What Do New Teachers Need to Know?: A conversation with Peter Foster
Nov 6, 2023
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In this podcast, author Peter Foster shares insights from his book on teaching. Topics include the fundamentals of teacher expertise, using evidence in planning, the importance of student knowledge, and how experts develop and break habits. The speakers also discuss classroom routines, effective learning models, and the significance of mentor meetings for new teachers.
Developing expertise in teaching requires a deep understanding of both subject knowledge and teaching skills.
Developing good habits, both in-class and out-of-class, is crucial for teacher effectiveness.
New teachers should prioritize understanding the narrative of the curriculum to effectively plan and deliver lessons.
Deep dives
Importance of Developing Expertise in Teaching
New teachers need to understand that expertise in teaching is a continuous process of development. It involves using knowledge to solve complex problems in the classroom. Knowledge in this context encompasses substantive knowledge (subject knowledge) as well as procedural knowledge (teaching skills and strategies). New teachers can experience cognitive overload, hindering their development and performance. The key to developing expertise is to deepen knowledge and automate processes to reduce cognitive load. New teachers should cultivate a problem-solving mindset, constantly seeking and solving new challenges in their teaching practice.
The Role of Habits in Teacher Effectiveness
Habits play a crucial role in developing teacher effectiveness. They free up working memory and help streamline classroom processes. Bad habits can hinder progress, while good habits enhance performance even on challenging days. New teachers should focus on developing both in-class and out-of-class habits. In-class habits include using behavior policies consistently and implementing effective teaching strategies. Out-of-class habits involve organization and preparation, such as setting up resources beforehand. Habits can be embedded through deliberate practice, incorporating feedback, and employing systems and nudges to reinforce desired behaviors.
Pedagogical and Subject Knowledge in Teaching
While curriculum documents and planning materials are important, new teachers should prioritize understanding what they need to teach and when. It is crucial for new teachers to arrive in a placement school with specific questions about the curriculum. They should inquire about what content is being taught, whether there are specific ways to teach it, and how it connects and progresses within the broader curriculum. The focus should be on grasping the narrative of the curriculum. New teachers should not be burdened with decoding cumbersome curriculum documents but instead receive clear guidance on what to teach, essential concepts, and assessment endpoints.
Building Classroom Routines for Better Behavior
Building and maintaining routines in the classroom is crucial for promoting positive behavior among students. This includes not only routines for resources, but also routines for starting and ending lessons, as well as routines for specific behaviors. Consistency in routines helps students know what to expect and reduces cognitive load, allowing them to focus on learning. New teachers can start by practicing and reinforcing routines early on, and continually communicate the importance of routines to maximize time in the classroom.
Developing Intellectual Journey for New Teachers
For new teachers, it is important to embark on an intellectual journey to develop as educators. This journey involves understanding principles of memory, such as Dan Willingham's idea that learning is a change in long-term memory, as well as concepts from cognitive load theory and retrieval practice. By considering how students think and designing lessons that engage cognitive processes, new teachers can enhance student learning and memory retention over time. The book 'What Do New Teachers Need to Know' offers new teachers an intellectual framework and prompts thought on their teaching development, complementing mentoring and coaching relationships.
Apologies for the Microphone issues here! I made a mistake and selected the wrong microphone . Hopefully Pete's quality shines through.
What knowledge will make you most effective as a teacher? New teachers are often bombarded with information about the concepts they should understand and the topics they should master. This indispensable bookwill help you navigate the research on curriculum, cognitive science, student data and more, providing clarity and key takeaways for those looking to grow their teaching expertise.
What Do New Teachers Need to Know? explores the fundamentals of teacher expertise and draws upon contemporary research to offer the knowledge that will be most useful, the methods to retain that knowledge, and the ways expert teachers use it to solve problems. Written by an educator with extensive experience and understanding, each chapter answers a key question about teacher knowledge, including:
• Does anyone agree on what makes great teaching?
• How should I use evidence in my planning?
• Why isn’t subject knowledge enough?
• What should I know about my students?
• How do experts make and break habits?
• How can teachers think creatively whilst automating good habits?
• What do we need to know about the curriculum?
• How should Cognitive Load Theory affect our pedagogical decisions?
Packed with case studies and interviews with new and training teachers alongside key takeaways for the classroom, this book is essential reading for early career teachers, those undertaking initial teacher training and current teachers looking to develop their expertise.
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Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode