Vol. 3 No. 3
In this edition
Grad News
November 2010
Supply Teaching: a Pathway to Full Time Teaching Graduate teachers who cannot secure full time teaching employment after university may decide to start their career as a supply teacher working in both the government and non-government education sector.
Over the years, Carmel has developed her own methods for behavioural management, teacher performance and ways of communicating with students with special or additional needs.
For some graduates, supply teaching can be the first step towards establishing professional contacts and moving closer to securing a full time teaching position.
To share her advice with other educators, Carmel runs her own Brisbane workshop “Relief Insight” for relief/supply teachers or any educator wishing to expand their knowledge and teaching methods while undertaking supply teaching.
IEUA-QNT member and supply teacher Carmel Kuhr (pictured below right) has over 20 years of teaching experience in Catholic Education and believes graduates would benefit from the opportunity to undertake supply teaching.
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Supply Teaching with Carmel Kuhr Your Teacher Registration
Member Zone: Graduate members reflect on their first year of teaching
The importance of your Union Membership
Graduate Employment Session
Member Snapshot: Jenny Porter
The newsletter for graduates
“Supply teaching is a wonderful learning experience for professional growth; it’s a practical, flexible way to gain a range of insight into the teaching profession,” Carmel said. “Supply teaching changes every day; you could start off teaching a year one class at the beginning of the week, and end off teaching a year seven class by the end of the week. “If you are flexible and adaptable, then supply teaching can be one of the most rewarding teaching experiences as you have the opportunity to educate a range of different student age groups,” she said. Taking her love of teaching to the next level, Carmel recently shared her teaching advice with final year education students at IEUA-QNT’s information session Strategies for seeking employment in the non-government education sector in September. Carmel spoke to over 100 undergraduates about her experiences in both full time and supply teaching throughout her career. “After four years of studying, graduates are likely to be aiming to secure a full time teaching position however, this may not happen straight away,” Carmel said. “Supply teaching holds a pathway to a teaching career, so use it as a way to establish professional contacts and experience different curriculum while developing your own individual teaching methods,” she said.
IEUA-QNT associate member Samantha Chapman has used Carmel’s teaching advice to help with her classroom teaching techniques during her prac placement at Holy Spirit School this year. “Carmel’s six symbol rules, puppets and all other behaviour management strategies have really helped me with my prac and other teaching situations,” Samantha said. “I feel much more confident about moving into my first year of teaching thanks to Carmel’s advice and techniques,” she said. Like any other education professional, graduates should ensure they have professional representation and protection should a problem arise in their first year of teaching. One of Carmel’s priorities as a supply teacher was to make sure she joined as a member of IEUA-QNT. “It is important to be a member of our union. You do not know what hazards and issues may confront you as a teacher, so having the protection and collective support of our union is vital,” Carmel said. To find out more about Carmel’s “Relief Insight” workshops or more supply teaching tips, please go to www.qieu.asn.au/supply or FREECALL 1800 177 938 for more information.
Don’t forget your Teacher Registration As you complete the first year of your career one of the issues to consider is the move from provisional to full teacher resignation. The requirements to make this conversion are: •
Completion of one year of teaching; that is, 200 days or 1,000 hours.
You do not need to have completed all this teaching in one location, but a principal will need to have sufficient knowledge of your successful practice to make a judgement and complete the recommendation report. •
Ensure the Provisional to Full Registration Recommendation Report is completed.
This recommendation report is completed by the principal and indicates how you met the Professional Standards for Teachers. Information about these standards can be found at www.qct.qld.edu.au
Regardless of what the principal writes in the recommendation report, the final decision to grant full registration is made by the Queensland College of Teachers. If a recommendation is made for the continuation of provisional registration or a cancellation of registration, you are able to appeal this with the Queensland College of Teachers and members of IEUA-QNT can seek advice and assistance with dealing with this situation. It is also essential that you notify the Queensland College of Teachers if your details have changed such as your name, address or place of employment. You are also required to advise the Queensland College of Teachers about any changes to your criminal history. Requirements for moving from provisional to full registration can be found on the Queensland College of Teachers website at www.qct.qld.edu.au
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Member Zone Monique Wirth from Brisbane and Michael Reid from Bundaberg share their first year teaching experiences Monique Wirth
Michael Reid
Teacher St Andrew’s Primary School Ferny Grove, Brisbane As I reflect on my experiences and memories throughout 2010, I begin to liken this milestone year to a rollercoaster ride. Throughout this year there were times when I was at the peak of the coaster, enjoying the highlife and taking for granted the moments of bliss. There were times of darkness when I would be stuck in a tunnel and need to ask for help. Times when there were scary loops and I felt like I couldn’t focus, and times when the coaster felt like it was going to crash and I was in a slump. But in saying that, I look back on my first year and to the contrasts between the daunting first day and the other days when everything just worked and I see it all as a wonderful and joyous experience. It is amazing the joy you get when a child understands something for the first time and it all just clicks, or how quickly a child’s smile can make everything okay again. It is these moments that I cherish and realise that I made the right choice. I have made mistakes and poor choices over the year but I have tried to learn from those and use them to help me in the years to come. I have been very lucky to have the support of the school staff and have been blessed with the mentors and teaching partners that I have. They have been my life lines when I felt lost and needed direction, and I have formed strong friendships with many of them. I have also shared my experiences with another graduate at my school and together we have been able to learn alongside each other. This year is winding down and next year is fast approaching. While I know that there will be loops, tunnels, highs and lows, I look forward to getting on a new rollercoaster and enjoying the ride.
Teacher Shalom College Bundaberg Graduating halfway through the year, my first two terms of teaching have been full of challenges. The first couple of weeks I had to stop myself looking around for my mentor teacher while delivering a lesson. In my time since graduation I have taken on many roles, filling contracts for teachers on long service leave and supply work before obtaining a contract for the remainder of the year. I have had the opportunity to build on my teaching abilities teaching subjects outside of my specialist areas, such as Year 8 and 9 core studies, Year 10 Maths and Year 11 English. This scenario requires a person to work outside their comfort zone and is an excellent way of gaining a large amount of experience in a short time frame. My most rewarding experience has been noting the improvements in the students I am teaching, while their abilities and personalities continue to develop over the course of the year. Being a member of a union Chapter has provided me with a ‘sense of comfort’ to know that there was a supportive network available to me. It has often been said that teaching is a ‘calling’, and I feel that this is true for me. I have been very fortunate in my role at Shalom to be surrounded by great teachers that are only too happy to help ‘the new guy’. This has made the transition from student teacher to teacher that much easier. My advice to other graduates would be to try as much as you can; push yourself to undertake new challenges and you will be surprised what you are capable of.
The importance of your Union Membership As you come to the end of your first year as an education professional, or prepare to start your career in 2011, you would be aware of the challenges that professionals working in the non-government education sector face. Being a member of IEUA-QNT ensures that you are adequately protected and supported as you and your colleagues face these challenges. It also ensures that you remain well educated about the profession and able to be part of change and improvements to our sector. There are many issues to consider as an education professional, but legal issues continue to be one of the most concerning issues for IEUA-QNT members. As a member of IEUA-QNT, you have access to public liability/professional indemnity insurance which provides legal protection for members in the event of an issue arising. IEUA-QNT members also have access to expert and professional advice on a range of matters. Some of the more common issues encountered by education professionals include: •
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Liability for student injuries while on playground or other supervisor duty;
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Legal requirements for reporting suspected child abuse;
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Legal implications relating to the administration of student medications; and
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Copyright ownership of internet materials or other materials prepared while at work.
In addition to access to legal advice and assistance, there are many other benefits associated with IEUA-QNT membership, including •
Access to IEUA-QNT publications including Independent Voice, Independent Education and Grad News;
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Access to professional development and training opportunities; and
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Access to member benefits such as Teachers’ Union Health, ME Bank and Union Shopper.
Discounted rates are also available to members who pay their membership fees prior to 20 December 2010. Questions? Want more information? Please contact IEUA-QNT on FREECALL 1800 177 938 or email enquiries@qieu.asn.au
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Graduates learn tips for securing teaching jobs IEUA-QNT associate members have gained valuable insight into preparing for full time and supply employment in the non-government education sector thanks to the recent information session Strategies for seeking employment in the non-government education sector. Associate members undertaking their final year of study were provided with information and resources to prepare them for a career in education. Teachers already working in the profession, representatives from Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) and IEUA-QNT officers addressed over 100 IEUA-QNT associate members. Supply teacher and IEUA-QNT member Carmel Kuhr gave members a valuable insight into the profession of supply teaching, including its benefits, challenges and rewards. Carmel spoke to members about her experiences as a supply teacher covering topics such as lesson planning, preparing daily work for different grades and interacting with students. Members were eager to hear about Carmel’s professional development workshops endorsed by the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT), which offer tips on organisational and teaching strategies for supply teachers. Associate member Haseeb Mian said Carmel’s session inspired him to learn more about supply teaching and consider it as a pathway to securing a fulltime teaching position. “I am more aware now about the challenges and rewards that come with supply teaching, both personally and as a professional career,” Haseeb said. Brisbane Catholic Education’s Carmel Wallace and Matthew Neale were also on hand to explain how to specifically apply for employment within Catholic Education schools in Queensland. IEUA-QNT Organiser Sherryl Saunders spoke to members about common workplace issues that may arise for graduates in their first year of teaching.
ABOVE: IEUA-QNT associate members Hayley Wells, Renata Kallenbach and Samantha Chapman receive teaching tips and advice from supply teacher Carmel Kuhr at the Strategies for seeking employment in the non-government sector information session
Sherryl addressed areas such as hours of duty, what to do in the event of an internal or external complaint and how IEUA-QNT membership gives graduates the support and advice they need should a situation arise. The session concluded with a presentation by first year teacher Andrew Smith, who provided an insight into the challenges and rewards of his teaching career in 2010. Associate members were provided with an information pack to assist them in finding employment. The pack also provided extra information about Carmel’s supply teacher workshops offered on an on-demand basis. IEUA-QNT are hopeful a further session will occur in 2011.
ABOVE: IEUA-QNT Graduate member Andrew Smith reflects on teaching year
What useful tips did you take out of the information session? “Carmel’s teaching advice and her strategies for behavioural management of students was so helpful for planning my own approaches in the classroom.” IEUA-QNT Associate member Samantha Chapman (left)
“The option of applying online for teaching jobs with Brisbane Catholic Education was a useful point for when I begin seeking employment.” IEUA-QNT Associate member Hayley Wells (right)
ABOVE: IEUA-QNT associate members Larissa Adams, Amanda Lucas and Melissa Cope reflect on the tips and information they had gathered at the Strategies for seeking employment in the non-government education sector information session
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What do you see as your greatest teaching challenges ahead? My greatest teaching challenge is time. Everything would be possible if there were more hours in the day. With the new professional development requirements as well as the new policies and procedures that are constantly being introduced it is very difficult to keep up and get the basics done such as the documentation and child portfolio maintenance. What issues are of most concern to you as a graduate running your own kindergarten? The amount of support concerns me. It can be very isolating working in a centre with just myself and an assistant so far away from our head office. My main method of support has been phone calls to my Branch Operations Consultants and Educational Advisors as they are unable to be here in person to check on me and give me feedback on how I am going. Another issue is working with the licensing requirements. As a university graduate I have done very little study on the policies and procedures required by the Office for Early Childhood Education and Care to meet licensing requirements. This places a little bit of pressure on me as I am constantly having to check on policies and ask people if we can undertake certain activities.
Jenny Porter C&K Beaconsfield Mackay Branch
enny Porter is the Director of C&K Beaconsfield Kindergarten in Beaconsfield, north of Mackay. Jenny says ongoing support from her family, friends and colleagues has been her survival tool for her first year teaching in the early childhood sector.
Why did you become an early childhood teacher? Because I love young children and love to see the difference you can make to a young child. They are very eager and keen to learn at this young age and you become one of the most important people in their lives for the period of time they are with you. What preparation experience did you gain by undertaking your prac work at Stepping Stones Community Kindergarten in Townsville? Completing my final prac at Stepping Stones in Townsville was a fantastic experience; it made me realise that this is what I want to do with my teaching career. Barb Skinner the director up there has so much experience and knowledge which she openly shared with me and helped me to gain a full understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a kindergarten teacher director. I would not be where I am now if I didn’t have Barb in my life.... I still ring her on a weekly basis to ask for advice or feedback. What have been your most rewarding teaching moments? Every day when a child walks in and gives you a big hug. This confirms how important you are to this little person and what a special role you have.
JOIN YOUR UNION TODAY Help build strength and enhance the working rights and conditions of all GRADUATES and EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS working in the non-government education sector. To join IEUA-QNT, download a membership form from www.qieu.asn.au or call our membership department on FREECALL1800 177 938. Page 4
Why was it important for you to become an IEUA-QNT member and what would you say to other graduates who are thinking about joining our union? I think it is very important to become part of our union as it is another support network or person you can access. Sometimes there are questions regarding pay and working or holiday conditions that you may feel uncomfortable discussing with your new employer. Your union rep is a great person to talk to as they know or are able to find out the answers for you. What advice would you give to undergraduate teachers looking to work in the early childhood sector? This is a job which requires a lot of time. The contact hours with the children are only half of the job. There are parent group meetings, compulsory professional development, parent enrolment interviews, parent information evenings, kindy social gatherings/ functions and more.
IEUA-QNT Survey of Graduate Members During October and November 2010 we are conducting a phone survey of current graduate members. The purpose of this survey is to better understand the issues of most concern to graduate members and what support and resources we can provide to assist. Questions in the survey cover topics such as professional development, issues of concern, reasons for becoming an IEUA-QNT Member and suggestions for future topics for Grad News. Results of this survey will be published in the first editions of Grad News and the Independent Voice in 2011.
ISSN: 1835-9612 Grad News was prepared by Lauren Bremner and Rebecca Sisson Editor: Mr Terry Burke, Branch Secretary IEUA-QNT PO BOX 418, FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD 4006 PHONE: 1800 177 937 FAX: (07) 3839 7021 Email: enquiries@qieu.asn.au Website:www.qieu.asn.au ABN: 74 662 601 045