Mastering Teaching: Thriving as an Early Career Teacher

This book builds on the experiences of school leaders, early career teachers and their mentors and responds to the challenges that new teachers face as they move beyond initial teacher training. Practiced educators provide research-informed guidance in each chapter to scaffold new teachers’ workplace learning when the learning curve is steepest. Support for new teachers is vitally important in enhancing teaching quality, promoting teacher wellbeing, and reducing staff burnout rates. 

Each chapter, co-authored by school-based and university-based teacher educators, contains rich illustrative examples and vignettes from lead practitioners in UK primary and secondary schools. The book is relevant across curriculum areas and phases of education so that all new teachers can ease their transition into teaching, build their confidence and lay foundations for their career-long professional growth. 

Speaking to new and recently qualified teachers as well as coordinators of professional learning in schools, this book is an essential resource for teacher CPD.

“An excellent addition to the thinking educator’s bookshelf.”
Dr David Waugh, Professor of Education, Durham University

“The distinctive challenges facing Early Career Teachers are identified and addressed with a clear focus on developing the adaptive expertise which is the foundation and sustenance of success in this demanding profession.”
Professor Linda Clarke, Ulster University

“This is a book that is sorely needed to support the flourishing of teachers during the demanding early stages of their careers.”
Ian Menter, Emeritus Professor of Teacher Education, University of Oxford, Former President of the British Educational Research Association (2013-15)

“Mastering Teaching is a core, comprehensive, credible and cutting-edge introduction to early career teacher learning.”
Dr Beth Dickson, University of Glasgow

Moira Hulme is Professor of Teacher Education at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. She has extensive experience as a teacher, teacher educator and educational researcher. 

Rebecca Smith is Headteacher of Sale Grammar School, Manchester, UK. She is an experienced leader who has worked across diverse settings to support teacher development to enable every child to fulfil their potential.

Rachel O’Sullivan is Senior Lecturer in the School of Teacher Education, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. Rachel taught secondary P.E. and was a subject lead, pastoral lead and Assistant Head before moving to her current role.