Master of Teaching (Secondary) graduate Scott McCallum talks about teaching primary and high school students, and how this has set him up for a flexible and rewarding career.
Scott started his journey to becoming a teacher with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) from UWA, focusing on Sports Science, and Human Geography and Planning. Being able to choose two areas in his undergraduate degree was essential in helping him develop a diverse skill set.
“I got into teaching because of my love of sport and seeing the excitement of students when they improve or succeed with skills, events or tasks. Now I’m able to teach both health and physical education, as well as humanities and social sciences subjects.”
Scott then followed his bachelor’s degree with the two-year MTeach. He says this 100% equipped him with Western Australian Curriculum knowledge and prepared him to develop units of work and construct lesson plans that were structured more effectively.
“I chose to attend UWA for my MTeach because of how great my undergraduate degree was at UWA, as well as the teachers involved in education. Another factor was UWA is always seen as a highly sought-after university that can provide good employment opportunities post-university.”
Since graduating, Scott hasn’t looked back, being hired as the Health and Physical Education Specialist at Toodyay District High School, putting his knowledge and skills to use across all age groups.
“My career has had a busy start. I have taught many students across Years 1-10 in health and PE that have had different physical, social and emotional needs. Currently I teach Years 5-10 health and PE, I plan all sporting carnivals, and lead my school's Year 7-10 outdoor education as part of Cadets WA.
“I love having the two different spectrums of teaching primary and secondary students because of how different they are in ability, but also maturity. I have found having the primary and secondary range has been effective for me being able to apply for jobs and having that diverse skill set when teaching across a range of year groups and ability levels.”
So what’s Scott’s advice for those interested in becoming a teacher?
“I personally feel that teachers need to relate well with their students, such as tapping into their interests, understanding what they like/dislike, and having some sense of humour at times because it makes professional relationships much easier. My advice would be to connect with other teachers to get as much advice or resources as you can, as it all helps with your planning.”
Interested in a flexible career in teaching? Did you know UWA's new Master of Teaching (F-12) will equip you with the skills and experience to teach Foundation (Pre-Primary to Year 12). Applications close Friday 21 January 2022.
