Teacher Feedback – Always Welcome!

March 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment

If you want to know what it is like to work with us please read the below feedback we received from one of our teachers.

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“I am NQT and have now had 2 terms of supplying in London. I was told in my training year that supply would be so hard. I love it! I’ve probably had only 3 dodgy days. I love seeing how different schools do things. I stick to year groups I am confident in.

I go armed with stickers and I get there usually at 8 so no panic to check plans… And there are always plans and mostly a smartboard prepared. I ask what usual stopping signals etc are and as I work with little ones I don’t go in all strict…. after all I’m the stranger in the room. By the end of the day I usually feel exhausted…

There’s a lot of thinking quickly needed. But you walk away with lots of tips. I have enjoyed working with Redbox and I feel more confident as a teacher than I could have imagined after a tough training year. Yay to supply!”

Whether you are a teacher or teaching assistant looking for day to day or long term supply work, please contact RedBox Teachers.  We are only a phone call away!

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London Schools Crisis

March 19, 2014 By Leave a Comment

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At RedBox Teachers we understand how important it is to be able to connect hardworking supply teachers and teaching assistants and good schools in your local area. We work on a personal level to find you a job that suits your individual needs, be it long term or short term, part time or full time. We have noticed that schools in London seem to be suffering from a shortage of teachers, especially because there are around 800 children thought to have missed out on primary school places last year.

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In 2011-2012 a stunning 6000 plus children applied for reception places compared to the previous year. It is thought that between 2011 and 2016 there will be a shortage of over 78,000 primary school places in London alone.

So what can be done? Local councils are putting measures in place to improve conditions in struggling schools, which have seen a decline in applicants. The Government has already spent £1 billion to create more places for children. With a view to plan for more funding in the future the government are trying to combat the impact that soaring birth rates will have on primary schools.

There have been claims made that children could be taught in shifts, some in the morning, the rest in the evening, in order to provide every child with equal opportunity. However, this could have severe complications to the quality and consistency of education.  So why not take measures to increase teaching opportunities at schools?

Studies have shown that children learn faster and have a better understanding of source material when taught in small groups. Cramming more children into larger classes will prove to be a detriment to learning in general. Existing teachers will find themselves overwhelmed with schoolwork and unable to give each individual child the time that they need to develop.

Are you looking to help maintain the quality of teaching? Do you want to make a difference the children and their community? Apply to Redbox Teachers by sending us your Teachers CV today!

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Tips on Your First Day at School – Week 2

March 14, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Last week we spoke about the first day of school, and the importance of being flexible with your lesson plan as well as letting the children get to know a little more about you as a person. So this week we are going to look at engaging with your new class so that you can learn more about them and how they learn best as a group.

Name Learning Exercises

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This can be in conjunction with them getting to know you. As you go around the class, ask that each child says their name clearly and also says one fact about themselves. This can be anything from their favourite colour to the latest film they watched to the number of siblings they have. These answers will facilitate discussion, help to break up the tension and will also provide anchoring points in helping you to remember the names of your students.

Sometimes strange questions like: “tell us something about yourself that nobody knew before” can be good or bad. Try to read the tone of the class. This question could be good as students will be eager to think of an original answer, or it can be a bad question as it could cause long periods of silence. Simpler questions are in general better, but try to think up your own.

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Community

Teamwork is crucial. Building a sense of community in class will really help when engaging your students in class discussion. If you try to encourage the idea of your class as a ‘team’ by engaging in group activities and encouraging other children to help their peers who seem to be struggling, this will help your relationship with your class as a whole.

Students tend to perform better when you build a sense of community because they will feel more connected to the class and to the instructor. An established sense of community will help students feel more comfortable when they enter your class, which makes it easier for them to concentrate and makes them more receptive to your teachings.

Whether you are looking for full time or part time work, long term or short term, Red Box Teachers has a vast array of jobs suited to you. Plus for more long distance teaching jobs we can arrange supply teacher accommodation in the local area to help you in any way we can.

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Tips on Your First Day at School – Week 1

March 6, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Your first day at a new school can be daunting, for both new teachers and new students, but there are a few important things to remember on your first day which will help you to make a good first impression with your students, and may also help you out in the long run too!

Be Flexible

flexibleWe all know teaching can be very unpredictable, but it is still important to plan well for your first set of lessons. Remember that much like any other social group, children base a lot on their first impressions of someone. If you make a memorable, engaging first lesson, your students will react to you more willingly and will learn more in the process.

However it is also important to remember that first lessons may not always turn out exactly as planned. It is important to be able to adapt to these situations and turn them out to your advantage.

Let Them Know About You

cake-sliceIf you introduce yourself using only your name, your children will find it harder to connect with you as a person. Try creating a fun game where you say a few things about yourself, perhaps foods you enjoyed as a child or a funny memory, and then invite the children to in turn, say a little bit about themselves.

Try not to spend too long about this, as you can easily get distracted, ten minutes at the start of the lesson is perfect. It starts building an important bond with your children; one of an interesting mentor as opposed to an adult who will talk at them and not to them, for hours on end.

At Red Box we are dedicated to joining qualified supply teachers and teaching assistants to schools within their local area. Join Red Box now for regular adverts for schools in your area!

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