The+Voice+of+the+Graduate

**__GRADUATE TEACHER SURVEY__**
1. Has your first year teaching been what you expected? Explain (better, worse, easier, harder?) Can you give some examples.
 * Better than I expected because I have had a chance to develop my own techniques and teaching style.
 * The transition from university to first year teaching was much easier than expected.All staff have been extreamely welcoming and helpful and the year has been enjoyable.
 * First year has been very enjoyable although I probably had unrealistic expectations and was leaving work disappointed during first term.

2.If you could give some advice to teachers finishing their degree and about to start their first year of teaching what would it be?
 * Ensure that you always plan and are prepared before you go into the classrrom and always have a back up plan.
 * Don't stress it is a great profession and very rewarding. Use all the classroom management strategies that you learnt at university and set the standards high from day one.
 * Use your time wisely. Stand up for yourself in regards to extras and taking on a full teaching load.

3.What have you found most rewarding about teaching?
 * Student feedback when they past a test or understand a new concept.
 * Teaching students new skills and helping them build the confidence to have a go. Also planning lessons that students enjoy and get a lot out of.
 * Building a good rapport with students by taking them on camps and excursions.

4.What have you found most challenging about teaching?
 * Creating, finding and adapting resources which are suitable.
 * Managing some behavioural issues with individual students and dealing with students with learning difficulties.
 * Dealing with parents that do not support you and keep making excuses fo rtheir son/ daughter.

5.What things do you wish they had have told you at university and didn't?
 * More management strategies, more emphasis on developing an individual teaching style.
 * Managing budgets and the availability of money and time in a school to complete professional development activities.
 * Reporting and associated programs like markbook. At university students should be exposed to these programs and possibly have the chance to have a play around with it and become familar with how to use it. Strategies for dealing with problem students and parents. Approaches to contacting parents.

6.What things would you like to see graduate teachers have more support with?
 * I have been really happy with the support I have been given at my school. (Mentor, induction, new teachers lunches and VIT and mandatory reporting PD etc).
 * Organising camps and excursions, being informed about budgets and handling students with disabilities and learning difficulties.
 * VIT regestration - Someone to remind you to be doing activties to complete it and someone to help you through the process.

7. What professional development do you think graduate teachers need priority in?
 * The use and incoperation of technology into the classroom.
 * First Aid including asthma and anaphylaxis, classroom management.
 * Classroom management, dealing with problem students and safety and emergenncy training.

8.If you could develop a support program across the region, what do you think would be the most effective and best way to get graduates to participate and what activities would you suggest organising?
 * Small close groups, so members can relay information from their experiences. No large scale lectures, but small close workshops that simulate classroom situations.
 * Casual meeting/ luncheon for all new staff and graduates to discuss issues and how they are coping with the pressure of their first year, without pressure or formality.
 * Meetings with support group in a school, but not with the principal present so graduates could feel confident to express their concerns without feeling cautious and concerned about their professionalism and the security of their job status. However, feedback to princial about concerns and issues is still needed through an independent party. Social events (possibly with free beer!!)

Please note names have been with held for confidentiality reasons.