186 Days in Teaching: A Month-by-Month Guide to Being a Secondary Teacher

186 Days in Teaching provides a month-by-month roadmap for the school year, helping secondary teachers quickly adapt to new environments, accomplish the many tasks expected of them and excel in roles that might be unfamiliar or outside their initial training.

The book covers all aspects of teaching and learning as well non-teaching responsibilities, ensuring you know exactly what is coming up and how to prepare for it successfully. By offering practical advice, research-based strategies and evidence-informed approaches, this guide helps teachers navigate the annual cycle of school life while building the necessary skills and knowledge to remain adaptable and accelerate their careers. Key topics include retaining autonomy, curriculum design, pastoral care and effective communication. Drawing on well-known theories of community practice, it empowers teachers to become active agents in shaping their school’s ethos and teaching practices.

With a focus throughout on your well-being and job satisfaction, this is essential reading for all secondary teachers, especially those new to the profession, aiming to build a fulfilling, sustainable career in a diverse education landscape.

James Shea leads the postgraduate and undergraduate teacher education courses as ITE portfolio leader in the School of Education at the University of Bedfordshire, UK. His research interests centre on the way memory is strengthened through the implementation of research such as retrieval practice.

Mohammed A. Amin is an experienced teacher educator and humanities lead tutor at the University of Bedfordshire, UK, who has worked in a range of educational settings. His research interests are centred on the development of teachers and the quality of mentoring for trainee teachers in secondary schools.