Mary Currie reflects on her experience mentoring a trainee-teacher and how it rejuvenated her own approach to teaching.
How can I keep my teaching fresh, reflective and original?
I’ve discovered a way of countering the risk of staleness… mentor a trainee teacher! When I was training, I had an excellent mentor. That’s how I know how much of an impact good mentors can have. So, when I was offered the opportunity to be a mentor myself, I jumped at it!
It’s a 2-way process
When teaching the same lessons regularly it can become tempting, or even inevitable, to fall into the same patterns of activities and strategies to engage the groups of students in front of you. Innovation and experimentation are at risk of being pushed out, in place for something that a teacher knows ‘works’.
Mentoring has several benefits for both the mentor and the trainee. It’s very much a 2-way process. Firstly, it’s a privilege to have the opportunity to help mould and support aspiring teachers who are eager to enter the profession. The whole approach to the training year, no matter what route the trainee is following, is one of constant improvement. This element of momentum and striving to improve is inspiring and motivating for both the trainee and mentor. There is a great sense of personal satisfaction when you witness a trainee teacher grow in their practice due to your expertise, advice and modelling.
Teach from a new perspective
Mentors can learn from trainees in more ways than one. The opportunity to observe a trainee teacher allows the mentor to re-experience life as a child at school. For example, I observed a lesson on ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. I quickly became aware that having a variety of activities was key when teaching this challenging text. So, after a conversation with my trainee, we devised a range of tasks. These included making use of the film and creating a mock courtroom scene in the classroom. Students had to develop their imaginative, as well as analytical skills, and decide, in role, for the innocence or guilt of the character of Tom Robinson. The palpable ‘buzz’ in the lesson was a clear testament to the importance of constantly trying out new activities when teaching.
From observing trainee teachers, I have become more aware of how an uncomfortable seat can affect students’ concentration. A variety of activities in the classroom is also vital to maintain interest. I also witnessed the fact that when learning is engaging, students will engage with you. These are all points that any teacher should be aware of. Sometimes it takes a new perspective, such as sitting beside a student at the back of your own classroom, to remind us of the little things that we take for granted.
Invaluable Innovation
Trainees can bring new ideas and strategies to their teaching practice – ones that may simply not have existed when you were training. Their enthusiasm, creativity and willingness to experiment with new teaching innovations is something to be celebrated. Therefore, if you are interested in becoming a mentor, I would advise that you to go for it. Attending, training and speaking to other mentors, in other subject areas, is invaluable.
My Top Tips for Mentoring
- Have a clear time each week set aside to meet with your mentee and discuss their progress and any questions they have.
- (Re)-familiarise yourself with the relevant Teaching Standards and be ready to refer to them a lot!
- Expose your trainee to as many teaching styles and teaching groups as possible. Breadth of training is required, as well as depth.
- Focus on the positives in all situations.
- Reassure your mentee that teaching is an incredibly complex skill and that everyone develops at different rates.
Sometimes it takes a fresh perspective, both physically and mentally, to remind ourselves of how skilled a profession teaching is. Mentoring can provide you with that view – so why not give it a go?
If you’ve enjoyed this blog on mentoring, you might also enjoy Jack Richard’s article, where he asks: What does it mean to be a teacher of English?