Wake Me Up When September Starts

It’s the last weekend before term begins and if you’re anything like me, you’re probably experiencing that strange mix of emotions only teachers know. One moment you’re buzzing with excitement about seeing everyone again, the next you’re wide awake at 3am trying to remember your SIMS username and password.

And then there’s INSET day. Part CPD, part catch-up, part survival game. There are the rituals we secretly look forward to as well: catching up with colleagues you haven’t seen all summer, swapping stories about holidays and yes, playing a quiet round of INSET Bingo (“Ofsted”, “wellbeing”, “new marking policy”… tick, tick, tick). But the truth is: you don’t need to have everything perfect this weekend. The first week is for settling in, reconnecting and laying the foundations. There’s plenty of time to refine, tweak and improve.

A Note Especially for New or Non-Specialist Media Teachers

If you’re starting your first September in Media or you’re stepping into the subject from elsewhere, here are three small but mighty pieces of advice:

1. Have a “forever favourite” media product

   Pick one film, TV series, album, game or social media trend you could talk about for hours. It becomes your go-to example when students stare blankly or when you’re suddenly asked for “an example” in the corridor. Don’t overthink it - enthusiasm beats perfection every time. I could talk about The Matrix or Married at First Sight for days (FYI - new season nicely coincides with the first half term of the new school year).

   
   

2. Write things down

   INSET can be an info overload. New policies, new systems, endless acronyms. It’s easy to nod along and then completely forget by Monday afternoon. Having everything written on a CPD Notepad (rather than balancing it in your brain) will save you stress later.

   
   

3. Establish a Yum Yum Drawer

   Every Media teacher needs one - the stash of emergency snacks that sees you through cover lessons, double periods and the week before mocks. It’s not indulgence, it’s survival. Students get their toolkits, you get your Yum Yum Drawer.

Tools That Make the First Week Easier

This weekend is about keeping things simple and setting yourself up for success. The Media Teacher Collection has been designed with exactly this weekend in mind.

The Back To School Bundle - The Media Teacher Planner and Intro Lessons: The Planner keeps lessons, meetings and deadlines in one place, with a couple of ideas for icebreaker activities and even a few blank INSET Bingo cards. The Intro Lessons provide engaging, low-stress activities to get to know your classes without burning out in week one.

Daily Things To Do Notepad: catch those 10pm “oh no I’ve forgotten” moments on paper.

CPD Notepad: your best defence against INSET information overload.

The nerves will always be there but so will the excitement, the laughter and the little moments that remind you why you teach Media in the first place. This year, start with organisation, a snack drawer and a favourite media product at the ready… and you’ll be fine. In fact, you can always channel your inner K-Pop Demon Hunter and belt out a few lines from 'Golden' to keep the motivation going.

Here’s to a fresh year, familiar faces and maybe even a line on the INSET Bingo card.