Here at Tradewind, we’re delighted and humbled by the reception of our Relief Teacher Podcast. Back in 2021, we were motivated to listen to great content while at home, which inspired us to produce an Australian teacher podcast that speaks to the experience and needs of casual relief teachers. Roll on to 2024, and we re-launched the show after a hiatus, with esteemed hosts Billy Green, Helen Thomadis, Sue Muir and Terry Twomey. Today, we have listeners far and wide, showing us support and sharing success stories with us.
Casual relief teacher jobs are some of the most important positions in the education system. Every day, schools rely on relief teachers who are highly engaged, organised and prepared to face the unknown in unfamiliar classrooms. CRTs are consummate professionals, and a brave lot at that!
The Relief Teacher Podcast is created with the everyday reality of CRT work in mind: working with pupils, parents, school leaders and colleagues. Think of it as a survival guide and resource for developing a rewarding career in casual relief teaching, based on years of wisdom from people who have tread the same path!
Here are a few highlights from our recent episodes:
What Tech Do You Need, and What to Do If It Fails
This episode covers one of the most common issues that educators face in the modern classroom - working effectively with digital tech. As a casual relief teacher, you’ve likely had days where things didn’t quite go according to plan due to a technical glitch (or several). It’s best to assume at least one piece of technology you’re expecting to use on any given day might fail.
Having a backup plan is essential, says Helen. Think analogue notes, so you can carry out lessons without relying on an internet connection. For Sue, having the world’s largest pencil case, along with exercise books, is a wise contingency plan in case your digital tools stop working(as they inevitably do!)
Billy, Helen, Sue and Terry all agree on the best way to be prepared: arrive early. Give yourself time to familiarise yourself with signing into the school’s network, marking the roll, and accessing lessons. In a nutshell: Be ready for tech to let you down, and don’t panic when it does.
Further, relief teachers would be wise to avoid accessing websites and content on their own devices to show students that wouldn’t be permitted by the school. Certain restrictions are there for good reasons, so it’s important to observe them!
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6NJYp1LEww6gw9U0F5I8AZ?si=2_u5Ur2OSAOYWgEgO80g0Q
Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ch/podcast/what-tech-do-you-need-and-what-to-do-if-it-fails/id1557403766?i=1000706588498&l=en-GB
Working with Education Support Staff
In this episode, Billy and the team explore the role of education support (ES) staff, also known as teacher aides. ES staff support students who require additional assistance due to disabilities, learning difficulties, or other needs. Working in primary or secondary schools, at some point, you will encounter ES staff.
In primary schools, ES staff usually support one or two specific students who require extra help, which is often determined by funding. In secondary schools, it’s more common for an ES to assist several students in one class. How ES support is arranged comes down to funding. Students must first qualify for this support through an assessment process, but it’s up to each school to decide how that assistance is provided day to day. Because funding can be complex and limited, an aide may not be available for every lesson or even every day of the week.
Helen and Sue agreewhen you walk into a classroom with an ES (Education Support) staff member, your first job is to introduce yourself and have a chat. Find out who they usually work with, what their role is that day, and if they have any tips or advice about the students or the class in general. ES staff are a valuable resource, especially in primary settings, so building a respectful rapport right from the start can make your day run much more smoothly. The same goes for secondary school classrooms: communicate, collaborate, and make the most of an aide’s knowledge.
To build a positive working relationship with ES staff, Terry says, it helps to see them not as a competitor but as another adult in the room who is there to share important safety and teaching information about the students they work with. Remember, ES staff can’t take over the classroom while you pop out and they can’t stand in for you during lessons!
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2G4IwsUFVTwyEE87auXLsj?si=iGOG_8yqRAmcekD21UJvEw
Listen on Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/ch/podcast/working-with-education-support-staff/id1557403766?i=1000700810208&l=en-GB
Synthetic Phonics – What You Need to Know as a CRT
In this episode, our podcast for teachers delves into the synthetic phonics rollout for primary school students in Victorian government and Catholic schools, and what CRTs should understand when walking into a new classroom.
In recognition of a growing need to strengthen literacy skills in primary school-aged children, the Victoria Government has established a new requirement for teaching systematic phonics, which involves sounding out letters and words. This approach teaches students to build words from the ground up by blending individual sounds (phonemes) to form whole words. For example, to teach the word cat, students learn each sound for every letter (graphemes), such as /c/, /a/, /t/ - and then blend them together.
From 2025, all students from prep to Year 2 will be taught to read with systematic synthetic phonics for 25 minutes each day. Educators in primary schools, including those working in casual relief teacher jobs, are expected to know the ins and outs of phonics as a basis for teaching.
The shift towards teaching phonics is a departure from the immersive Language Experience Approach, which was a mainstay in teaching over the past few decades in Australia. Debate has raged for years about the best approach to teaching children how to read, but synthetic phonics is now recognised as an important foundation for building literacy.
In a real-world classroom scenario, how does the 2-hour block of reading and writing lessons look with phonics in the mix? The good news is you won’t be left to figure it out on your own! Most schools follow a detailed, structured program with lesson plans (the government has provided around 150) and a clear scope and sequence. This ensures students master the basics before moving on to more complex sounds.
Even if a school uses its own phonics program, the same step-by-step structure applies, so you’ll always have guidance on what to teach and when.
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3wzTNwtWY27Y20ndNVPFlD?si=hKIUdXziTLSEDWoXTr4YGA
Listen on Apple:https://podcasts.apple.com/ch/podcast/synthetic-phonics-what-you-need-to-know-as-a-crt/id1557403766?i=1000697707635&l=en-GB
Access More Tips & Resources for CRTs
Keen for more practical tips and insights to make your casual relief teaching days more rewarding? Tune in and subscribe to The Relief Teachers’ Podcast on Spotify or Apple for plenty of expert advice and real-world stories.
If you’re looking for your next CRT opportunity or want access to Tradewind’s expert career support and resources, please get in touch with our friendly team today. We’re here to help you find the right role and make the most of every teaching day.