Abstract

Essential reading if you are considering making an application for primary initial teacher education or preparing to begin your programme. It introduces you to a range of perspectives on teaching and teacher education and guides you through the application process to ensure you choose the training route that’s right for you and achieve a successful result.

Key chapters cover developing your subject knowledge in English and mathematics, understanding the curriculum, the nature of learning, assessment, behaviour issues and inclusive teaching. Useful features such as jargon busters, progress checklists and case studies make the material accessible and help you navigate the ‘new landscape’ of teacher education. In addition the text encourages you to reflect critically on your school experiences of learning and teaching and uses example of theory, research and practice to help you develop an informed stance on important themes.  

Cathy Burnett worked as an actor-teacher, primary teacher and literacy consultant before taking on her current role as a reader in the department of teacher education at Sheffield Hallam University. She has been involved in supporting the initial and continuing development of teachers for many years and has published a wide range of book chapters and journal articles with a particular focus on literacy education, new technologies and becoming a teacher. She is particularly interested in investigating classroom practices and in understanding the connections between learning in and out of school.

David Owen taught in primary, secondary and residential environmental education settings before working at Sheffield Hallam University as a teacher educator.  He led the primary and early years programme at SHU for seven years before taking up his current role as Deputy Head of the Teacher Education Department.  His research has focused on geographical education, e-learning and teacher education course development. 

Andrew Hobson is a research professor at Sheffield Hallam University. His research is concerned with the experiences of and support for the professional learning and development of teachers, especially trainee, newly and recently qualified teachers. He has particular interests in teacher mentoring and well-being, and he is editor of the International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education. Andy supervises research students in this field, in which he has published widely and led several research and evaluation projects.

What is particularly helpful is the teacher voice which gives both positive and negative comments to engender a balanced view about the nature of primary teaching and the challenges that are likely to be encountered. The structure of the chapters are interesting and will help give guidance in certain aspects which allows you to dip in and out. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this text and have added it to the pre-course reading list. I thought it was highly contemporary, filled a gap in the market and would be very useful for those who are considering teaching and applying for teaching routes.

I like the fact that it is very clear and directional, accessible and comprehensive and overall a really good guide to many of the issues encountered when thinking about going into teaching and then before starting the course.