Welcome. Is this a good place to start?

I remember there was one thing I wanted to do as a child when I grew up and that was to sing. All day I dreamed about performing and entertaining people who would sing my songs back to me. (Don't worry you haven't come to the wrong blog!) However, as you get older you realise that dream is... definitely a dream. Ok so tell a lie, there was another path that I thought would be a good idea alongside the singing and that was teaching. So September 2018 I took that leap of faith and began teaching my first ever class.

Obviously you can't just rock up at a school and start teaching, it's been a long process. One which I sometimes regret when I wake up early on a Monday morning, although once at school that negativity soon fades when my class arrives. I see their faces and they say "Morning Mr Maull." I'm ready for the day and anticipate what will happen. The same adrenalin that I had as a performer kicks in and I transform into a teacher. (Well I try to be!)

It's felt like forever to get to this point, especially as I'm still only an Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT). I have to pass this year otherwise I can never be a teacher.

This is my fifth year of studying and having past my initial teacher training last year, this is (fingers crossed) the last I have to do. I'm not sure I want to push any further on, as being observed and scrutinized can take it's toll. Although, the performer in me does enjoy the challenge.

So as 2019 is already here I thought, in my wisdom, why not write a blog about my experiences of being an NQT. Hopefully other teachers will relate to the daily struggles we have and I am hoping to gain some tips and advice from you along the way. It's already been four months in the job, so I do have a lot to fill you in on. Also, with a job like a teacher I'm going to see how accomplished I can be at writing a weekly blog. I might surprise myself and vent my frustration on more than once a week.

So...here goes. 2019! Let's do this.

Steve Maull. An NQT.