Primary School Teacher UK Q&A (PLANNING, MOTIVATION, ADVICE)

As a Primary School Teacher, I often receive messages about the job I have been doing for 6+ years. An example of these questions would be other teaching asking for advice about planning, looking for jobs, what to expect during their first year of teaching and how I stay motivated as an educator. In this video, I answer some of your questions and provide an insight into what it takes to work as a Primary School Teacher. Do you have any questions about teaching (perhaps about teacher training, classroom management, lesson observations) feel free to leave them below in the comments for myself and other teachers to help answer.
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CHANNEL INFORMATION:
My name is Katie and I am a qualified Primary School Teacher from Manchester, UK. My degree is BA Honours Primary Education with QTS and in August 2019 I will begin my 7th year of teaching. Currently based in Hong Kong, I share my knowledge of the UK system and information about working internationally through videos on this channel each week. If you have a suggestion for content or a burning question feel free to leave a comment below. In order to support the channel, consider clicking the red “subscribe” button below the video. It’s free and will really hope my content to be found by other student teachers. Thank you!

**Thank you to everyone who sent in advice on the ForTeachers page. A special thank you to @Goodmorningmsfoster for inspiring this Q&A!
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USEFUL VIDEOS:

Teacher Training Playlist:
(STUDENT TEACHERS)

New Teacher Playlist:

Lesson Observation Tips:

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LET’S CONNECT:

Instagram @ForTeachers
Facebook: ForTeachers

#Teacher #Primaryschoolteacher #Teach

[ellieee_louiseee]

I have social anxiety and the weird thing is, when I teach in front of the children, all of those anxious feelings seem to go away. I think their humour and the fun lessons we do makes me feel more comfortable. If you put me in front of a group of adults though, I wouldn't be able to cope.

[ForTeachersChannel]

When did you realise you wanted to become a school teacher? I hope you liked my story :') Please share your questions and suggestions down here. Enjoy the new video! Katie @ForTeachers

[TeachersMakingTheBasicsFun]

In the US sometimes you have to substitute teach "supply teaching" and then they can see how amazing you are. Teaching is the best and every day is different. It is tough but worth it... most days.

[zahraenn]

I absolutely love your videos. I'm currently considering going into teaching with the intention of moving abroad eventually and your videos are so encouraging and useful. I've heard many horror stories from teachers so this is much needed. Looking forward to Future content!! ♥️

[Sophie-cfkt]

This was really helpful - thank you! I am a PGCE trainee on my final placement for the Spring term. I'm currently finding the planning very difficult. I feel that my course has not prepared us for planning and teaching and how to do effective planning. The teachers I work with (two form entry) just seem to know how to do it, when they say they're doing a topic next week they have a sequence of lessons in mind and I just don't! I find it so difficult to see progression and I don't have twinkl so finding it so time consuming making all my own powerpoints and own resources (3 as they're differentiated). I'm currently only still teaching 8 hours a week, 1 core a day per week and 3 foundation subjects. At the moment this workload is enough and on my next placement on my EYFS/KS1 placement (YR, Y1 and Y2 class) I will have to plan for 80% of the time for a mixed year group class! My question is how do I get better at planning and less time consuming! I can plan, but it takes me hours. I feel like I will never be able to relax as im constantly stressing about planning- I love the teaching but the planning gives me nightmares! Please help!

[emilybastable]

I knew I wanted to be a teacher (currently going into student teaching) was when I entered secondary school and realised just how amazing my primary school teachers were! My year 1 teacher was very formative in my life simply because she listened to each one of us and encouraged our gifts and talents. I just hope I can be the same ... :)

[beigelover]

I think the reason I struggled with lesson planning so much in my first plcaement was that it was a one fom entry school and I had to do everything from scratch (ppts, activity sheets etc.). twinkle and tes were amazing and helped me but I think having to doing this made the experience horrible for me and I dreaded the week ahead every weekend. It was a good learning experience though and I definitely now know how to manage my time better in the future (also never working in a one form again lol). by the way, did/do you plan on weekends and did you have to create the content like I did?

[ninaazaria]

amazing video! Super helpful as well for someone like me who is only starting my teaching 'journey' this summer :)

[zaynab]

Could you do a video on planning as a trainee. I just want to know that I’m not the only one who found it so time Consuming!

[ShadowRiderxx]

I'm looking for an NQT position, having gained QTS last June. Can you do a video about Medium and Long Term planning? On placements, I never got the opportunity to plan anything like that and so I'm quietly terrified of the prospect in addition to not knowing how to get begin to attempt to plan one.

[princessrockz]

Hi, can you do a video on how to plan, observe and do a pupil progress meeting at the end of block placement 3 for focus children? We have 3 focus children to observe and track the progress of.

[irinofrancisco]

What is the different between the primary school lesson and sinior hight school??

[kasiab.]

Hi! Do you think that having an actual portfolio that you carry around for the interviews is sth useful and popular in the UK? I see it as a good presentation of what I have done in the classroom, how I write planning etc. but wouldn't want to look silly with a binder with me while nobody does it :D Thank you.

[niketacheney]

I did human resources as a degree then I'm thinking of doing the year teaching training PCGE as a primary school teacher will having a HR degree affect me getting a job

[djaz]

Hey I am doing a teaching course right now however everyone keeps saying the pay is terrible and now I am regretting and scared. I tried searching online it says the pay is minimum £28k in inner london is this true? could you please give me information on the pay as a NQT in inner london thanks x