How To Be A Teacher
A new lease of life...
Hello everyone.
And welcome back.
After spending most of the past year writing for ‘Diary of a Teacher’, I’ve had a hiatus over the summer. Makes sense, you might think – I’m not doing any teaching so what is there to write about?
The truth is, I’ve actually been wondering whether this blog has lived out its purpose.
The impetus to write for it has ebbed away.
Its function has floundered.
Why?
Well, I started it because I like writing. Sure, I wanted people to read what I write and hoped to make it as entertaining and instructive as possible but, really, it was all about me just penning something for the sake of it. A way to jot down thoughts and practice a bit of storytelling.
After a year or so, that’s been achieved and the need to continue is no longer clear.
When I started it, I read a brilliant book called ‘The Art and Business of Writing Online’ by Nicolas Cole, one of the most widely followed online blog writers of all time. What he writes about gave me the inspiration to have a go myself and, for 12 months, I’ve been glad I did. But, after chancing my anecdotal arm and feeling it now well-flexed, my reason for continuing has become unclear.
This week, however, something struck me. Something that harks back to my initial reading of that very book.
Cole’s writing journey began when he worked in the office of a corporate high-flyer – a bigwig, a guru of getting-it-done and a master leader of people. There was a lot to learn from the position he found himself in and, so, Cole took the time to write down what he was learning and shared it online.
Naturally, it went down a storm. People all over the corporate world want to be successful and will find themselves leading others. Cole’s blog showed them how it’s done.
And, this year, I’m in a similar position.
In a team of three teachers, our year lead is the same highly experienced, creative teacher who led us last year. She’s a total joy to work with and brilliant at things I’m not – thinking outside the box with lesson delivery, keeping calm under pressure and speaking with diplomacy and class.
(Really not selling myself there am I. I’m good at these things, and teaching in general, but she’s much better, so I will keeping learning from her is what I’m saying).
The other classroom – the third of the three – however, has undergone change. Instead of the ECT (Early Careers Teacher) we had in there last year, we have:
A former year lead for this year group who knows the curriculum inside out, delivers amazing results and works so fast she makes machines worry about their jobs and;
A former year lead for Year 3 who is the school’s assistant head and a behaviour-management guru.
These two will share the teaching hours but be present around the school most of the week in fulfilment of their various other responsibilities.
Together, the three of them constitute the most well-stacked group of professionals I have possibly ever worked with. When I started at the school three years ago, they were the year leads for years 3, 5 and 6 respectively. Three quarters of the school’s middle-leadership team are now working as closely as possible with me and are there to offer me constant guidance, support and ideas. Every day, I’ll have the benefit of their experience.
They will show me, in the most complete way possible, How To Be A Teacher.
And, thus, we have a new purpose for this blog.
Like Nicolas Cole, I will use it to share the very best of what my expert colleagues do and how it makes them teachers of the highest calibre.
If you have a passion for teaching, educating or working with children, are early in your career and in a place where you want to keep learning, you will find everything you need right here.
You will find:
How to keep children calm in stressful situations
How to prepare children for difficult days and help them handle setbacks with grace and purpose
How to create space for independence
How to encourage creative thought
How to organise and manage a classroom environment
How to manage misbehaviour, uncover the causes of it and support improved behaviour
How to build a sense of belonging in students
How to improve attendance
How to develop skill mastery (like arithmetic and handwriting)
How to ready children for exams
And so, so much more that I myself haven’t even been exposed to yet.
I hope you find it useful.
Note: shout out to Patrick of and Nash of , who have both checked in with me during my period of hush to check all is well and offer themselves up. I don’t know these two amazing people outside of Substack but they’ve taken the time to check in and that’s such a valuable thing to do in spaces such as this.
Yes to this!
"And, thus, we have a new purpose for this blog."
But as a reader of yours, I certainly didn't feel any flounder and always enjoyed your insights before as well.
Welcome back! I was thinking the other day that it had been a while since I’d seen something from you. Excited to see where this new direction goes!