Your induction timetable
Induction Session 1
About the session
Find out how the year will look in terms of structure and timetabling. Hear about wellbeing and resilience support – to help you flourish at SMU – as well as a welcome from the Students' Union's Education President, and tips from current students to help you get the most out of the year.
Induction Session 2
About the session
Get to know your peers and meet some of the staff. You'll also be introduced to your school, partnership, and library – and hear more about the expectations for professionalism on the course.
University-wide induction
Your Welcome Week timetable
Try some of the welcome activities and socials on campus during 16-20 September. From fitness to freebies, they're great ways to settle into university life.
Pre-induction tasks
SMART target from interview
At interview, you identified your developmental needs and set a SMART target. Please do what you can to achieve your target. In September you will be asked to discuss the progress you have made towards meeting this target with your personal tutor.
English preparation
Early in the English module we use ‘The Boy at the Back of the Class’ by Onjali Q Raúf. Please read this before your English lectures start.
Knowledge of contemporary children’s literature is essential for successful English teaching in primary schools. Make a start on building up your knowledge by familiarising yourself with a range of recent fiction, non-fiction and poetry across the primary age range. Focus on books which reflect the diversity of today's society. Visit a local bookshop or library and use these websites to help you:
Mathematics preparation
In maths this year we will explore the use of manipulatives and representations in the primary classroom and how children learn maths. Please watch these videos on mindset in maths to start this journey:
The book that we recommend for developing your subject knowledge is D Haylock and R Manning, Mathematics Explained for Primary Teachers, 6th edition (2019). If you can only get hold of an earlier edition that is fine. You do not have to purchase it as it is in the library, but it is a text we will be referring to throughout the three years of your course as it gives a comprehensive overview of all primary mathematics topics. It is a good source if you want to improve your subject knowledge prior to coming to university.
Science preparation
Please read the attached article about the importance of developing Science Capital. Your Science Capital has an impact on how ‘science-y’ you think you are. Consider where are on the Science Capital spectrum. Do you have high or low Science Capital? Try to articulate the reasons for this. Think about children you have observed in science lessons and their levels of Science Capital.
Professional Studies preparation
This will support you with your first academic assignment about the role of the teacher.
Ensuring behaviour that is conducive to learning is essential; establishing routines is seen as a key area to ensure a safe and productive learning environment. We would like you to reflect on any time that you have been able to spend in school or working with children outside of the classroom and also on your own experiences as a learner, to consider the routines that are place that support good learning behaviours. You may also like to do some reading on the importance of routines within the classroom and the two professional studies core texts will help you with this.
Make a list and reflect on the routines that are in place and why these are important; what impact are they having on the children and staff; and in particular, how do they promote good learning behaviours? Consider also how the classroom environment supports the routines that are in place? Please bring these notes to your first Professional Studies Lecture.
Professional Studies Core Texts
- Professional Studies in Primary Education - Hilary Cooper & Sally Elton Chalcraft (4th Edition)
- Primary Professional Studies - Alice Hansen (4th Edition)
Here's an additional pre-induction programme for students in the following categories. If you feel you'd benefit from additional support, you're eligible to apply to Get Set for Success:
- Students who've previously been eligible for free school meals
- First generation students (the first in family to go to university)
- Estranged students (students no longer in contact with their families)
- Care experienced students (students who have spent some time in local authority care)
- Students who are carers
- Students from Gypsy, Roma, or Traveller (GRT) backgrounds
- Students with academic qualifications other than A-levels (BTEC, diploma, etc)
- Refugees and asylum seekers
Find out more about Get Set for Success or contact getsetforsuccess@stmarys.ac.uk.