Meet The Teachers
It’s a busy time of year; the kids are back at school and it’s already the lead up to half term – can you believe it? But this time around, it’s not just the children we’ve been thinking about – it’s their teachers as well…
Often underappreciated and undeniably dedicated, teachers make a significant difference to the world. Many work extremely hard, labouring through the long hours with only multiple cups of tea as their aid and all without a ‘thank you’. But that comes to a stop now.
As part of our Real Heroes collection and in honour of their diligence, we’ve gifted four teachers with a dress that they can rock in the classroom – it’s a token of our gratitude. Drum roll please, let’s take a trip into the staff room…
Sarah
What subject do you teach?
Religious Studies and Psychology.
What’s your daily routine?
I wake up at 6.30 am and I’m out of the house by 7.00 am. Then, I eat breakfast in the car on the way to work.
When I arrive at work, I check my pigeon hole for letters/planners and go set up my classroom for the day’s lessons. After, I go on gate duty and welcome students into school. Tutor period starts at 8.30 where we check the students’ wellbeing, uniform and equipment as well as telling them key messages and reading together throughout the week. I then teach two-hour lessons before break, where I can quickly eat something then go on duty and do another two lessons.
After that, I have an hour revision session for my Year 11s to secure exam techniques and key knowledge. I usually mark when they have gone or reply to emails and sometimes I discuss the day with other staff on my floor.
Then it’s home time and I arrive back around 6.00, unless I go to the gym. I have my tea, relax for a while then bed by 10.30 to do it all again the next day!
What’s your favourite thing about teaching?
My favourite thing about teaching is seeing young people become young adults by forming their own opinions and views. In my subject, I get to show students the wider world and we discuss ethical issues and debate a range of topics – I love seeing them grow in knowledge and personality. Also, seeing them form their own principles and passions – I love seeing a student achieve at something that they couldn’t do before. The best day of the year is results day when you know they that have choices for their future and all the hard work you have done together has paid off – they will go into the world confident and supported. Teaching students to pick themselves up when they fail and try again is why we teach.
How does the outfit you’ve chosen make you feel?
The dress makes me feel confident and feminine. It gives me the confidence to stand in front of teenagers, and I can still show my personality whilst being professional.
Isabella
What subject do you teach?
Mainly I tutor for the 11+, which is a mixture of Maths, English, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. I also teach French, Latin and Maths to GCSE – the variety keeps me sane.
What’s your daily routine?
My teaching day starts when the children finish school at 3.30 pm so mornings start with a dog walk and some cross training and then I usually do some preparation for that day’s lessons. Each child learns at a different pace and finds some aspects easier than others, so although the goal is the same, a different approach is needed for each individual. It’s my job to find the best way to help them.
What’s your favourite thing about teaching?
My best thing about teaching is … the ‘light bulb moment’! Seeing students learn, seeing them “get it” – makes everything worthwhile.
How does the outfit you’ve chosen make you feel?
The dress I’ve chosen is a fabulous way to start autumn. It makes me feel confident and relaxed, while feeling totally put together and ready to face the world. I’ll be wearing it all autumn!
Rebecca
What subject do you teach?
I am a Teaching Assistant in a primary school. I also run the before and after school club.
What’s your daily routine?
I work at the school’s breakfast club, where children can come and have a healthy breakfast, enjoy and play with all the toys and games we provide, as well as get creative with the variety of craft and art activities available. We then take the children into their different classes, ready to start their day. I then come into class as a Teaching Assistant.
I assist the teacher with the teaching of the class and supporting the children in their day-to-day lessons. I help to support children in their reading, writing and maths. I also read regularly with children and encourage them to improve in areas where they may be struggling.
I work in the school’s after school Kids’ Club, where we provide a range of fun indoor and outdoor activities for children to enjoy.
What’s your favourite thing about teaching?
Being able to have a positive impact on a child’s life, throughout their time at school.
How does the outfit you’ve chosen make you feel?
This dress makes me feel fun.
Sophie
What subject do you teach?
I teach English Literature and Language.
What’s your daily routine?
First things first, I gulp down a cup of coffee (the only one that I will have time to drink that day while it is still hot!) and walk to work before settling into an hour of preparation for the busy day ahead. Then, in what feels like the blink of an eye, the students will arrive to entertain me with anecdotes from their evening at the park or to regale the woes of last night’s Love Island. The day itself is a blur in which I am required to encompass the roles of doctor, parent, comic, friend and counsellor – not to mention my actual job of educator. After school there will be a few more hours of planning and marking or some phone calls home to make but, once that is over, I rush home for dinner and to watch Bake Off. Oh, and I’ll squeeze in a few hours of sleep before doing it all again the next day!
What’s your favourite thing about teaching?
The students.
How does the outfit you’ve chosen make you feel?
Ready to take on the day!
Find Sophie’s dress here.