Teach in London

Photos from the 2nd Annual Classroom Canada London Scavenger Hunt

2009-11-09T10:34:00.000-08:00

Wow. The Classroom Canada PD week has come and gone. It all happened so quickly!

Here are some photos from Friday night's London Scavenger Hunt - my favourite event that takes our teachers and teaching assistants to the streets of London. Silly times were had by all!

Photos from Classroom Canada's PD Workshops, November 2009

2009-11-06T05:22:00.000-08:00

Classroom Canada held 2 professional development workshops this week for our new arrivals in London: Primary & Secondary Teaching on Wednesday night and SEN Teaching on Thursday night.

We had even more teachers arrive than we expected, and were jam-packed into the Classroom boardroom with at least 27 teachers and teaching assistants at each event. Outstanding!

The feedback from our workshop leader, Sophie Walker, is that this group is the most dedicated, loyal, flexible, adaptable and "switched on" that she's ever seen. Sophie's been doing these workshops for years, with teachers from around the world, so this is really BIG.

Every day I hear positive feedback from my colleagues about the Canadian teachers and TA's in our London schools. Well done everyone!

Tonight we have the Classroom Canada Scavenger Hunt, our most popular social event with silliness, drinks and laughter starting at the Maple Leaf Pub in Covent Garden. I'm excited!

To become part of the Classroom Canada team, sign up for our newsletters & apply through our website. Be sure to read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians to help you understand everything you need to know about teaching in London.

Photos From Classroom Canada's Run With Richard & The Blogger's Bash

2009-11-04T05:25:00.000-08:00

How amazing our the Classroom Canada teachers & teaching assistants in London? Absolutely outstanding!

On Monday, we had our Run with Richard, a 5km jogging tour of our local area around Central London, including the London Eye, the Ritz Hotel, Green Park, Bond Street, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Leicester Square, Soho and the Thames River. I am very impressed!

Last night, some of our blogging teachers and teaching assistants got together at the Maple Leaf Pub, our only Canadian bar in London and home to poutine and Sleeman's beer. We shared many laughs, blogging stories & advice and much praise all around for the amazing stories and reflections that our teachers have shared through their blogs. Some even called each other the "famous bloggers", as they've followed their adventures from being in Canada to finally arriving in London and now their teaching stories. Finally, they got to meet in person and away from their computers.

Tonight, we have a Professional Development Workshop with Sophie Walker for Primary & Secondary Teachers, and tomorrow we have another workshop for Special Educational Needs teaching. Then, on Friday we take over the streets of London with the famous and fantastic Classroom Canada Scavenger Hunt. Not only are the teachers actually teaching in London schools, they also know how to go out, make new friends and have a great time living in central London.

Here are some photos to show you the Run and the Maple Leaf event, in no particular order:

Who's Feeling Nostalgic?

2009-11-02T06:10:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting here in the London office, gazing out the window at a sunny sky and thinking of the incredible people I've met through Classroom Canada. I am the luckiest woman on earth! Our teachers and teaching assistants are amazing people - keen, eager, positive and taking on the world through their teaching and travels.

This is our kick-off week for the new arrivals. We start the week with our 5km Run with Richard - a jogging tour of our local area around Oxford Circus. Richard's already done a run this morning. What a trooper. He told me we will see Buckingam Palace on the way, and I can't believe I never knew how close it is to our office. 5 years on and I'm still learning my way around this city.

To become part of the Classroom Canada team, sign up for our newsletters & apply through our website. Be sure to read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians to help you understand everything you need to know about teaching in London.

Classroom Canada's London Scavenger Hunt - Just What Are You Playing For?

2009-10-26T09:35:00.000-07:00

I'm heading out to London tomorrow and madly packing all of the amazing prizes for the Classroom Canada London Scavenger Hunt. It's madness! It's mayhem!

Here is the list of events that we organize for our teachers & teaching assistants in London from November 2nd-6th, 2009.

The Scavenger Hunt is always very popular and ridiculously fun. We have some amazing sponsors who help provide us with some healthy competitive spirits.

Prize #1: For the Winning Team

Topdeck have once again generously donated 250 GBP worth of travel vouchers to be used against any of their tours in Europe or Africa. You can see how last year's winning team used their vouchers here.

Here's the blurb about what Topdeck is all about:

At Topdeck our passion is providing unforgettable travel experiences for 18-30 something’s. Extended trips & festivals in Europe, ski & sailing holidays, adventures in Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and Israel, safaris in Africa: your choice of great holidays with like-minded travellers is huge! Travel with Topdeck and Share the Experience.

Thanks Topdeck!

Prize#2: A Cross Pen & Pencil Gift Set from Lloyd's TSB Offshore - Vancouver Office

Our friends, Michael & Tony, in the Vancouver Lloyd's office have generously donated a Cross Pen & Pencil gift set for one of the winners of the Scavenger Hunt. They wanted to help our teachers & teaching assistants celebrate their new careers in education by giving a very grown-up gift. Cross pens are well known amongst professionals for being the pen of choice.

Prize #3: The Mystery Prize

I can't tell you what this prize is yet. But trust me, this one is AWESOME. And who doesn't love a surprise?

Prize #4: Random Canadian Goodies

All year, whenever I see something Canadian that I think might make a cool Scavenger Hunt prize I pick it up and toss it into my suitcase. So, in my suitcase I have found:

Canadian Flag Cupcake Holders and Toothpicks.
2 Canadian Baseball Hats.
Loads of Canadian Stickers.
Maple Syrup - Organic and in a really cool bottle.
Kraft Dinner. Because someone out there is really missing their KD.
Tim Horton's Coffee (Not actually Canadian, but loads of Canadians miss this coffee)
Stuart McLean's Extreme Vinyl Cafe - because his stories make me almost wet my pants in laughter and he's just oh-so-Canadian.

Between my house and London, I still have more places to pick up random Canadian bits & pieces so you'll just have to come to the Scavenger Hunt to see what other treasures I find.

See many of you in a week.

To become part of the Classroom Canada team, sign up for our newsletters & apply through our website. Be sure to read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians to help you understand everything you need to know about teaching in London.

"That's So Gay": How to Deal With Homophobic Comments in Schools

2009-10-23T12:08:00.000-07:00

I love the video above. It's circulating on facebook with quite a few of the Classroom Canada teachers and I am excited to share it with you here. Wanda Sykes shows us how we can deal with homophobia with young people in a witty, and fun way. Brilliant.

It's half term break in the UK as of right now. Teachers and Teaching Assistants are catching flights around Europe (to Ireland, Scotland, Paris, Portugal...those are the places I know of right now, but I'm sure next week I will get reports of more travels) as well as taking this week to get to know their new home city, London. There are loads of free things to do in London, and plenty of our teachers are taking advantage of this time off to visit museums, meet up with other Canadian and American teachers, get to know their new accommodations at Oxford Circus, find their "locals" (aka pubs) and play frisbee in Hyde Park.

I'm catching up on paperwork this weekend, watching the Canucks vs Maple Leafs game on Saturday (I always enjoy a good ol' BC vs ON game, being from both parts myself), catching a flight to London as soon as I can (Tuesday? Wednesday? Thursday? It's all last minute folks...) and preparing for our PD week in London. You can read more about the events here. I haven't jogged since I did an 8km run a couple of weeks ago and pulled a muscle- it was an amazing run though! 7am along Dallas Road with the sun rising and the sound of thousands of feet hitting the pavement - music to my ears. So I better get out there and prepare for our Run with Richard. Bailing just isn't an option.

I probably won't post on this blog for a week or so. Enjoy this week everyone! We all deserve it.

To become part of the Classroom Canada team, sign up for our newsletters & apply through our website.Be sure to read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians to help you understand everything you need to know about teaching in London.

Classroom Canada Visits Canadian Universities - Updated List 2009/2010

2009-10-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

I'm hitting the road again folks!

First, I'm heading off to London to do our PD and Socials Week (Nov 2-6th) and I can't even tell you how excited I am to see all our teachers and teaching assistants in person.

We're running a 5km tour with Richard, an avid runner and one of the founders of Classroom Ltd. We're hanging out with blogging teachers & TA's and sharing a few drinks and stories at the Maple Leaf Pub. We're doing workshops on SEN teaching and how to survive and succeed in any London school. Then, finally, we're having our 2nd Classroom Canada London Scavenger Hunt. To sign up for any of these events, just see this post.

Second, I'm planning my visits to the universities below:

OISE, December 18th, 2009
York University, January 7th, 2010
Brock University, January 8th, 2010
Queen's University, January 12th, 2010
Lakehead University, January 15th, 2010
Trent University, January 16th, 2010
University of Alberta, January 18th, 2010
Lethbridge University, January 20, 2010
UBC, January 22, 2010
McGill, February 1, 2010
Concordia, February 3, 2010
University of Ottawa, February 5, 2010

If your university isn't on the list and you would like me to visit, please just let me know by leaving a comment below. Experienced teachers will be interviewed in person and on the phone and don't need to attend these events to meet with me.

For interviews, January and February are very important months. I will be interviewing in each city I visit (where time permits of course) and I will continue to interview teachers and teaching assistants by using Skype. These interviews will be for positions that start in April/May 2010 and September/October 2010.

Before coming to meet me, please read this post: The Do's and Don'ts of University Teacher Job Fairs

Questions? Comments? Please share your thoughts below.

Another Interview with a Canadian Teacher in London, England - this time all the way from Nova Scotia via England

2009-10-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

Who is successful in their teaching in London? I've said it a million times, and I'll say it again: the most successful teachers and TA's are positive thinkers. They see every challenge as an opportunity to grow, expand and explore. They love learning, life and laughter. They carry on doing what they love most in their free time, whether it be playing rugby, swing dancing or jogging along the Thames River.

Here's another great example of one of our recent arrivals who is doing really well in our London schools. Jonathan hails from Nova Scotia and taught in Korea and Canada before moving to teach in London with Classroom Canada.

Name: Jonathan Bartlett
University: University of Maine at Presque Isle
Subjects: Elementary Education
Ages You Teach: Key Stage 1 and 2 (aka K-6)
How long have you been teaching in London?

I have been teaching here for just over a month.

What do you teach?  

I teach elementary, which are called primary schools here, and have a particular focus on key stage 2 (grades 3-6). I have been lucky enough to teach every year level at multiple primary schools in London so far. I can honestly say that I have enjoyed teaching every level from reception to year 6.

Why did you choose to work with Classroom Canada?

I chose Classroom Canada because I felt like I was being treated as a unique individual. Some companies simply view you as another cog in the wheel and do not take the time to converse on a personal level. Any correspondence before I departed for London, via email or phone conversation, was helpful and I felt like I was being recognized for my individual characteristics as a teacher. I also like that Classroom Canada focuses on teaching in London, whereas other agencies will try to convince you that teaching in a small rural town is the way to go. I cannot imagine living anywhere else in England rather than central London.

What was the biggest adjustment for you to make in your teaching in London compared to Canada?

My teaching in Canada has been, for the most part, in smaller towns and suburbs. London is a vibrant and extremely diverse city. I would say the biggest adjustment, and also the greatest source for potential growth as a teacher here, is understanding the issues that inner-city London students deal with everyday. Obviously, behaviour management in London and Canadian schools is different. This is nothing new. The main thing I try to do, even as a daily supply teacher, is attempt to understand where each student is coming from. This can make a world of difference in your classroom environment.

Describe a typical London day in 3-4 sentences.

I wake up around 6:30am, head to the tube station and enjoy a cozy train ride to the school I am with for that day. Finish teaching around 3:30pm and head for home. Go to the gym for a workout or a swim and then home for a nice dinner and conversation with the people from all walks of life that live in my building. Friday evenings are spent socializing at the local pub with fellow teachers and locals, aged 20 to 77, that we have befriended.

What is the one piece of advice you can offer a Canadian teacher considering the move to London?

I would suggest being yourself yet also being very open to new ideas and teaching styles. Go with the flow of life in London and within the schools you are teaching with. Remember you are not in Canada anymore and things are bound to be different, sometimes drastically different. Then again, that's why I think most of us are here.

Describe the funniest thing that's happened to you in your year so far:

After telling a year five class that I am from Canada, a girl with a puzzled look on her face says, "Sir, I'm confused. How can you be Canadian if you have an American accent and Australian hair?"

Describe the worst thing:

I have been lucky and haven't had to deal with any really negative situations in any schools or with life in London so far. "The only difference between an ordeal and an adventure is your attitude." Difficult to swallow at times but it works for me.

What made you stay with Classroom Canada, rather than any other agency?

I plan to stay with Classroom Canada as long as I am teaching in London. Since I arrived, the staff at the London office have been more than helpful and a pleasure to work with. Whenever I speak with them, even at 7:00am on a Monday morning, they are cheerful and eager to get me in a class for that day and for every day that week. I really feel as though they take pride in their work and go out of their way to find great schools that are a good fit for me. That's what I think sets them apart from other agencies.

Thanks to Jonathan for this "Coffee Time with Classroom Canada." To read more interviews with our teachers, just see the right hand side of this blog and sign up for our newsletters. To apply to teach with us, please see our website. Be sure to read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians.

Bloggers Bash: A Game for the Blogosphere

2009-10-16T09:18:00.000-07:00

First off, congrats to Eric and Joyet for landing full-time teaching contracts with us in London. Well done! Eric is teaching in secondary, and Joyet in primary, and I just know they're both going to do exceptionally well in their schools.

Second, let's play a little game.

I mentioned on Wednesday that I want to get together for drinks at the Maple Leaf Pub in Covent Garden on Tuesday, November 3rd at 6pm with our blogging teachers and teaching assistants in London. I'm stoked to hang out with you all in person.

So, here's the game: let's see how quickly we can spread this little invite to all the blogging teachers and TAs with Classroom Canada. Here are the rules:

1. Copy this message: "You rock! I love your blog! Come to the Maple Leaf Pub on November 3rd at 6pm to celebrate your awesomeness with Classroom Canada. Can't wait to see you there!"

2. Paste it into the comments section of your favourite teacher/ta blogging friends.

3. Once you've done that, leave a comment here and tell me who you invited.

4. When someone copies the invite in your blog, come back to this blog and RSVP in the comments section here.

5. And finally, meet me at the Maple Leaf and talk-blog-shop with me and all the others.

I hope this little game works! Thanks for participating everyone and have a fabulous weekend.

To become part of the Classroom Canada team, sign up for our newsletters & apply through our website.Be sure to read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians to help you understand everything you need to know about teaching in London.

Updated: PD Week in London - November 2nd-6th 2009

2009-10-14T09:59:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to share with you our Updated List of Workshops and Socials coming up during the week of November 2nd-6th in London, England with Classroom London and Classroom Canada.

Monday, November 2nd 2009: Classroom Canada Run With Richard

Richard Gilbey is one of the founders of Classroom Ltd and an all 'round great guy. He's also an avid runner, and often jokes that he'd love to take our teachers on a tour of London with his favourite jogging routes. I finally took him up on the offer and I'm amazed at the positive response from our teachers! I had no idea we had so many joggers in our bunch, or people who are keen to give it a go anyway.

So we're doing a 5km jogging tour near our office in Oxford Circus. You can sign up here if you'd like to join us - all are welcome!

We'll meet at the London office at 6pm.

Tuesday, November 3rd 2009: Bloggers Bash - Our Blogging Teachers & TA's get together with me and talk blog-shop.

We'll meet at the ~~Porter House in Covent Garden~~, THE MAPLE LEAF PUB (Sorry, I accidentally wrote down the wrong pub before) at 6pm. All are welcome to join us, whether you blog or not. We will be talking blog-shop though, so if that doesn't interest you, don't fret - the Scavenger Hunt on Friday is wicked-fun as well.

For me, this will be the first time that I'll be meeting some of you in person! Strange, but true. Most of our blogging teachers and teaching assistants met via this blog, by leaving comments and then adding each other as friends through our facebook group, as well as following each other's blogs. Now, they all hang out in London! How cool is that? So, let's get together and talk blog-shop, all while enjoying a relaxing bevy in my favourite Covent Garden pub. And they serve Canadian beer. Woohoo!

Please let me know if you plan to attend by emailing me directly. I need to know how large of an area to reserve. Thanks!

I'll be the one in the Queen's hoodie.

Wednesday November 4th 2009: How to Survive & Succeed With Sophie Walker

6-8pm in our London office.

Sophie Walker returns to deliver another free workshop for our primary & secondary teachers in London. This workshop will help all new-comers understand the ins and outs of supply teaching in London, with a view to securing long term employment as well. Please read Sophie's bio below.
Seats are limited! Sign up by emailing me (victoria at classroomcanada dot com).
Thursday, November 5th 2009: SEN Survival Tips & Tricks with Sophie Walker

6-8pm, in our London office.

Sophie Walker offers another free workshop for teachers that are keen to work in Special Educational Needs in London. Whether you have experience with SEN or not, this is a great workshop to help you understand all you need to know to succeed in our SEN schools in London.

Seats are limited! Sign up by emailing me (victoria at classroomcanada dot com).

Friday, November 6th 2009: Classroom Canada London Scavenger Hunt

You can't miss this incredible event! It's always a huge hit, and this year will be even bigger and better than last.
We will meet at the Maple Leaf in Covent Garden at 6pm.

I'll organize the teachers and teaching assistants into small teams of 4 or 5 people. I'll give them directions and a set of instructions and they have about 2 hours to get as many items checked on the list as possible, all while running around the streets of London of course.
This year, we have Classroom Canada teachers who completed the event last year, so they will be involved as team leaders, or I will handicap them in some way (Three legged race perhaps? Potato sacks? Something equally silly I'm sure).

We also have prizes from Flight Centre, Topdeck and the Canada Shop which are highly coveted by the winning teams. To sign up for this event, please click here. I will be posting more about the prizes in a few days. They're awesome!
Sophie Walker's Bio:

We are so pleased that Sophie Walker will be running the workshops again this year.

Sophie Walker came to London for a year nearly ten years ago. She left her native Melbourne where she taught English and Drama at a boys Catholic School, holding the position of Head of the Performing Arts Department for two years.

Sophie left to travel and look for new educational experiences. She started out working in London as a supply teacher, through Classroom, teaching the subjects she was trained in to secondary pupils. Two of her long term placements were a 'fresh start' school in Hammersmith and an about to be 'fresh start' school in Hillingdon.

While doing this she lived on friends floors and for a while moved house once a year!

Sophie has experienced day to day supply and long term positions and has also worked as a Hearing Support Teacher for an inner city Borough. She ran a centre for excluded pupils for two years dealing with a variety of emotional behavioural needs. She also worked for Classroom as a consultant in the SEN Section.

Sophie now works as an Advisory Support Teacher for a London Borough, her focus is supporting pupils who have a diagnosis of Autism and are between the ages of 3 and 7. She has recently started her Masters of Education.

Sophie's wide range of experience means that she is in a great position to pass on a wealth of information about surviving (and enjoying) your first year in London.

To become part of the Classroom Canada team, sign up for our newsletters & apply through our website.Be sure to read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians to help you understand everything you need to know about teaching in London.

PS) My apologies for the wonky formatting with today's post - blogger is acting strange today. Anyone have any advice for this? Thanks!

Another Interview with a Canadian Teacher in London, England

2009-10-12T18:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving everyone! Thanks to Shannon for completing this Coffee Time interview in time to share it with you all today.

Name: Shannon Mullen
University: Queen's, OISE
Subjects: Physical Education and English
Ages Taught: Intermediate/Secondary

How long have you been teaching in London now?
Since the beginning of September, 2009.

What do you teach?
My preference is Secondary PE but since I've been here, I have taught English, Religion, Food Technology, Geography, Math, French, and Spanish (which was interesting because I have never taken a Spanish course myself!) When you cover Secondary classes, the teacher usually leaves seat work for the class to do, so you don't really have to be an expert in that particular subject. Instead of teaching new information, you tend to guide students through their work and answer questions. It had been great because I have actually learned alot about topics that I am not too familiar with. I have also done a few primary teaching days, which I love too.

Why did you choose Classroom Canada?
I did research on many different agencies and really liked the "feel" I got from Classroom. I loved how Classroom seemed genuinely interested in making sure that its teachers were set up for the full experience of living in London (helping to make social connections, accommodations, suggestions for things to do).

Other agencies seemed to strictly focus on helping me get a job. I came to London only partly for teaching- I wanted to travel, meet new people, and experience a new city and culture- and Classroom Canada seemed to care about these aspects of my life as well.

What was the biggest adjustment for you to make in your teaching in London compared to Canada?
I'm a P.E. teacher and had never played some of the sports that are part of the curriculum here: netball, cricket, rounders...so I had to spend time learning how to play them. It's a great opportunity for me to expand my knowledge of sports- hopefully, I'll be able to teach my students some new games when I come back to Canada (uh...if I come back?).

Also, I have been able to teach the students here some new games. For example, I played soccer-baseball (I called it football-baseball though!) with a class and they loved it! I couldn't believe that they had never played it before since soccer (football) is so popular here!

Describe a typical London day in 3-4 sentences:
I get up at 6:30, and get ready for work. If I am not already booked, I wait for a call from Classroom (which usually comes between 7-8). If I'm working, I go to work, come home and go for a run in Regent's Park, have dinner, and then usually go for coffee or do something with a friend. If I'm not working, I try to take advantage of the time off- I either go for a bike ride, do some errands, or explore the city.

What is the one piece of advice you can offer a Canadian teacher considering the move to London?
You will be living here, not simply travelling. It is important to incorporate things that you value into your life when you get here and get involved in activities that you enjoy.

For example, I joined a rugby club, which has been a great way to meet people and continue to be involved in sports. I also brought my road bike over with me (yes, it was a struggle getting all my luggage from the airport to my residence, but so worth it!). This has been a great way to explore England!

Describe the funniest thing that's happened to you in your year so far:
One student asked me if I could speak "Canadian." It is really funny to learn the misconceptions that people have about Canada.

Describe the worst thing:
A Year 7 student in one of my classes kept spontaneously dancing during the middle of class, which was obviously distracting for everyone. I made a deal with her that if she sat and did her work for the rest of class, that she could could have "the floor" for the last two minutes and dance for the class. She seemed to like this idea, and actually did her work!

Unfortunately, during her "performance minute", another teacher walked into the room to ask me how the class had behaved. It looked like I had absolutely no control over the class because the girl was breaking out her best dance moves while her classmates cheered her on. The teacher looked at me like I was a complete idiot when I said that the class was great! She laughed when I explained the deal to her, but I can imagine what was going through her head when she entered the class and saw a dance party.

Why did you stay with Classroom Canada, rather than with any other agency?
Everyone at Classroom is super positive and I feel that they are working really hard to get me work that I will enjoy and benefit from. I also like how easy it has been to network with other Classroom Canada teachers- it is so nice to have Canadian friends here! (I am going to attempt to make some sort of Thanksgiving dinner on Monday...the only problem is that I haven't been able to find a turkey...I'll probably just cook a chicken!)

To apply for teaching and teaching assistant jobs with Classroom Canada, please see our website and sign up for our newsletters. Don't forget to check out the Guide to Teaching in London.

Questions? Comments? Please share below!

How to Apply for a Teaching Job in the UK: The Importance of Taking 3 Minutes...

2009-10-09T08:27:00.000-07:00

I try to cut teachers and teaching assistants a lot of slack when they apply for jobs with Classroom Canada in London. If their cover letter is written to "Timeplan" by mistake, I understand that they're just applying to loads of teaching jobs in the UK, and are in too much of a hurry to stop and see who they are applying to.

Sometimes, I get a little bit cranky though. Hey, I'm a positive person - this doesn't happen too often, but lately...well...spell check is important folks. It's actually really important for teachers.

Here are my personal favourite mistakes from this week's applications alone:

email subject heading: Teacing Application
Resume/CV education section: Batchelor of Education
Dear Timeplan

Come on people. You are applying to teach children how to read and write. Please show me you know how to spell "teach" if you want to be a teacher. And please, find my name and use it. I like my name. It makes me feel special. I don't address you as "hey applicant." Just learn my name. And Classroom Canada is not Timeplan. Nor Protocol. Nor Smart Teachers.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

To apply for teaching and teaching assistant jobs with Classroom Canada, please see our website and sign up for our newsletters. Don't forget to check out the Guide to Teaching in London.

How to Increase Your Chances of Landing a Teaching Job in London

2009-10-07T08:31:00.000-07:00

To follow on from Monday's post about the job situation for secondary teachers in London, here's how you can improve your chances of landing that perfect teaching job in London.

Attend these workshops in London October 16th and 17th for Special Educational Needs Teaching. The workshops cost only 12 pounds each and are filling up fast.

You can choose between primary and secondary focused workshops. I would personally sign up for as many as possible and use the 2 days to increase my understanding of the UK education system and SEN in particular. You will meet teachers and administrators from all walks of life. What a great networking opportunity!

One bit of advice for Canadian and American teachers and teaching assistants: These workshops are intended for all kinds of teachers, not just foreigners. So, while we are all welcome to attend, please remember that most of the participants will be British and not there to learn the basics. If you want the basics from a Canadian perspective, just read my ebook. That will give you a good understanding of the UK system.

After attending the workshops, head home and edit your resume/CV to show your participation at the events. This is very important! It shows that you're not just in London to travel the world and using teaching as your means to an end. Instead, it shows that you are passionate about teaching in the UK, you want to know as much as possible to make you a better teacher and will do whatever it takes to get that teaching job you want so badly.

Classroom also offers workshops for our new arrivals and experienced teachers. To see our workshops and sign up, please see this post.

To apply for teaching and teaching assistant jobs with Classroom Canada, please see our website and sign up for our newsletters. Don't forget to check out the Guide to Teaching in London.

Secondary Teacher Jobs in London: What's Happening Over There?

2009-10-05T08:59:00.000-07:00

*Please read the comments section of this particular blog post as there is a good discussion and update on this post*

What's happening in London with Secondary teacher jobs? Well, it's a whole new year and a whole new experience for all of us in recruitment and in teaching.

Normally, secondary school teachers have a pretty easy go of getting a full-time job and/or supply teaching right away. Primary and SEN teachers get jobs fairly quickly as well. How quickly? Well, with Classroom it can take as little as a day or as much as a year depending on the teacher's likeability, experience levels and all 'round passion for teaching.

Personally, I never had a problem getting work as a primary school teacher, whether it be day to day supply teaching (I always got 5 days/week) or long term positions teaching one class for a year. Compared to Canada, it was a cinch to get a job!

But this is a new year. The UK is just now climbing out of the "financial crisis" (or "credit crunch" as they call it there), and Secondary schools have made some changes in how they hire. Namely, they now hire what are called "cover supervisors", which I prefer to call security guards. They are people who don't have formal training as teachers. They cover the classes where the teachers are absent due to courses or illness. They're cheap and they get the job done. How well is a different story, but that's a whole other post.

We never thought the schools would actually go this route. The government made the changes last year, to help schools that just didn't have enough teachers. You see, they have a shortage of teachers. That hasn't changed.

But the change in taking on cover supervisors means that schools are now hiring anyone and everyone to supply teach. This is a problem! Luckily, Classroom has a very good reputation with London schools, so we are still getting daily supply positions, but just not as much as we have in previous years, for secondary schools anyway. Primary and SEN are still growing and doing very well compared to the other agencies in London.

Why does this affect the Secondary long term positions? Well, schools used to choose their full-time teachers from the teachers they meet on a day to day basis. Now, schools are still hiring full-time teachers, but they are doing it very differently. And everyone's in a panic.

So, what's the real deal? Well, we have amazing teachers and they are working. We have plenty of full-time teachers in jobs that they love (or grin and bear it anyway - we are talking about secondary teaching here! It's tough to say the least). The most affected teachers are the ones who have just arrived in the last month. They are trying their best to keep their heads up, and stay positive and not panic.

Teachers who can teach primary and SEN are in a much better position. Some of those secondary teachers with SEN and primary experience are actually getting 3-5 days/week and being offered full-time positions. That's amazing!

Which brings me to Amie's question on last week's post: What is my plan of attack for Classroom Canada?

I'm not making any changes to my Primary and SEN recruitment as those areas are still great. But I am making changes to how I recruit Secondary school teachers. Specifically, I'm not selecting anyone who can only teach Secondary. They have to show that they have experience in Primary and/or SEN as well, so that I can rest assured that they will be able to work in Secondary and Primary and SEN. As stressful as it is for the teachers it is just as stressful for me. I want you people working! So, I'm not selecting anyone who is a higher risk. Sad, but true.

So, for those secondary school teachers with us in London, you can also rest assured that you will have first dibs on the jobs that do come in. And they will. They always do. Cover supervisors can't teach full-time, so don't stress about that anyway.

I hope this helps explains things a little better, particularly for the amazing teachers who are being so patient, keeping their heads up, and staying positive. You rock! I can't wait to see you in November for the Classroom Canada PD sessions and Scavenger Hunt. I'll even buy your drinks.

To apply for teaching jobs with Classroom Canada, please see our website and sign up for our newsletters. Read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians by yours truly.

Questions? Comments? Thoughts? Wonderings? Please share below.

And the applications come pouring in...

2009-10-02T07:20:00.000-07:00

I've been away participating in my own professional development for the past week and a half and let me tell you - my inbox is jam-packed with applications from teachers and teaching assistants who want to teach in London, England with Classroom Canada. Wow. I knew I'd have a lot, but honestly, this is way more than even I expected.

I have a few ideas as to why this might be the case:

Teachers across Canada and the USA realize in late September and early October that they might as well apply to teach in the UK since they still don't have work "back home." Not the best reason to apply, but I get it.
Teachers arrive in London with other agencies and realize that the agency they picked doesn't have enough work to go around (This is particularly the case for Secondary School Teachers this year, and a blog post will follow to explain this more), so they apply to teach with us because they've heard great things and/or read this blog.
Teachers panic. They apply everywhere and anywhere. When I call them, I have to remind them what they've applied for. It makes me giggle inside. It really does. "Oh London? England? Oh! Uhhh....okay, sure!"
Teachers read this blog and after doing heaps and heaps of research and looking internally to see if they're ready for the big move to the UK, they finally just click "send" on that email they've been working on for weeks (or even months!). These are my favourites of course.

Needless to say, I am swamped. Happily swamped, but swamped.

So, I am back to blogging and will post every Mon/Wed/Fri as usual, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays on my Moving to the UK blog. Please share your comments, questions, thoughts, concerns in the comments box below!

To apply to teach in London, England with Classroom Canada just send me your CV/Resume by email to apply at classroomcanada dot com.

Classroom London Launches a New Blog About Teaching in London, England

2009-09-17T19:21:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to share the news with you!

My colleagues in London have started a blog for Classroom London, partly inspired by this little blog of mine. I love it when more people join the blogosphere, and even more so when they're writing about what it's really like to teach in London, England.

Every Monday and Wednesday, one of my colleagues in London, or their Teachers or Teaching Assistants, or associates in all things eduction related will post on the Classroom London blog. Then, every Friday, they will post the latest and greatest jobs of the week. Not all of their jobs will be posted, but they will pick a selection of jobs that you might find interesting.

The jobs posted will be for Secondary Teachers, Primary Teachers, Special Educational Needs Teachers and Teaching Assistants. These jobs will be located in London, England and occassionally the surrounding areas.

Please swing by, bookmark it, follow it, spread the word and leave your comments and questions.

On a side note, I'm off to a conference and will not be blogging until my return to our Canadian office on October 1st. So, in my absence, please continue to read our teachers blogs (listed on the right hand side of this blog) and the Classroom London blog. See you soon!

Teachers, Teaching Assistants & Teaching in London: How Do You Sleep At Night?

2009-09-16T10:28:00.000-07:00

We all know that children need enough sleep to learn in school. We tell parents that all the time, and we always know when students have been up too late at night to concentrate in class, keep their heads screwed on straight, get along with each other and all 'round have fun learning in school. You know those emotional breakdowns over something that would otherwise not be so big? It's the sleepy-cranks at work.

So, what about teachers and teaching assistants? What about their own sleep patterns?

We have a group of teachers working full-time in our London schools, and for some of them this is their first full-time, long term teaching contract. Some of them supply taught, and know the rhythm of teaching life in London, but it's their first full time contract, so the stress can be a lot to handle.

Others have experience back home, and still they feel the stress teaching in London. Let's face it, teaching is hard. It's stressful. We need our sleep!

Our new teachers are slowly picking up days here & there, (it is the beginning of the new year, always a slow time for supply teaching) and we've had hundreds of teachers with other agencies trying to get into our team since their agencies don't have work for them. We prioritize our loyal teachers first and foremost of course.

But the point is that it's stressful for everyone in education at this time of year. Even for us recruitment consultants! I was up at 4:30 am on MSN with my colleagues in London, who were shouting at me in caps-lock, "GO TO BED WOMAN!", but hey, I wake up, I check email and I got work to do here people!

So, this brings me to you. What do you do to help yourself sleep through the night? Do you take sleeping pills like the teachers I know in Ontario with years of experience who still struggle with sleep? Do you listen to Paul McKenna's hypnotic voice & try to get back to sleep? Do you count sheep? Or do you just get up, and get on with it? Or, maybe you sleep like a log and can brag about it here.

Please share your thoughts below!

To become part of the Classroom Canada team, sign up for our newsletters & apply through our website. Be sure to read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians to help you understand everything you need to know about teaching in London.

Supply Teaching in London: How To Prepare For the Unexpected

2009-09-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

I've written a few posts about supply teaching (aka TOC, daily supply, substitute teaching, relief teaching, cover teaching) in London schools and how to survive and succeed.

Most teachers who first arrive in London start out in supply teaching, get to know the schools and then find themselves in a long term position (aka LTO, Long Term Occassional, Full Time Contract, Long Term Contract). It takes anywhere from one day to a whole year, depending on your skills as a teacher and your ability to mix & mingle with school staff. Your interview skills, how you teach, your subject knowledge, how prepared you seem to be and your behaviour management skills are all big factors in landing that dream job in London.

So, how do you survive as a Supply Teacher in London?
Here are some great resources to get you started:

TES Forum - My Supply Pack - a discussion thread about what to bring with you in daily supply teaching at various schools (thanks to Ann for pointing it out).
A Simple Guide to Supply Teaching in London - my step-by-step guide to help you succeed in primary, secondary and SEN supply teaching.
Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians - 110 page ebook written by yours truly, originally for Canadians and I'm still working on the American edition (sorry for my neighbours to the South, I will get it ready for publishing soon I promise!)
How to Survive Your Worst Teaching Day - Because it will happen to you and what will you do?
Teachers TV - watch all the videos about daily supply teaching. As of today, there are 117 videos online and free for you to watch about supply teaching in UK schools. By far, the best way to learn about what it's really like!

What about you? Any other advice you'd care to share here with our readers? Any specific issues you would like me to address here? Don't be shy! Share your thoughts below.

To become part of the Classroom Canada team, sign up for our newsletters & apply through our website. Be sure to read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians to help you understand everything you need to know about teaching in London.

The Feedback is Outstanding! Our Teachers in London Rock.

2009-09-11T09:29:00.000-07:00

My colleagues in London, who are mostly teachers themselves, have been sending me emails all week to rave about how amazing the Classroom Canada teachers are. It's a bit of a frantic time for new teachers to London, with work always being a bit slow in the beginning (teachers aren't sick yet, and they aren't out at conferences or courses yet either) so we know it can be a very stressful time.

But the feedback from my colleagues is that this particular group of teachers have amazing attitudes and are so easy to work with. Now that's what I like to hear!

I take a lot of pride in preparing teachers to hit the ground running in London, and in placing teachers right in the centre of London, at Oxford Circus, making it easier for them to take jobs anywhere in the city with less travel time. Their positive attitudes are definitely catching! It would be easy to panic, complain about London being dirty (sure it is compared to our clean Canadian cities!), and worry about the teaching itself.

This group is awesome! They head out to the free museums, go to Brighton, go for a run in Regent's Park, anything to keep themselves enjoying London and these free days before the supply teaching & full time jobs take over their lives. They have organized to meet up at the Maple Leaf in Covent Garden to mix & mingle with the other Canadians, not waiting for the agency to organize a social for them. I am impressed and very, very proud. This is why I do what I do.

The above video is for Tyson. Hope ya'all have fun at the Maple Leaf this weekend!

To become part of the Classroom Canada team, sign up for our newsletters & apply through our website. Be sure to read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians to help you understand everything you need to know about teaching in London.

Don't Panic! How to Survive September as a Supply Teacher

2009-09-09T08:55:00.000-07:00

We have our Fabulous Flexible 15 in London, ready and eager to teach any subject, any time. They're mostly experienced teachers, so they don't have the panic that a first year teacher has, but they're still nervous about teaching in London, England - a new city & country for most of them.

A few have gone out for trial days and weeks for full-time positions (yes!), and plenty are happy to supply teach until the work picks up and they land the job of their dreams. A few even have full-time jobs already. (Our teachers who arrived last year are mostly in full-time jobs, so they're in schools with their new classes excited to start the year.)

The new arrivals know the work is sporadic in September and wanted to give it a go anyway. We know they are amazing teachers, which is why I selected them in the first-place. So what happens now?

Well, I received my first "OMG Victoria! This city is expensive, and school has started and I haven't had a days work yet, so is it just me? Did I do something wrong?" email yesterday. Not in so many words of course, but that's the gist of the email. I get one of these at the start of every year.

So, I send a polite "Please relax, enjoy this free time, do free things in London, and the work will come" email back. It was only the second day of school after all.

Here are my top tips to help you survive as a supply teacher in September:

1. When you start to get that panicked feeling, ask yourself, "Would I be getting any work in ______?" Insert your home city and ta-da. Instant relief. Your friends are back home and not even on the supply lists (which are over-flowing with perfectly capable teachers desperate for work in most parts of Canada).

2. Do free things! The museums in London are free. Hyde Park is free. Camden Market is free. Jogging along the Thames is free...London is filled with amazing free activities.

3. Wake up early, just in case you get work for the day, and when you don't, just go back to bed and enjoy the luxury of sleeping for a few more hours. Make breakfast at noon. You will miss these lazy mornings soon enough.

4. Remember, it's not you. It's September!

5. When your teacher friends tell you they got work for the day, be happy for them. Don't immediately ask yourself "Why didn't I get that day?" My colleagues in London get one day and look at a massive list of teachers who are all desperate for that one day of work. It's tough. They ponder, fret, worry and finally make a call. They lose sleep when you don't get work - they really do. So please, please, please don't add more stress to their day by asking if it's you. It's not.

6. Always remember: The work will come. It always does. London has a shortage of teachers, and that's not changing because of the financial crisis. Schools are tightening their belts, but they will always need good teachers. You're in the best city to be in for picking up teaching work.

7.Don't run around registering with a million and one agencies. It happens. You get worried, so you think: Okay, well if this agency doesn't have work, then I'll register with a few more to increase my odds.

Why not? Well, it often backfires. For example - we had a trial day for a teacher on Tuesday, all lined up for an amazing job at a school I've personally taught at and would accept in a second. It's an ideal situation. Like I said before, we have plenty of teachers who would love work right now. So, we pick the right teacher (who we will call Teacher A) with experience in that year group, set up the trial day, and then find out that Teacher A has an appointment lined up already.

An appointment - now, that could mean they have a day out teaching with another agency but they don't want to tell us, or it could mean that they are registering that day with another agency and don't want to tell us, or it could mean they genuinely have an appointment that they could cancel but don't want to.

Regardless, we sent Teacher B, who had no appointment, wanted an interview and was ready, eager and more than capable. Teacher A missed a great opportunity. Teacher B is ecstatic.

So, yes, you can increase your odds by signing on with more than one agency, but that lack of loyalty will get you in the end. It always does. Lying doesn't work!!! Just be honest. If you're freaking out and need to sign up with another agency, be honest about your intentions and tell both agencies what you are doing. We don't like it, but we're not stupid.

With Classroom Canada, it's very rare that we ever lose a teacher to another agency, so I'm not worried about it. The truth is that I receive at least one email a day from a teacher who is working with another teaching agency and doesn't like them, and they've heard brilliant things about Classroom Canada and want to switch. The power of word-of-mouth works in our favour and that's just the way I like it. Thanks to all those who spread it - you know who you are! :-)

8. Make new friends. Get to know them, and appreciate that they are in the same boat as you. If you're one of our teachers in London, we have a great network of teachers for you to get to know. Take advantage of that free time & spend time getting to know your new community. These are the people who will travel with you, be your shoulder to cry on, and take you to the pub when you just need a night out.

9. Spend time outdoors in the beautiful autumn weather that will very soon change to rainy-London-winter-blues.

10. Take off! Go to Paris, or Barcelona, or Amsterdam, or Prague...Use that credit card and spend the same money you would spend in London over the weekend in another city in Europe. Sure, it's spending money you don't have (yet), but hey, if you've got the time, why not? You can stay at the cheapest hostels, or even camp-out, buy food to prepare yourself and pinch pennies as you go, but at least you can travel while the work is slow. If you don't get a call on a Friday morning, then you have 3 full days of adventure! Just be back in time for Monday morning in case you do get that important call at 7am.

11. Read, read and read some more. Read blogs about supply teaching, read about the UK curriculum, read about behaviour management and just keep reading. It will only improve your teaching when you do get work.

12. When should you panic? If not now, when? October. If you still don't have a steady stream of work and it's the middle of October, then yes, now you can start to worry. Ask others what you're doing wrong. Ask your consultant if they've had any feedback from schools about your teaching. Go to PD sessions and become a better teacher.

Any other tips you can share to make this time a little easier for supply teachers? Please share your thoughts below!

To become part of the Classroom Canada team, sign up for our newsletters & apply through our website. Be sure to read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians to help you understand everything you need to know about teaching in London.

Do Teaching Assistants Make a Difference?

2009-09-07T09:32:00.001-07:00

According to Judy Friedberg, of the Guardian,

"Teaching assistants do not boost pupils' progress, though they do help to reduce teachers' stress levels and improve classroom discipline, research shows."

I find it hard to believe that pupils' progress doesn't improve with TA support. This contradicts so much of what we think in our teaching and planning.

"Primary and secondary pupils supported by teaching assistants (TAs) actually make less progress than those of similar ability, class and gender who do not get such assistance, a study by the Institute of Education has found. But the students are less distracted and disruptive, leaving teachers free to work with the rest of the class."

What do you think? Would you agree with this study?

PS) I just found this discussion online in regards to this very issue.

Professional Development Workshops for Teachers in London, England

2009-09-04T09:33:00.001-07:00

Every year, Classroom Canada and Classroom London join forces to help our new teachers adjust to life in London with a week of professional development sessions. We offer these sessions after the first half-term break, which is when a large group of our teachers arrive in London to start teaching.

Check 'em out!

Monday, November 2nd 2009: Classroom Canada Run With Richard
Richard Gilbey is one of the founders of Classroom Ltd and an all 'round great guy. He's also an avid runner, and often jokes that he'd love to take our teachers on a tour of London with his favourite jogging routes. I finally took him up on the offer and I'm amazed at the positive response from our teachers! I had no idea we had so many joggers in our bunch, or people who are keen to give it a go anyway.

So we're doing a 5km jogging tour near our office in Oxford Circus. You can sign up here if you'd like to join us - all are welcome!

Wednesday November 4th 2009: How to Survive & Succeed With Sophie Walker
6-8pm

Sophie Walker returns to deliver another free workshop for our primary & secondary teachers in London. This workshop will help all new-comers understand the ins and outs of supply teaching in London, with a view to securing long term employment as well. Please read Sophie's bio below.

Seats are limited! Sign up by emailing me (victoria at classroomcanada dot com).

Thursday, November 5th 2009: SEN Survival Tips & Tricks with Sophie Walker
6-8pm

Sophie Walker offers another free workshop for teachers that are keen to work in Special Educational Needs in London. Whether you have experience with SEN or not, this is a great workshop to help you understand all you need to know to succeed in our SEN schools in London.

Seats are limited! Sign up by emailing me (victoria at classroomcanada dot com).

Friday, November 6th 2009: Classroom Canada London Scavenger Hunt
You can't miss this incredible event! It's always a huge hit, and this year will be even bigger and better than last.

We meet at a pub in Central London and I organize the teachers and teaching assistants into small teams of 4 or 5 people. I give them directions and a set of instructions and they have about 2 hours to get as many items checked on the list as possible, all while running around the streets of London of course.

This year, we have Classroom Canada teachers who completed the event last year, so they will be involved as team leaders, or I will handicap them in some way (Three legged race perhaps? Potato sacks? Something equally silly I'm sure).

We also have prizes from Flight Centre, Topdeck and the Canada Shop which are highly coveted by the winning teams. To sign up for this event, please click here.

Anything else you'd like to see on offer this year? Please share your thoughts below!

Sophie Walker's Bio:

We are so pleased that Sophie Walker will be running the workshops again this year.

Sophie Walker came to London for a year nearly ten years ago. She left her native Melbourne where she taught English and Drama at a boys Catholic School, holding the position of Head of the Performing Arts Department for two years.

Sophie left to travel and look for new educational experiences. She started out working in London as a supply teacher, through Classroom, teaching the subjects she was trained in to secondary pupils. Two of her long term placements were a 'fresh start' school in Hammersmith and an about to be 'fresh start' school in Hillingdon.

While doing this she lived on friends floors and for a while moved house once a year!

Sophie has experienced day to day supply and long term positions and has also worked as a Hearing Support Teacher for an inner city Borough. She ran a centre for excluded pupils for two years dealing with a variety of emotional behavioural needs. She also worked for Classroom as a consultant in the SEN Section.

Sophie now works as an Advisory Support Teacher for a London Borough, her focus is supporting pupils who have a diagnosis of Autism and are between the ages of 3 and 7. She has recently started her Masters of Education.

Sophie's wide range of experience means that she is in a great position to pass on a wealth of information about surviving (and enjoying) your first year in London.

To become part of the Classroom Canada team, sign up for our newsletters & apply through our website.Be sure to read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians to help you understand everything you need to know about teaching in London.

Blogging for Teachers: Why I Blog and Why You Should Too

2009-09-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by Siobhan Curious' piece today to write this particular blog post. Siobhan has been a guest blogger over at Sarah Ebner's School Gate blog and finished the series today with a post about blogging and how it saved her teaching career. I'd like to further the discussion by showing how blogging has saved my recruitment career and my passion for helping teachers move to London.

As far as I know, I'm the only education recruitment consultant (for the UK anyway) who blogs.

I've actually been blogging since 2005, when my friend from teacher's college suggested that I start one to tell my friends and family back home about my experience teaching and living in London, England. In those days, I was really struggling with my teaching career and had just started working as a recruiter for the agency that brought me over (not Classroom). I was trying desperately to make changes to the company, to make it more supportive & successful and kept butting heads every move I made.

I wasn't a particularly positive person and was all 'round having a rough time of things in London, so blogging was my way of venting my frustrations and talking about my personal life. Needless to say, it wasn't a very good idea. I started various blogs anonymously. People I didn't want to read them eventually found them and figured out who I was and it made matters worse. I never wrote about the schools or students, so it mostly just affected my personal life, but it wasn't a whole lot of fun. It didn't help that my personal life was also a big ol' mess at the time.

Anyway, here I am today, writing a blog about teaching in London from a Canadian perspective and I have to say - I love it! I love that I don't have to hide who I am, and that you all actually read this thing! I love that teachers from coast to coast, and in areas that I don't even visit, manage to find this blog and end up eventually teaching with us in London. I love that our American neighbours to the south read it and that I can help them by simply writing. It's the easiest thing to do, and it makes a world of difference. I like to think so anyway!

Siobhan had this to say about blogging for teachers:

I’d recommend blogging to all teachers who want to make sense of their teaching experiences. A blog can be public or private. Even if you write only for yourself, or allow access only to close friends, it provides perspective, much like a diary does: writing about a problem makes it more manageable. If you make your blog public, it can also provide help: if you put some effort into reading others’ blogs and responding to their posts, they will do the same for you.

I couldn't agree more.

We have plenty of teachers who blog and plenty who just read the blogs and leave comments. I highly recommend that teachers blog but... be very careful about how you do it. Is it for therapy like my initial blogs? Or do you blog to help other teachers understand the process you go through? Who is your audience? Parents of your students? They will find your blog. So will your students.

Siobhan Curious uses a fake name, which makes a lot of sense if you want to blog about teaching. If you want to blog about traveling and being a foreign teacher in the UK like some of our teachers do, then you will probably keep your writing fairly safe and not rock too many boats.

I personally use my real name, and post in online forums as me. I know that people will see my name & Classroom Canada and know that I am clearly biased towards my little company. I'd rather that they make that assumption than use a fake name as other recruiters do, but I have been criticized for posting at all. Some people just hate teaching agencies and think we shouldn't post in teacher forums. I disagree, but I've worked for not-so-great agencies before so I get where they're coming from.

Here are some other teacher bloggers that I recommend you check out:

Classroom Canada Teachers Blog - This is a collective blog written by a handful of our teachers and teaching assistants.

Across the Pond - Jodi & Tyson are a teacher/teaching assistant team who just arrived in London last week and have been writing about their process from the beginning. They found my blog & apparently decided to go to London because of it. I love these guys!

Heather in the UK - Heather is one of our teachers in London, and her writing is beautiful. I wish I could write like her and I wish she posted more often, but she is a very busy Canadian teacher traveling all around Europe and teaching in London, so I am just happy she writes at all.

Bryn the Brit - Bryn is a teaching assistant and so much more. She teaches swing dancing and drama and writes about her adventures in this new blog. Please encourage her by leaving comments!

Just Take Me Where I've Never Been Before - Erika is in her second year of teaching in London and I'm so happy that she's finally started her own blog to tell her tales. She's a fabulous writer and has a very witty style. In her own words: "Everyone who reads this should know that I am in London for my second year of teaching and exploration. This will not be a documentation of my adjusting to life in the UK. I've done that already." I love this and really hope she doesn't mind me posting it here.

Get an Eyepatch Man - Amie and Morgan just arrived in London and love food more than anyone else I know. I love food, so I really love this blog. They seem to be writing mostly for family & friends, but since they haven't made it a closed audience, and I think they're brilliant, I am sharing it with you. Hope that's okay with them!

Where is Kirbie? Kirbie is a teacher from New Brunswick who will soon be moving to London. She writes about the whole process of moving to the UK and has a clear writing style that I really enjoy. I can't wait to read the posts she writes when she eventually gets to London!

There are a tonne of other blogs that I read, but this is a good list of Canadian teachers in London anyway. Please check them out, leave comments and encourage them along. If you'd like to start a blog yourself, check out "How to Write a Teacher Blog."

What do you think? Do you blog or just read blogs? Please share your thoughts below!

To become part of the Classroom Canada team, sign up for our newsletters & apply through our website.Be sure to read the Guide to Teaching in London: A Survival Guide for Canadians to help you understand everything you need to know about teaching in London.

Back to School in England: So Now What?

2009-08-31T07:22:00.000-07:00

We have a small group of "Fabulous Flexible 15" teachers who arrived last week to start teaching in London, England. I select these teachers based on their experience levels, references and whether I think they will be able to hit-the-ground-running in London this week and in the next few weeks to come.

Most of these 15 can teach across all ages, from primary to secondary as well as Special Educational Needs. They truly are flexible and fabulous!

I select 15, which really means 5 primary, 5 secondary and 5 SEN teachers. We also have a few more teaching assistants to make for a group of around 20 Canadians who all arrived last week, to add to our teachers that were there last year and stayed this year, as well as the teachers from around the world that we already have in London with Classroom Ltd.

So now what do they do?

Well, so far, they've been sightseeing and meeting their new friends and flat-mates with Classroom Canada. They've been moving into their new apartments at Oxford Circus if they chose our accommodations, or they've been madly flat hunting around London themselves.

Today is a bank holiday in London, which means that it's the last day of summer for most of our teachers and schools. On Tuesday, the schools re-open and the madness begins.

So what do these teachers do? Well, some Canadian teachers start their full-time teaching jobs tomorrow, which they secured with us last academic year (usually in June and July, when the schools hire for September).

I will focus here on the new arrivals instead.

They get ready, they call our office in London and they patiently wait for their phones to ring. Schools will have last minute needs for full-time teachers and our teachers need to be ready & waiting for interviews and trial days. There will be some supply teaching, which will be spread around amongst the teachers who have just arrived, but also with our other teachers with more London experience.

Last year, we thought it would be really slow for supply teaching at this time of year. Just like in Canada, September is historically a slow month for supply teaching. I was pleasantly surprised when my teachers phoned me to say "Thanks so much! I am working every day!" That was a real shocker, as the schools should have less needs for supply teachers in September.

I'd say that about 90% of the new arrivals last year got full-time days within their first few weeks of arriving, and the ones that didn't struggled with behaviour management or couldn't teach as many areas and grades. By November, even the teachers who had less days in the beginning were happy with the amount of work they were getting (for us, it's an average of 3-5 days/week).

So, let's keep our fingers crossed for these new arrivals and hope that this year is similar to last. We have some really outstanding teachers and so if there are supply days and trial days to be had I am very confident in their abilities to make that valuable positive first impression.

In October, we have another group of teachers arriving from across Canada. This group is mostly made up of new teachers, who are also very flexible and eager to teach across different age groups and subjects. They mostly arrive in the last week of October and will start teaching November 2nd.

So watch this space over the next two months as I report back on the progress of the teachers and let you know how things are going for teachers in the UK. I will interview these teachers and ask for their honest feedback for you, dear readers. You can also read interviews with last year's teachers on the right hand side of this blog.

Some of our teachers & teaching assistants write a collective blog, which you can read here. I recommend that you visit it often as they report back on their lives in London.

And so it starts again...Last Minute Teaching Jobs in London, England

2009-08-28T07:47:00.000-07:00

Over the summer months, my colleagues in London have shorter hours, and I get the luxury of sleeping in til about 8am as a result. It's been glorious.

Well, those days are over and the madness of filling jobs that have just been announced is in full-swing. I received a phone from the primary team at Classroom Ltd (our London office) at 5am this morning, in regards to a position they were trying to fill by Monday morning. It's manic to say the least!

This happens every year. We slow down in the summer, focus on getting teachers ready to arrive for teaching jobs in London and then bam! A couple of days before schools re-open, the Head Teachers (aka principals) return to school and discover that they need a last-minute hit-the-ground-running teacher to fill a role they didn't know they had.

Well, we're ready for them! We have our incredible, flexible, experienced, ready and waiting teachers who arrived this week and last. We call them, give them as many details as we can about the jobs and get their CVs into the Head Teachers hands. Interviews are arranged, and jobs quickly filled with our outstanding teachers.

This is my favourite time of year. I love the energy and the speed at which we have to work. I love that we're ready for it. And I love that we have a handful of amazing teachers there and ready for this very moment. So, despite losing sleep, I still love this job.

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