Every school has its fair share of drama and disagreements. Whether its tension between teachers and SLT, or staff who disagree with proposed changes to the school, supply teachers often get to avoid the staff politics. Many supply teachers enjoy the fact that they can just 'turn up and teach', without having to engage in any of the deeper issues within the school.
Develop your behaviour management skills
Behaviour management is something that a lot of teachers struggle with. Supply teaching means that you have to deal with many different classes and pupil needs, meaning that you quickly develop effective strategies for behaviour management. All teachers are adaptable, with a range of tricks up their sleeves, but being a supply teacher really allows you to develop your practice.
Gain experience of different settings
Similarly, supply teaching can provide you with the opportunity to work in a range of different educational institutions and settings, developing your practice even further. You may discover a love for Early Years, or decide that you are an excellent SEND practitioner. Supply can often broaden your horizons much more than permanent roles can.
Make connections
It's always good to make teacher friends and you get the chance to meet so many likeminded people when working as supply. Whether you make new friends or new connections to help your career, it's a great way to build up your contacts.
Get paid more regularly
Rather than getting paid monthly like teachers in permanent roles, most supply teachers are paid through PAYE each week. More frequent payments means that you don't have to wait until the end of the month to get paid and you avoid the pre-payday shortage of money.
Create a blended career
Blended careers (having a few different streams of income) are becoming more and more popular, particularly amongst educators. Supply teaching fits in perfectly with this new approach, enabling teachers to focus on multiple jobs and side projects.
Find a permanent role
If supply is just a stop-gap until you find a permanent position, you may be able to find the perfect role at one of the schools you visit. Many supply teachers go on to be employed at schools where they have taught on a supply basis and it gives you the chance to assess whether the school would be the right fit for you?long-term.
If you are interested in supply teaching or permanent roles, visit?Eteach People .
Place2Be - supporting pupil wellbeing
It's exam season for many of our students and anxieties may be beginning to creep in. Even younger pupils may have fears about going into a new class in a few months, or starting a new school. With so many young people still afraid to talk about their feelings or prioritise their wellbeing, it is more important than ever to take steps to promote mindfulness within the classroom.
Place2Be ?is an amazing charity with almost 30 years' experience working with pupils, families and schools . The organisation offers mental health support and resources based on allowing pupils to express themselves and explore their feelings, including advice to help pupils navigate exam season and start a new school. They also offer free mental health training for school staff and advice on how to get into child counselling.?
If you haven't already, check out the resources on the Place2Be website to find out how to support your students through challenging times.?
Barclays Life Skills
Barclays Life Skills ?is a free employability programme supporting young people throughout the UK to develop the confidence, skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the workplace. There are lesson plans, interactive tools and ideas on how to fit life skills into the curriculum from age 7 to age 25. With topics such as personal development and overcoming challenges, taking control of finances, building key skills, and finding and preparing for employment, the programme allows students to develop invaluable skills that may not necessarily be covered otherwise. You will also find a wealth of knowledge in the form of blogs and research to support continued professional development and allow you to better prepare your students for the world of work.?
Applying for your next teaching role? Eteach can help!?
We know that many of you are in the process of applying for jobs at the moment. If you need any support with finding roles, writing your personal statement or coming up with ideas for interview, please do get in touch through our Facebook group or email us at [email protected].
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