The day-to-day complexities of teaching in South African classrooms are particularly challenging for novice teachers. Although equipped with knowledge and competencies from their years of study, often there is a gap between what few teachers know and how to apply that knowledge in a ‘real’ classroom. Practical Guidelines for Novice Teachers bridges some of these theory–practice gaps and aims at providing teachers with skills to remain motivated, professional and successful during their first years in the classroom. The authors are experienced teachers, who take the readers through the various critical aspects of teaching, giving practical advice based on their own classroom experiences. They tackle a wide range of aspects, including African perspectives on teaching, looking after your finances as a teacher, and dealing with sensitive curriculum topics.


Key Benefits

The book provides guidance and hands-on information, such as:

• Teaching as a career in South Africa — what does it really entail?
• You as a new professional — what does this mean, how does it change your identity and how do you look after yourself?
• Diverse learners — how to deal with differing learning styles, temperaments and behaviours in one classroom
• Classroom matters — from surviving the first day to making your own inexpensive resources
• Extracurricular activities — from coaching to organising a school function.

• Section A: Teaching as a career
  • Teaching in South Africa
  • Teaching in rural South Africa
  • Making the most of your teaching practice
  • Finding the right school
  • Understanding the school as an organisation
• Section B: You as the new professional
  • Becoming a professional
  • Establishing your teacher identity
  • Determining your personality traits
  • Acting in loco parentis
  • Taking care of yourself
  • Counting your words
• Section C: You and your learners
  • Equipping learners with 21st-century skills
  • Identifying your learners’ temperaments
  • Identifying your learners’ learning styles
  • Readying the learner for learning
  • Managing aggressive behaviour
  • Working with linguistic diversity 
• Section D: In the classroom
  • Creating a meaningful, safe and optimal learning environment
  • Surviving the first day
  • Planning, preparing and starting your lessons
  • Managing large classes
  • Giving homework
  • Keeping up with the marking load
  • Making your own inexpensive resources
  • Using digital tools to enhance your teaching and learning environment
  • Eliciting positive behaviour
  • Talking like a teacher
  • Teaching PE when you are not a PE teacher
  • Teaching Mathematics when you are not a ‘numbers person’
  • Dealing with sensitive topics
  • Revealing the hidden curriculum 
• Section E: Beyond the classroom
  • The teacher as coach
  • Planning a school function
  • Continuing your professional development
  • The teacher as reflective practitioner
  • The teacher as researcher
  • Spending, saving and investing
  • Tips from top teachers

Practical Guidelines for Novice Teachers provides useful, sound advice for Teaching students as well as for newly qualified teachers. It will also be a valuable resource for experienced teachers who are looking for new ideas or a fresh approach to teaching.