Today’s episode has 2 parts, the first is 5 essential tips for preservice teachers embarking on a prac and want to make the best impression from the get-go. The second is for mentor teachers and our advice to help you give your preservice teacher the most valuable learning experience.
5 Essential Tips for Preservice Teachers:
- Manners aren’t just for kids
- First impressions are a thing
- Get involved in the classroom and school life
- Build relationships respectfully and professionally
- Phones need to go away while you are on the job
Hosting a Prac Student 101:
- Communicate your expectations clearly
- Establish a mentorship relationship
- Plan and involve your prac student in lesson preparation
- Observe and provide constructive feedback (think 3 stars and a wish)
- Encourage reflection and self-assessment
- Setup times for regular meetings
- Model effective teaching practices and provide opportunities for the prac student to try them
- Celebrate successes and provide encouragement
We need great teachers in the classroom, so both preservice teachers and mentor teachers alike have a responsibility to get the most out of a prac for the future students that will be sitting in our classrooms.
If you know a preservice teacher OR a mentor teacher, share the love and this episode with them.
Rainbows ahead,
Ashleigh and Alisha
Resources mentioned in this episode
Freebie for Preservice Teachers
Today’s episode is sponsored by The Hive an all-in-one online hub for your classroom – Get your 7 day free trial here.
About today’s sponsor – The Hive:
The Hive is an all-in-one online hub for your classroom – a launchpad with everything you need, all in one place. Think of it as your digital teaching partner!
The Hive was created by former teacher and Assistant Principal Tam (Mrs Learning Bee) and her software developer husband Jez. Their vision is simple: to find new & innovative ways to make teachers’ lives easier whilst also making learning fun and engaging for students.
Some of the features that they’ve pioneered are:
- Their online visual timetable and digital teacher planner – the first ever planner for teachers AND students
- Innovative phonics apps including their famous Word Builder and Beedle game
- Buzzboard, their complete digital whiteboard
- An ever-growing bank of digital learning tools and classroom management tools which take customisation to the next level
- The unique classroom dashboard that brings everything together
Tam and Jez have built The Hive in collaboration with thousands of teachers from around the world, actioning their feedback to build updates and features that are needed in classrooms.
