Getting the most out of your placement
Make sure to contact your school’s professional experience coordinator and your supervising teacher to introduce yourself and arrange a time to meet.
The NSW Teachers Federation is the registered trade union which covers NSW public school teachers. It represents all teachers in NSW public schools and supports the development of future teachers.
Induction
All schools will provide an induction to the school. Please discuss a time for your site and classroom induction with your supervising teacher or school’s professional experience coordinator.
During your placement
Be proactive in identifying your areas for improvement by reflecting on the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
Discuss with your supervising teacher and professional experience coordinator about observing staff in other classes, stages, or key roles. This will help you develop a deeper understanding of how colleagues collaborate to enhance student learning and achievement. For example, consider observing a learning and support teacher (LaST) or an English as an Additional Language or Dialect teacher (EAL/D).
Use the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
There are 4 stages of accreditation you may go through as a teacher: Graduate, Proficient, Highly Accomplished and Lead. These career stages are in line with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (the Standards).
The Standards are organised into 3 domains of teaching:
- Professional Knowledge
- Professional Practice
- Professional Engagement
Self-reflection on the Graduate Standards
Your supervising teacher will be looking for evidence that you've met the Graduate Standards throughout your placement.
As a pre-service teacher, it's important to regularly reflect on these Standards and identify opportunities to develop your proficiency across all 3 domains. Engage in discussions with your supervising teacher to seek feedback on both your strengths and areas for improvement.
Discuss your goals and the evidence of your progress with your supervising teacher so that they can support you in meeting and exceeding the Standards.
View the filmed illustrations of the Standards in action to find out more.
Visit the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) website to learn more about the Standards.
'Setting up for success' professional learning series
Setting up for success is a series of professional learning webinars focused on the graduate career stage of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers
The series is delivered by expert teachers from across the NSW Department of Education who provide targeted professional learning to support you in becoming ready to teach in a NSW Public School.
Taking control of your professional development
This recording focuses on how to engage in professional learning. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptors of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1 and 6.4.1.
View the webinar recording, presentation and accompanying resources; self reflection against the graduate standards in action, SMART goal planning template and classroom practice feedback - graduate.
Trauma-informed practices
This recording focuses on trauma-informed practice to support student learning. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptors of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 1.1.1, 4.1.1, 4.4.1 and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording and presentation.
Introduction to Aboriginal Education
This recording provides an introduction to Aboriginal education. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptors of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 1.1.1, 1.2.1, 1.3.1, 1.4.1, 1.5.1, 2.4.1, 3.1.1, 3.2.1 and 7.4.1
View the webinar recording and presentation.
Positive classrooms
This recording focuses on how to create and maintain a positive learning environment. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptors of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 1.1.1, 4.1.1 and 4.3.1.
View the webinar recording.
Responding to student behaviour
This recording focuses how to address student behaviour. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptors of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 4.1.1, 4.2.1 and 4.3.1.
View the webinar recording.
Establishing classroom practice
This recording focuses on practices that enable an effective learning environment. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptors of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 4.1.1 and 4.3.1.
View the webinar recording.
Increasing student engagement
This recording focuses on how to increase student engagement to enable effective teaching and learning. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptor of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 3.2.1.
View the webinar recording.
Classroom management in action
This recording focuses on classroom management. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptors of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 1.1.1, 1.2.1, 4.1.1, 4.2.1, 4.3.1, 4.4.1 and 6.2.1.
View the webinar recording.
Strategies to support students with disability - Session 1
This recording is the first of a two-part series on how to support students with disability. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptors of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 1.1.1, 1.2.1, 1.3.1, 1.5.1, 1.6.1, 2.1.1, 2.3.1 and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording.
It is recommended to complete the following training prior to Session 2:
Disability Standards for Education for pre-service teachers
Strategies to support students with disability - Session 2
This recording is the second of a two-part series on how to support students with disability. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptors of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 1.1.1, 1.2.1, 1.3.1, 1.5.1, 1.6.1, 2.1.1, 2.3.1 and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording.
Enhancing learning through your personal attributes
This recording focuses on how to leverage personal strengths for effective teaching and learning. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptors of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1 and 6.4.1
A strength-based approach in teaching: View the webinar recording
Formative assessment in action
This recording focuses on formative assessment. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptors of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 5.1.1, 5.2.1, 5.3.1, 5.4.1 and 5.5.1.
View the webinar recording and presentation.
How to program multi-stage classes
This recording focuses on programming for classes involving multiple stages. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptors of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 3.1.1, 3.2.1, 3.3.1, 3.4.1, 3.5.1, 3.6.1 and 3.7.1.
View the webinar recording, presentation and model of best practice.
Gain your approval to teach and kick-start your employment in NSW public schools
This recording focuses on how to become a teacher at a NSW public school. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptor of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 7.2.1.
View the webinar recording.
Designing and leading your professional development
This recording focuses on how to undertake professional development. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptor of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1, 6.4.1, 7.1.1, 7.2.1, and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording, presentation and resources available here.
How to start differentiating your teaching based on student learning needs
This recording focuses on how to differentiate teaching to support the diverse learning needs of students. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptor of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 1.1.1, 1.2.1, 1.3.1, 1.4.1, 1.5.1, 1.6.1, 3.5.1, 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1, 6.4.1 and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording and presentation.
How to differentiate the curriculum to meet student learning needs
This recording focuses on how to differentiate the curriculum to support the diverse learning needs of students. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptor of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 1.1.1, 1.5.1, 2.1.1, 2.2.1, 2.3.1, 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1, 6.4.1 and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording and presentation.
Using student data to focus the pedagogical approach
This recording focuses on using student data to inform pedaogogical practice. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptor of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 1.1.1, 1.2.1, 1.3.1, 3.1.1, 3.6.1, 5.1.1, 5.2.1, 5.3.1, 5.4.1, 5.5.1, 6.1.1, 6.2.1 6.3.1, 6.4.1 and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording and presentation.
Behaviour and active student engagement
This recording focuses on classroom management and student engagement. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptor of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1, 6.4.1 and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording, presentation and Positive Behaviour Support resource for active engagement.
Creating a positive classroom environment
This recording focuses on strategies for creating a positive learning. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptor of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1, 6.4.1 and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording, presentation and Positive Behaviour Support resources for classroom organisation and classroom management checklist.
Preventing and supporting low-level disruptive behaviour
This recording focuses on addressing low-level disruptive behaviours. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptor of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 4.4.1, 4.2.1, 4.3.1, 4.4.1, 4.5.1, 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1, 6.4.1, and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording, presentation and Positive Behaviour Support resource for behavioural expectations.
Responding to challenging student behaviour
This recording focuses on understanding and responding to challenging student behaviour. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptor of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 4.4.1, 4.2.1, 4.3.1, 4.4.1, 4.5.1, 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1, 6.4.1 and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording, presentation and Positive Behaviour Support resources for Consistent and Fair Consequence, Explicit Teaching of Social Skills and Reinforcement.
Literacy K - 12 and available resources
This recording introduces resources to support teachers to improve literacy of students across K - 12. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptor of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 2.5.1, 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1, 6.4.1 and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording and presentation.
Numeracy K - 12 and available resources
This recording introduces resources to support teachers to improve numeracy of students across K - 12. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptor of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 2.5.1, 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1, 6.4.1 and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording and presentation.
Beginning Teacher Tech Guide and how to implement ICT to expand learning opportunities for students
This recording focuses on using information and communication technology to enhance student learning. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptor of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 2.5.1, 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1, 6.4.1 and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording.
How to embed High Potential and Gifted Education
This recording focuses on strategies for High Potential and Gifted Education. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptor of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 1.5.1, 3.1.1, 3.2.1, 3.3.1, 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1, 6.4.1 and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording and presentation.
Writing reports and working with parents for the first time
This recording focuses on how to write reports and work with parents. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptor of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 3.7.1, 5.1.1, 5.5.1, 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1, 6.4.1, 7.3.1 and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording, presentation and resource discussed.
Open conversation about classroom management, differentiation and teacher wellbeing - mentor panel
This recording is of a conversation on classroom management, differentiation and teacher wellbeing. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptor of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1, 6.4.1 and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording and resources discussed.
Advice and reflections from a beginning teacher mentor panel
This recording is about a panel of beginning teachers reflecting on their journeys of becoming teachers in NSW public schools. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptor of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1, 6.4.1 and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording.
Strong Start, Great Teachers
This recording focuses on resources that can help your transition into becoming a teacher at a NSW public school. It can help you address the following Graduate stage descriptor of the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching: 6.1.1, 6.2.1, 6.3.1, 6.4.1 and 7.4.1.
View the webinar recording and resources discussed.
Additional learning resources
- Best practice example of a lesson plan with professional learning links for each lesson component.
- Best practice example to support the organisation of programming documents using OneNote.
Literacy and numeracy form the foundations students need for deep learning across the curriculum and the development of skills essential to everyday life.
These resources support teachers working at the graduate career stage to embedding numeracy into their teaching and learning.
Resources to support pre-service teachers entering schools with high enrolments of English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D) students.
'Teacher talk' refers to the way teachers communicate in the classroom, encompassing the language, tone, and strategies used to engage students. Effective 'teacher talk' is crucial for fostering inclusive participation and promoting student wellbeing.
Dictionary of terms: Actively using 'teacher talk' and appropriate language supports student wellbeing. This aligns with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST), specifically focus areas 1.6 and 4.1.
NSWEduChat is a generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tool owned and designed by the NSW Department of Education. It is safe, secure and free for NSW public school teachers.
Discover NSWEduChat’s prompt library
Looking for inspiration? The prompt library provides a collection of tested, teacher-developed prompt templates to help you make the most of NSWEduChat. You can customise these prompts by adding information about your relevant school context where needed.
Get started
Launch into NSWEduChat directly from the prompt library by clicking the ‘Open in NSWEduChat’ button. Ensure you are logged into your department Google account (userID@education.nsw.gov.au) to access the prompt library e.g: john.smith72@education.nsw.gov.au.
The department has developed a range of professional learning modules (Staff only) and the Staff Resource Library (Staff only) which houses professional learning and tailored resources to support you on your generative AI journey. Explore these materials and build your confidence in using AI responsibly in your school or workplace.
Connect with us
For more information on commencing your professional experience placement with the department, please email ProfessionalExperience@det.nsw.edu.au.