New Teacher Essentials: Building Confidence and Professional Skills

Description

Concept by Nick Praulins, Peter Junker

This course is designed to equip new teachers with the essential skills and tools needed to thrive in today’s educational environment.

Participants will explore the multifaceted role of a teacher, building confidence through shared experiences and reflective practices.

Throughout the course, participants will learn to establish professional boundaries with students and colleagues, cultivating a growth mindset that transforms challenges into opportunities for personal and professional development.

Hands-on activities will provide practical techniques for classroom management and effective communication with students, parents, and peers.

Participants will also delve into strategies for building positive relationships with parents, as well as fostering self-awareness and well-being to sustain a long and fulfilling teaching career.

By engaging in reflective practice, they will continually refine their teaching methods and classroom management skills.

The course will conclude with a focus on building a supportive peer network through the creation of a Critical Friend community, ensuring ongoing professional support and collaboration.

By the end of the course, participants will feel confident and well-prepared to navigate the complexities of their teaching roles, equipped with the tools and strategies needed for long-term success and motivation in their careers.

Learning outcomes

This course will help participants to:

• Understanding the Role of a Teacher and Building Confidence
  • Gain a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted role of a teacher;
  • Build confidence through sharing personal success stories and reflective practice.
• Establishing Professional Boundaries and Cultivating a Growth Mindset
  • Learn to establish and maintain professional boundaries with students and colleagues;
  • Develop a growth mindset to transform challenges into opportunities for growth and development.
• Enhancing Communication Skills and Reflective Practice
  • Enhance your communication skills to effectively engage with students, parents, and colleagues;
  • Implement reflective practices to continuously improve teaching methods and classroom management.
• Building Relationships with Parents and Self
  • Develop effective strategies for building positive relationships with parents;
  • Foster self-awareness and personal well-being to sustain a long and fulfilling teaching career.
• Navigating Societal Challenges in Education
  • Identify and address contemporary societal challenges that impact education;
  • Develop actionable strategies to overcome these challenges and support student success.
• Managing Workload Effectively
  • Learn practical techniques for managing your workload and maintaining a healthy work-life balance;
  • Develop organizational skills to stay on top of your responsibilities and reduce stress.
• Building a Critical Friend Community
  • Establish a supportive network of peers to share experiences and provide ongoing professional support;
  • Create a vision for continuous collaboration and professional growth.

Tentative schedule

Day 1 – Course introduction

• Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities;
• Icebreaker activities;
• Kick off your journey with an introduction to the course and your fellow participants;
• Share personal teaching contexts, engage in discussions to identify common challenges, and reflect on the qualities that make an effective educator;
• Through storytelling and group activities, build a strong foundation of confidence and self-awareness.

Day 2 – Establishing professional boundaries and cultivating a growth mindset

• Dive into the critical aspect of maintaining professional boundaries with students and colleagues;
• Participate in small group discussions and role-playing exercises to practice real-life scenarios;
• Explore growth mindset strategies and engage in mindset shift exercises.

Day 3 – Enhancing communication skills and reflective practice

• Enhance your communication skills with interactive role-plays and group discussions focused on overcoming common challenges;
• Delve into reflective practice through journaling and peer discussions;
• Develop a personal action plan to integrate reflective techniques into your daily teaching routine.

Day 4 – Building relationship with parents and self

• Learn essential strategies for building successful relationships with parents;
• Explore contemporary societal challenges impacting education through group discussions;
• Develop actionable strategies to help you personally navigate these challenges in your context.

Day 5 – Building a Critical Friend Community

• Establish a supportive peer network by discussing the importance and benefits of a Critical Friend community;
• Develop norms and expectations for ongoing support and collaboration.

Day 6 – Course closure and cultural activities

• Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
• Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
• Excursion and other external cultural activities.