While the end of July takes a long time to arrive, the same can certainly not be said for September! Whether you’re just about to start the summer holidays, or if you’ve suddenly realised you’ve just got a few weeks left, it always seems like September is just around the corner.
Back-to-school time is right around the corner and for ECTs (early-career teachers) it’s a time full of anticipation and excitement. Over the next few weeks, it’s time to celebrate all your successes that have led you to this new school year, continue recharging your batteries, and start your preparation so you don’t have to deal with any last-minute stress.
Whether you’re a new teacher embarking on your first adventure or a seasoned pro looking to make a change, finding the right teaching job can sometimes be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Too often, we accept the first role that comes our way, without questioning whether the school will work for us in the long term. Our teachers at Pango have put their heads together to list their top tips for finding your dream school.
It is generally accepted that teachers should first learn to teach in a mainstream setting before moving into a specialised Special Educational Needs (SEN) role, but this is not always possible. My own experience in teaching highlights this. My first job out of university was in the school I had completed my final year placement in. I loved the school and had done well in my last observations and received top grades. The day before term started, I was invited back to cover sick leave in the school's Senior Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) class. Nothing could have prepared me for the weeks that followed. I questioned how I had ended up in a position where, after four years of study, I knew nothing.
Teaching is a notoriously difficult profession and the breaks throughout the year are certainly hard-earned! By the time summer rolls around, most teachers are ready to switch off entirely for a few weeks.
Computers play an intrinsic role in all our lives; they’re necessary for almost all types of work, we use them during our downtime, and their role in our lives is only getting bigger. We use apps to organise our lives, to do our jobs, for reference, communication, and entertainment. In fact, it is hard to remember how society functioned before the computer revolution.
We’re in the last term of 21/22 and schools are now starting to assess their staffing needs for the next academic year. Whether you’re an ECT or a seasoned pro looking for a change, it’s an incredibly exciting time of the year, filled with possibilities and dreams of a new future. Our teachers at Pango have been thinking back to their job application days and have pulled together some pointers to help you out when you take your first steps towards applying for your new role.
SATs preparation for year 6 is approaching. It’s that time of year when Year 6 teachers become ‘ninja like’ throughout the school building. They appear and disappear from the staffroom in the blink of an eye, moving at lightning speed throughout the corridors, and having hushed conversations with colleagues about revision plans, intervention groups and practice sessions. SATs preparation can be a challenging experience for teachers and children alike, so to help keep you on the straight and narrow, we’ve compiled a list of our top KS2 SATs survival tips from our teachers at Pango.
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It’s been a busy term, you’re aware of the upcoming KS2 SATs and general hustle and bustle of the Summer Term so you’re planning on using the Easter holidays to catch up on marking and get your lessons planned. In theory, this sounds like a great idea – you’re sure you’ll squeeze in some rest somewhere, right?
We all know that we should be moving more, whether we’re 8 or 80. Our modern world has made it easier than ever to stay seated for hours on end while our brains are entertained by what’s on the screen in front of us. But are the effects of exercise purely beneficial for our muscular and cardiovascular health?
