This is a continuation of my series of interviews with former students who are now teachers. The interview on this page features Kate Bartlett, a teacher at a primary school in Cornwall. You can follow her on Twitter as MissBartlettNQT.
1) What made you decide to become a teacher? What/who inspired you? What were your motivations?
I’d worked so many jobs where I was constantly bored, uninspired and felt like I was just muddling through life. I never felt like I was truly giving my best or reaching my potential.
I’d considered a teaching course straight after Sixth Form but decided against it at that time – I’m so glad I did as my time in the “real world” helped me better prepare for the realities of a hardworking job!
I also LOVED primary school myself and funnily enough I am now teaching back in my old primary school, in my old classroom – I’ve come full circle!
2) What is the best thing about being a teacher in a primary school? What gets you out of bed in the morning?
My children are my motivation – there are days where I feel completely overwhelmed and unprepared, or days where my own personal demons affect me or cloud my head – the only thing that can shift that is being in front of them and teaching. You almost have to be OK when they’re there. They do make me happy! I also love the feeling that I am “making a difference” – I’m aware that is a term which is passed around a lot but it is true. Feeling like I am not only helping them learn new things but also that I am teaching them to be good people. With regard to the primary aspect, I also love being able to teach all different things – I’ve learned a lot myself!
3) What does it take to become an excellent teacher? What characteristics do the best teachers have?
I don’t think the best teachers are the ones who stay the latest or get in the earliest (although I am a slave to this), nor is it those who are most proficient at “paper pushing”. I know teachers who admit themselves that they find being hyper-organised difficult, and yet they are some of the most caring and incredible teachers I’ve known. It’s about having the commitment, the passion, the drive and the will to do the best for your children, even when you are feeling at your worst. It’s about being able to have a laugh (at yourself, often) and laugh things off when they don’t go exactly to plan. Being able to veer off the plan and have the confidence to take risks. You have to be flexible and be able to think on your feet. You have to be open to and willing to help – a team player. I don’t think the best teachers are necessarily the most knowledgeable or smartest – the passion and love for the job is at the top of my list.
4) What do you consider your greatest achievement to date as an educator?
I’m still in my NQT (Newly Qualified teacher) year so, to be honest, I see making it to every half term holiday an achievement! I think just looking back on the small things I’ve achieved and seeing the progress my children have made since September. I often put myself down and think they haven’t made any, but when I stop and look at their work I realise I have actually taught them something!
5) How can we improve education? If you were the Secretary for Education, what would be your first priorities?
Stop changing things – let things settle before introducing new things which throw everything out of balance. Stop expecting so much from children – the things we are requiring them to learn now are ridiculous. Knowing a subordinating conjunction from a co-ordinating conjunction is no better, nor a replacement, for creativity. Stop expecting so much from educators – we are human beings. Put more trust into teachers, as they have trained for significant amounts of time and are skilled and have expertise. And finally, understand that teachers just want the best for children. We really do.
6) What are the most innovative uses of technology in education (that you have done yourself, or have seen)?
It’s nothing huge but I remember seeing an app which brought children’s drawings to life on the screen– it was amazing! It inspired creative writing and really engaged them. I like using technology in a cross-curricular way – I think it is most effective like this.
7) What is your favourite story or memory of teaching children you would like to share?
There are several moments which have stuck with me, albeit small ones. I particularly remember a parent getting emotional and thanking me for everything I have done for their child. That was quite a moment. And just the silly things they say sometimes. I do like to be silly and have a laugh with my class and I remember a girl saying “Miss Bartlett, we think you’re hysterical!”. That made me chuckle.
8) What advice would you give those who are just about to start out on the pathway to becoming a teacher?
Be 100% sure it is something you want to do at that time. Prepare yourself for hard work but look forward to lots of fun, too. Don’t bother reading loads of books about teaching – it’s all different when you actually get in the classroom. Oh, and don’t ever write a to-do list expecting to complete it. You won’t. Ever.
9) What will schools of the future look like? What would you like to see happening in the next 10 years?
I would like to see an education system which isn’t so reliant on “data”. One which trusts educators to facilitate and in turn allows children to take a more active role in their learning.
10) What are the most significant challenges facing education right now?
The Government. Funding. Constant reliance on data. I graduated from Plymouth University in 2016 with a First Class Honours degree and a specialism in Computing and ICT. I work at a large junior school in Cornwall and am currently shadow Computing lead, taking over fully in September. I’m currently surviving my way through my NQT year but I have big plans for the coming years regarding blogging and technology so watch this space!
1) What made you decide to become a teacher? What/who inspired you? What were your motivations?
I’d worked so many jobs where I was constantly bored, uninspired and felt like I was just muddling through life. I never felt like I was truly giving my best or reaching my potential.
I’d considered a teaching course straight after Sixth Form but decided against it at that time – I’m so glad I did as my time in the “real world” helped me better prepare for the realities of a hardworking job!
I also LOVED primary school myself and funnily enough I am now teaching back in my old primary school, in my old classroom – I’ve come full circle!
2) What is the best thing about being a teacher in a primary school? What gets you out of bed in the morning?
My children are my motivation – there are days where I feel completely overwhelmed and unprepared, or days where my own personal demons affect me or cloud my head – the only thing that can shift that is being in front of them and teaching. You almost have to be OK when they’re there. They do make me happy! I also love the feeling that I am “making a difference” – I’m aware that is a term which is passed around a lot but it is true. Feeling like I am not only helping them learn new things but also that I am teaching them to be good people. With regard to the primary aspect, I also love being able to teach all different things – I’ve learned a lot myself!
3) What does it take to become an excellent teacher? What characteristics do the best teachers have?
I don’t think the best teachers are the ones who stay the latest or get in the earliest (although I am a slave to this), nor is it those who are most proficient at “paper pushing”. I know teachers who admit themselves that they find being hyper-organised difficult, and yet they are some of the most caring and incredible teachers I’ve known. It’s about having the commitment, the passion, the drive and the will to do the best for your children, even when you are feeling at your worst. It’s about being able to have a laugh (at yourself, often) and laugh things off when they don’t go exactly to plan. Being able to veer off the plan and have the confidence to take risks. You have to be flexible and be able to think on your feet. You have to be open to and willing to help – a team player. I don’t think the best teachers are necessarily the most knowledgeable or smartest – the passion and love for the job is at the top of my list.
4) What do you consider your greatest achievement to date as an educator?
I’m still in my NQT (Newly Qualified teacher) year so, to be honest, I see making it to every half term holiday an achievement! I think just looking back on the small things I’ve achieved and seeing the progress my children have made since September. I often put myself down and think they haven’t made any, but when I stop and look at their work I realise I have actually taught them something!
5) How can we improve education? If you were the Secretary for Education, what would be your first priorities?
Stop changing things – let things settle before introducing new things which throw everything out of balance. Stop expecting so much from children – the things we are requiring them to learn now are ridiculous. Knowing a subordinating conjunction from a co-ordinating conjunction is no better, nor a replacement, for creativity. Stop expecting so much from educators – we are human beings. Put more trust into teachers, as they have trained for significant amounts of time and are skilled and have expertise. And finally, understand that teachers just want the best for children. We really do.
6) What are the most innovative uses of technology in education (that you have done yourself, or have seen)?
It’s nothing huge but I remember seeing an app which brought children’s drawings to life on the screen– it was amazing! It inspired creative writing and really engaged them. I like using technology in a cross-curricular way – I think it is most effective like this.
7) What is your favourite story or memory of teaching children you would like to share?
There are several moments which have stuck with me, albeit small ones. I particularly remember a parent getting emotional and thanking me for everything I have done for their child. That was quite a moment. And just the silly things they say sometimes. I do like to be silly and have a laugh with my class and I remember a girl saying “Miss Bartlett, we think you’re hysterical!”. That made me chuckle.
8) What advice would you give those who are just about to start out on the pathway to becoming a teacher?
Be 100% sure it is something you want to do at that time. Prepare yourself for hard work but look forward to lots of fun, too. Don’t bother reading loads of books about teaching – it’s all different when you actually get in the classroom. Oh, and don’t ever write a to-do list expecting to complete it. You won’t. Ever.
9) What will schools of the future look like? What would you like to see happening in the next 10 years?
I would like to see an education system which isn’t so reliant on “data”. One which trusts educators to facilitate and in turn allows children to take a more active role in their learning.
10) What are the most significant challenges facing education right now?
The Government. Funding. Constant reliance on data. I graduated from Plymouth University in 2016 with a First Class Honours degree and a specialism in Computing and ICT. I work at a large junior school in Cornwall and am currently shadow Computing lead, taking over fully in September. I’m currently surviving my way through my NQT year but I have big plans for the coming years regarding blogging and technology so watch this space!
Photo courtesy of Kate Bartlett
Teacher Voices: Kate Bartlett by Steve Wheeler was written in Plymouth, England and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
Teacher Voices: Kate Bartlett
Reviewed by MCH
on
April 20, 2017
Rating:
Reviewed by MCH
on
April 20, 2017
Rating:
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