The move from being a pre-service to an early-career teacher can be exciting, overwhelming, rewarding and confronting, all at once. Parris Smith has recently completed her first year in the classroom and helps answer the core question for today's episode: "How can beginning teachers sucessfully transition from pre-service teacher to early-career teacher?"

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After listening to this episode, start here:

My Teaching Advice (AITSL)

https://www.aitsl.edu.au/teach/improve-practice/start-your-career/my-teaching-advice-overview

A free online platform that connects beginning teachers with experienced teachers for real-time, one-on-one advice. You can ask specific questions about your context (e.g. behaviour, planning, workload), get matched with a suitable mentor.

Starter pack of articles for new teachers (Edutopia)

https://www.edutopia.org/package/edutopia-resources-new-teachers/

A curated collection of articles and videos covering classroom management, routines, relationships and working with parents. A useful ‘go-to’ hub you can return to throughout the year when you need practical strategies.

Try this tomorrow

Essential strategies for success as a first-year teacher (SOS Teacher Agency)

https://www.sosagency.com.au/essential-strategies-for-success-as-a-first-year-teacher-in-australia/

A practical article with simple strategies for managing the transition into teaching, including staying reflective, seeking support early and avoiding isolation.

Curriculum resources (NSW Dept of Education)

https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum

A comprehensive hub of curriculum and teaching resources across K–12. Click on your teaching area under ‘Key learning areas’ then ‘Resources’ to access a range of resource catalogues.

If you want to go deeper

AITSL High quality professional learning toolkit

https://www.aitsl.edu.au/teach/improve-practice/high-quality-professional-learning-toolkit

Helps you choose PD that actually improves your teaching.

Download the AITSL My Induction App

https://www.aitsl.edu.au/tools-resources/resource/my-induction-app

A practical, on-the-go support tool for early career teachers. Includes curated resources, videos, tips and advice for common classroom challenges, as well as a wellbeing tracker to help you monitor stress and confidence over time.

Penny Lee has been teaching for more than 15 years, returning to The University of Queensland to complete a master's degree in guidance counselling. In this episode, Penny helps answer the question, "How does prioritising student wellbeing change what teachers do in classrooms?".

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After listening to this episode, start here

Trauma-informed teaching strategies

https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/trauma-informed-teaching-strategies

Article outlining practical approaches to classroom interactions that support students who have experienced trauma, with a focus on safety, predictability and relationships.

Relationships matter more than rules

https://www.edutopia.org/article/relationships-matter-more-rules/

Article exploring how to establish expectations in ways that prioritise relationships. Includes practical strategies and activities to build rapport and create a safe, supportive classroom environment.

Try this tomorrow

Strategies to support emotional regulation

education.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/main-education/student-wellbeing/attendance-behaviour-and-engagement/student-behaviour/behaviour-support-toolkit/teachers/Strategies_to_support_student_emotional_regulation.pdf

Downloadable resource with practical, classroom-ready strategies organised into themes to support student regulation. These strategies help improve focus, engagement and readiness to learn.

Grounding exercise for racing minds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgRd1Mzhb_Q

Short Headspace video guiding a simple grounding exercise that can be used with a class or individually to calm the mind and support readiness for learning.

If you want to go deeper

OECD: The importance of social and emotional skills

https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/nurturing-social-and-emotional-learning-across-the-globe_32b647d0-en.html

Analysis of large-scale research demonstrating the long-term impact of social and emotional skills on academic achievement, wellbeing and life outcomes. Includes recommendations for how schools can better support these skills.

Polyvagal Theory overview by Stephen Porges

https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/whatispolyvagaltheory

Overview of the science of the nervous system and its role in regulation, explaining why students need to feel safe and regulated to learn effectively.

Tania Noble is an experienced senior teacher, with more than 30 years experience in the classroom. In this episode, Tania helps answer today's key question, "How do routines support learning, not just behaviour?".

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After listening to this episode, start here:

Building routines to manage cognitive load

https://www.edutopia.org/video/building-routines-to-manage-cognitive-load

Video discussing the way structures and routines can be used to facilitate effective classroom.

Using proactive strategies and routines to create order in the classroom

https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/professional-learning/teacher-quality-and-accreditation/strong-start-great-teachers/refining-practice/managing-the-classroom/creating-an-orderly-classroom

Data-driven explanations of the strategies that can be used to create order in the classroom and two example models for routine development.

Try this tomorrow

Entrance Routines

https://www.edresearch.edu.au/guides-resources/practice-guides/entrance-routine

Downloadable practice guide to help develop and refine their classroom entrance routines.

Classroom routines to eliminate chaos and confusion

https://catlintucker.com/2022/09/classroom-routines/

Teacher blog post with explanations and examples of a range of routines to use within and throughout a lesson.

If you want to go deeper

Classroom management practices commonly used by secondary school teachers: results from a Queensland survey

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13384-020-00402-y

Hepburn, L., Beamish, W., & Alston-Knox, C. L. (2021). Classroom management practices commonly used by secondary school teachers: results from a Queensland survey. Australian Educational Researcher, 48(3), 485–505. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13384-020-00402-y

Australia-based empirical study showing that preventative, structured practices are widely used and associated with improvement in student engagement and teacher wellbeing.

Book: Running the Room: The Teacher’s Guide to Behaviour by Tom Bennett

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55289198-running-the-room

Book (also available on Kindle and Audible) for new teachers with practical advice about managing behaviour in the classroom with a focus on consistency and explicit instruction models.

Laura Rienks is a Head of Department for Teaching and Learning. In this episode, Laura helps answer the question, "How can teachers use Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) effectively in classrooms?".

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After listening to this episode, start here

Fisher & Frey – Gradual Release of Responsibility overview

https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/explicit-teaching/explicit-teaching-strategies/gradual-release-of-responsibility

NSW Government overview of the GRR model with practical technique guides for modelling, scaffolding and independent practice.

Teacher Head (Tom Sherrington) – GRR modelling explained

https://teacherhead.com/2020/11/28/the-art-of-modelling-its-all-in-the-handover/

Written explanation accompanied by images, videos and a graphic organiser to demonstrate effective modelling.

Try this tomorrow

Video: GRR in action (explicit instruction lesson example)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp4HN9bF3tM

Shows clear modelling → guided → independent phases, as well as embedded differentiated practice, in a real classroom.

Checking for understanding – strategy bank (Edutopia)

https://www.edutopia.org/article/quick-ways-to-check-for-understanding/

List of quick, practical formative assessment strategies.

If you want to go deeper

High Impact Teaching Strategies (full PDF guide)

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/school/teachers/support/high-impact-teaching-strategies.pdf

PDF outlining the 10 evidence-based teaching strategies/practices that measurably improve student learning.

Doug Fisher lecture describing the GRR Model

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjURdvzty4c

Article explaining how Explicit Instruction models support Universal Design for Learning principles

https://www.novakeducation.com/blog/explicit-instruction-udl-4-ways-to-provide-explicit-instruction

Mari-Claire Ferguson continues the conversation on surviving and thriving during professional placement. If you haven't already, you can find Part 1 of this discussion in your podcast app.

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After listening to this episode, start here:

Low-effort, high-impact. If you only do one thing after this episode, begin here:

• Make a simple ‘Week 1 plan’ (who to meet, what to ask, what to observe)
• Peruse the AITSL Teacher Resource Hub, especially the ‘Pre-service & beginning teachers’ ribbon
• Download the free AITSL ‘My Induction app’ for expert advice and activities for beginning teachers

Try this tomorrow:

Simple, actionable strategies you can use straight away in your next placement day:

• Arrive early and introduce yourself to a new staff member you haven’t chatted to yet (front office, HOD, neighbouring teachers, librarian, teacher aide)
• Ask your supervising teacher: “What’s one thing I could improve this week that would make the biggest difference in the classroom?”

If you want to go deeper:

For when you’re ready to build your understanding, refine your practice, or connect this to theory.

• Explore AITSL resources on professional practice and early career development
• Read the research briefings from Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) on a range of evidence-based topics

Today's guest, Mari-Claire Ferguson, explores how pre-service teachers can survive and thrive during professional experience placements, from early placements through to extended final placements and the GTPA.

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After listening to this episode, start here:

Low-effort, high-impact. If you only do one thing after this episode, begin here:

• Make a simple ‘Week 1 plan’ (who to meet, what to ask, what to observe)
• Peruse the AITSL Teacher Resource Hub, especially the ‘Pre-service & beginning teachers’ ribbon
• Download the free AITSL ‘My Induction app’ for expert advice and activities for beginning teachers

Try this tomorrow:

Simple, actionable strategies you can use straight away in your next placement day:

• Arrive early and introduce yourself to a new staff member you haven’t chatted to yet (front office, HOD, neighbouring teachers, librarian, teacher aide)
• Ask your supervising teacher: “What’s one thing I could improve this week that would make the biggest difference in the classroom?”

If you want to go deeper:

For when you’re ready to build your understanding, refine your practice, or connect this to theory.

• Explore AITSL resources on professional practice and early career development
• Read the research briefings from Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) on a range of evidence-based topics

The Learning Curve is a podcast produced by the School of Education at the University of Queensland for pre-service and early career teachers.

Each episode explores a simple, concrete teaching topic by bringing together classroom teachers, academics and pre-service teachers to examine how ideas introduced at university play out in classrooms and schools.

The podcast unpacks how commonly taught concepts are experienced in everyday teaching contexts, highlighting why some approaches work in some settings and not others, and providing practical strategies for success.