Week 1: Help I’m an NQT

What should I be doing in my first week/term?

As daunting as it may appear, the first term is already upon us and we need to make an early start on trying to see the wood from the trees.   The first thing to remember is that you are not alone, unless you have a teacher who can claim to have taught Moses, we have all been through the NQT Induction process and came out through the other side.

It’s going to seem hectic in your first full week but there are a number of things you need to do right from the start.  If you have not done so already ask for copies of the following documents:

• Marking Policy 

• Behaviour Management Policy 

Both of these will save you time in the long run. I have found a number of NQTs struggling under the workload of trying to mark every book with A4L and R2M only to find that the schools expectations are that you mark to this depth just once a week. 

Have a look at the schools dress code (if they have one) or ask others about the expectations. For example, lots of schools don’t like flip flops, or loose tops and others have policies about makeup limits.  

Unless you are working in Reception the children will already have one advantage over you - they will all know one another better than you know them.   Think about seating plans and seek advice from their last teacher. If this isn’t possible, think about grouping by ability but don’t discount other options such as separating them by friendship groups or try fish and chips (boy, girl, boy , girl). 

Remember that who sits in which seat is your choice so move the children around every couple of weeks until you get the mix right. I used to like mixed ability groups but that’s personal choice.

The big game for your new class will be who can find out the teachers “real” name first. So, send a letter home introducing yourself and sign it off with your first and second names. The children will still call you Miss (even if you are a male!) so what have you got to hide. 

Think about your classroom and what it looks like; the best displays are those of children’s work.  I have heard some horror stories over the summer about teachers spending hours creating displays.  My question would be “why”! If you need resources use www.instantdisplay.co.uk, but this should be a last resort as I’ve already said, the best displays are the ones with the children’s work.  

At this early stage, you may be limited so as a first activity, to get them started on classroom displays, think about job applications (no not yours). Generate a list of grand sounding job titles like: Resources Manager (give out pencils), Reprographics Distribution (gives out books), Logistics Consultant (collects books), ICT Advisor (gives out laptops) etc. Then ask the children to apply for the post. Here is the basis for your first assessment opportunity and your first display.

Finally, for the first week (ish), make sure you know where the staff room is and use it. It’s the easiest thing in the world to become isolated in your comfort zone but lots of information and a fair bit of gossip can be picked up in the staffroom. Fortunately in most schools we have moved on from that chair is Miss Browns, that mug belongs to Miss Jones. 

Best of luck with your first week as an NQT!

Don't miss our other tips, 'You’ve got the job! 8 tips to settle into your new school'.