“If you're not enjoying it, you’re not doing it right; teaching, that is!,” says Paula White.

1. Prepare your lessons thoroughly - obvious but crucial.  It will save you time in the long run;
2. Talk less in class - let the students talk through issues.  Peer education creates time for you to give individual support where it is needed;
3. Shadow a student to remind yourself how boring classwork can be!  It’s up to you to make it a lively learning environment;
4. Integrate at least one key skill into each lesson;
5. Use the register as a check list to remind yourself to praise each student’s work at least once per session or week;
6. Recap after every 15 minutes;
7. Introduce real people with stories to bring theory to life; perhaps introduce a pen pal or email pal system with twinned countries to share experiences of the subject;
8. Don’t forget the value of the process you are teaching and don’t get too wrapped up in outcomes.  Make everything in the class or home study purposeful and clearly-linked to relevant outcomes;
9. Be firm but fair.  It wins the trust of your students if you are consistent;
10. And have Fun.  If you don’t enjoy it, you’re not doing it right.  Look at how other people teach - don’t be afraid to ask other teachers to share advice or tips or to mentor you.  Experience should be shared and help should be offered amongst colleagues.

Top Ten Tips for New Teachers follows a series of Top Ten Tips for Students from Edexcel, the largest awarding body offering vocational and academic qualifications.  The series includes Top Ten Tips from Students, from Parents and from Examiners.

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