Amy Cottrell: Primary SCITT Trainee 2021/22
"My first term of teacher training has been absolutely fantastic! Everyday is so rewarding"
Amy Cottrell, primary SCITT trainee.
It was an absolute delight chatting with Amy about her experience of her first term with the Sheffield SCITT teacher training. Amy is brimming with enthusiasm and excitement for her future teaching career!
I'm a Film and Media Production post graduate, I chose to study primary education with SCITT, so I am currently teaching a Year One class at Hunters Bar Infant school.
Teachers have always been such a prominent figure in my life - they have moulded me into the person I am today through endless support and care. The pandemic has really reiterated the importance of teachers, with their patience and resilience, so I just knew that this was the career choice for me. The thought of being that figure in somebody's life, one that truly makes a difference, was what convinced me to become a teacher.
Patience, confidence, and a positive attitude are the most important qualities that have helped me teach. Working with younger children means I need to be patient - they are learning lifelong skills which are extremely overwhelming at first. It's important I am empathetic and put myself into their shoes: everyone learns at different paces! Teaching means you need to have confidence in yourself, and the subject you are teaching. It can be nerve wracking standing in front of a class of students, so being confident in myself and my knowledge is extremely important. Finally, a positive attitude means I always look for the good, even on the overwhelming days. Teaching is always highly rewarding, meaning there is always something positive about each day, no matter how bad it may seem at first.
“My confidence in the classroom has grown massively, and my mentor has been extremely supportive. I look forward to what each day will bring, and I really feel like I’ve settled into teaching. ”
I had very little school experience before starting due to the pandemic. I had some knowledge about teaching from volunteering during high-school, but struggled to find time during my higher education.
My first term of teacher training has been absolutely fantastic! Everyday is so rewarding. I've learnt so much about the practices and theory of teaching so far, and can't wait to find out more. My confidence in the classroom has grown massively, and my mentor has been extremely supportive. I look forward to what each day will bring, and I really feel like I've settled into teaching.
At my placement school I read to the children daily, as well as teaching up to five lessons a week. I regularly take responsibility for the class and have my own duties at the school, such as playground duty. It's extremely rewarding to have such a presence in the classroom during my training.
My favourite part about the course is how practical it is. It's definitely a hands-on approach. I spend every day in the classroom so I get a great feel for how teaching really works. I get to witness the children's progress throughout the term first hand, which I don't think I would achieve in a shorter placement. The hub sessions are also extremely beneficial. Having different experts talk about specific areas of teaching is extremely beneficial - it teaches me the theory behind education and allows me to adapt my practice with this knowledge. The timetable is structured so that after a hub session, you can then immediately teach something related to the content of that session. It's a great way to put the theory into practice.
Sheffield SCITT has been extremely welcoming and supportive. I have made friends on my course who are all in the same boat as me, we regularly have discussions about our own teaching and it is useful to have someone to learn and grow beside. My questions are always answered at the hub sessions, and everything has been organised so my placements move swiftly. My mentor has been amazing and supportive, and I have definitely settled into SCITT well.
Once I qualify, I am excited to continue down my new career path as a teacher. I hope to soon have my own classroom to teach in!
I've been surprised by how rewarding teaching really is. I always knew it would be amazing to watch children progress throughout my lessons, but didn't expect to see progress so quickly! The tiniest things, such as a child remembering how to spell a word, are so rewarding, and make me look forward to each day.
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