Hey everyone,
I’m about to start teaching secondary maths/physics this year and was hoping to get some advice from people already in the classroom.
I came from an engineering background but had to leave due to silicosis/health issues I can't imagine spending the rest of my career as an office engineer when i spent my life working to be a humanitarian engineer helping build infrastructure for like schools, roads and wells. So, this is a pretty big career shift for me. I’m excited, but also aware it’s going to be a completely different environment.
A couple of things I’d love advice on:
- What were the biggest adjustments when you first started teaching?
- Anything you wish you knew going into your first term?
- Tips for managing workload early on (I keep hearing this can be a shock), i was a consultant and im used to 50+ hours a week so hoping it wont be too bad of a shock
Also, I’m a male entering secondary teaching, and I’ve heard mixed things about expectations and boundaries. Some people talk about “double standards” around what you can say/do, being careful with interactions, etc.
I obviously want to be professional and do the right thing, but I’m curious:
- Is this something you actually notice in schools?
- Are there practical guidelines you follow to stay on the safe side?
- Anything I should be mindful of early on?
Appreciate any advice
Cheers