My Journey into Teaching

After 25 years raising my family, I retrained to be a teacher. Why teaching? I had watched my offspring grow and learn and had admired the teachers who had supported them throughout the years. My only work experience during that time had been letting out the cottage on our farm for holiday let. When our last child left school and went on to university, I felt redundant and knew the time had come in my life to do something different.

Back to School!

2016 was the year of change and the start of a new career in education for me, although I didn’t know that becoming a teacher was the end goal, that came later. I had left school with only two CSE’s to my name, so knew this is where I needed to start. I needed qualifications in English and maths.

I started my first block of lessons April 2016 “Functional Skills Math Level 1” I felt so nervous and very nearly didn’t attend my first lesson. I arrived at the center where the course was being held, I found the classroom and came to an abrupt halt! I stood holding the door handle not knowing whether to walk in or run away. Thankfully I made the right decision and walked in. I did do the lesson and completed the course and passing this exam was the confidence boost I needed. When my certificate came through the post I couldn’t believe it, I sat on the sofa and sobbed my eyes out.

It was at this point my learning advisor asked what career path I wished to take. I didn’t have a clue but thought it would be nice to work in education, I suppose having spent a fair amount of time inside schools over the years I felt comfortable in their surroundings.

The Next Step into teaching….

So, my journey continued, I had thought long and hard about which career path to take and decided that I wanted to try working as a Learning Support Assistant working alongside teachers in the classroom. I enrolled onto three courses them being Functional Skills level 2 math and English and Supporting Teaching and Learning level two.

As part of the STL course I needed to do a set number of hours in the classroom and my local college was willing to help with this. Once this qualification was gained, I was offered a full-time position at the college and I stayed there for five and a half years, gaining masses of experience working with students with additional needs.

From there I continued studying and gained qualifications in GCSE math and English and a level three Diploma in STL.

Higher Education

It was at this stage I decided that I wanted to become a teacher in Further Education follow this link to view the college I studied at.

My subject specialism was Special Educational Needs and Disabilities as this was now an area in education, I felt enthusiastic about.

Covid 19 hit and most of my studying was done online, I had to quickly improve my computer skills and developed a love for working in this way.

The course I did taught me so much and I enjoyed every minute. OK the Face-to-Face observations were pretty nerve racking especially with all the procedures that had to be followed due the pandemic, but I gained a lot of valuable new skills that I use today.

Teaching qualification pasted

Once I had successfully past my course, I set about studying for a Level five Diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, and this course was completed online, which was so much easier as I was still working full time in my LSA position at the college.

By this point I had realised that tutoring online was the path I wished to take and started applying for such jobs. I became self-employed and started doing work for an online company tutoring secondary age students in math and English, which I am still doing to this day.

My Own Business as a Tutor

I have now made the decision to spread my wings and start my own online tutoring business, in the hope that I can help others out there to realise their own dreams as I did.

Math and English are the core subjects and qualifications in these can open lots of doors (opportunities in life) They are the qualifications we need no matter what career path we wish to take.

You may not want to learn new skills for employment, you may just want to be able to help your children or grandchildren. And that’s OK.

Learning new skills is good for our self-esteem and mental health. We all need to feel good about ourselves. You will all have your own personal goals which are important to you.

If I can do it, so can you!

Please get in touch and let’s talk about your adventures and how I can best support you. I am enthusiastic about education, and I hope my enthusiasm rubs off onto you.