The beginning of a new chapter

At the end of 2012 I completed two years of full time teaching and in doing so am now a fully registered teacher. My two years were spent teaching a year 7/8 class in a small rural city in southern Hawkes Bay. I had two wonderful years, building my knowledge of the curriculum, learning and implementing a range of pedagogies, and most importantly, defining who I am as a teacher.

I have decided to seek new educational challenges in the form of relief teaching. The rationale for this decision is two pronged: a) broaden my experience in teaching different age groups and abilities; and b) gain exposure to new and different resources, materials and perspectives on teaching and learning.

To prepare myself for this transition I have been scouring the Internet for readings, resources and anything else that will help me to make the transition from full time, to relief teaching which are similar but different beasts.

In my search I came across an excellent reading compiled by an experienced relief teacher outlining a range of tips and strategies for relief teaching. One section in particular struck a cord with me.

For me as a beginning relief teacher keeping things simple and having clear, defined and attainable goals is a great place to start. Focusing on these key areas as listed above will be the priority for me and will be the building blocks from which more detailed plans will stem. 

I also came across the following website which has a range of fantastic resources, guidance on teaching strategies and a fantastic forum of experienced teachers that can be called upon to answer any burning questions:

www.reliefteaching.com