MARCH - noticeboard

I will start by saying how honoured I feel to be asked to contribute (such a tiny part) to such a wealth of brilliant resources for the ECGN and I can honestly say I wish the Geography networks that exist today, were there 11 years ago when I was an NQT.

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Perhaps something many do not know, is that I began my teaching career at a particularly low point. I had left university after applying for my PGCE (while an undergraduate) securing a place and then due to funding the course did not run. I could have joined the history course, but I was first and foremost a Geographer so decided to defer a year instead. I ended up in a job I absolutely hated, working for an education company designing online software (HA – it’s like I should have known I’d need this for 2020!) if you have ever worked for a well-known supermarket beginning with S and completed a health and safety course, its highly likely I designed it! I ended up applying (secretly) for a PGCE the year after graduating and my interview was the day after I was made redundant - if there has ever been a sign! Needless to say I got on the PGCE and 12 Years later, here I am.

I wanted to share my story as I feel social media allows us to believe everyone has an easy journey into teaching, people get the first job they apply for etc.

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I feel incredibly lucky to be where I am today, it hasn’t come without hard work, determination and ambition but I still count myself lucky that not only am I teacher and a HOD but also I have been part of a brilliant group of people working hard to create an online community of Geography Teachers.

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I applied for 16 jobs as a PGCE student (when at the time most positions saw over 50 applications) and got the job at interview number 14. I seemed to come a ‘close second’ every time with limited feedback – but eventually I got there. The job I accepted was a maternity contract, – two temporary contracts later and I was made permanent. I then became Deputy Head of Department in Year 3 and acted as HOD during Maternity cover in Year 4/5. I absolutely loved my first school and learnt so much from the fantastic team there.

However, it was while teaching Year 12 and trying to get them a bit more involved in ‘real world geography’ that I started a Geography Twitter, it began as a school account and I then set up my own account, finding that lots of brilliant teachers shared ideas, blogs and resources that influenced my practise. Those teachers I followed on twitter, there was not that many of us back then, hugely shaped my practise and I am genuinely grateful for the confidence they helped me build that led to me sharing resources. It has since become a bit of a bug and I always try to share resources back to help those who helped me all those years ago.

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I like to encourage others to get involved, sharing anything that helps as for me it does not need to be judged by Ofsted as outstanding. If it makes a difference to the children you teach, its likely to help someone else.

I became a permanent HOD at a new school in 2016 and it was around that time Geog Chat was born. Paul and I wanted to encourage others to share good practise and hopefully inspire other teachers like we had been. At the beginning there were 10/15 people who interacted with us every week, and although each week varies, it has grown. I like to hope its still a useful resource as it was in the beginning.  

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I feel we are lucky as Geography teachers today to have such a wealth of opportunities to get involved with and be inspired by. If you are wondering where to start I would suggest looking at subject organisations like the Geographical Association and the Royal Geographical Society, support groups like the Facebook groups and Twitter chats – you will always find a friendly face (or 5000)!

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I like to hope there is someone with some advice, suggestions or resources for whatever it is you need.  There are also opportunities to get involved with such as journals and articles, like the Routes Journal or Teaching Geography (through the GA). Resources are constantly being shared via websites such as RGS, Teachit Geography and Schoolology.

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If I could leave you with one bit of advice, it’s this - use the networks available to have conversations with others. Bouncing ideas around with those teachers I have known for years have helped me at interviews and beyond, such as, solving problems with difficult classes and creating new resources that have helped all the children I teach.

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Thank you to all of you who support networks like ECGN and GeogChat, as well as those who follow and contribute to the #Geographyteacher community. You are all amazing and I am lucky to be a part of the team! The children you teach are incredibly lucky to be in your classroom and although they may not always thank you, they will always remember you!