Tips for NQTs and Everybody Else

 

Grainne Hallahan's recent "13 top tips for this year's NQTs" – suggestions for Newly Qualified Teachers in the UK, offered by their experienced colleagues – besides observations on grading papers and monitoring student behavior has mindful self-care thoughts for everyone to remember:

  • Don't give yourself a hard time – "My advice to you is to be kind to yourself. The work is never completed, so you need to decide when to stop, rest and refresh. If you find the job tough at times, don't give yourself a hard time. Just reflect, learn, adapt and keep moving forward. Good luck!"
  • Take care of yourself
  • Don't expect to get everything done – "... remember that the job will fill any time you allow it. Be really firm on when you are willing and able to work and then prioritise within that time. You will never get everything done because the job is infinite."
  • Give yourself a break – "... go home one day a week as soon as possible ... and don't do any work that night. It really makes a difference. You should also find at least one person you can have a proper chat with about what's going well and what you're worried about. ..."
  • Your sense of achievement will make it all worthwhile
  • You're really important

(cf Comments on Mantra - Say Thanks, not Sorry, 2018-09-10 - Thank You, Mr Rogers, 2019-04-21 - You Are Loved, Opening to the New (2019-05-19), 2019-09-22 - Empathy and Openness, ...) - ^z - 2020-06-24