Becoming a Teacher explores a variety of issues and provides direction on how to effectively navigate them. Alan gives indispensable support by sharing and examining his own teaching, but it is his reflections upon his own values that are so fascinating and relevant to anyone involved in education. An excellent book that gives everyone food for thought, and an essential and invaluable resource for new and experienced teachers.Aimee Lascelles
I love this book. It is a great and engaging read, and very relatable to the experiences of Scottish teachers. I have taken away a lot from it that I can apply to my practice and how I look at the teaching profession. Thank you!Megan Turnbull
What I love about this book is that everything is presented from authority and experience, not merely opinion. When Alan tells the story of the troubled child and the father who beat him in front of him, he doesn't waste time stating 'obviously, this was wrong' but instead allows us to process how we, as teachers, might respond in this situation. I was initially terrified of the numerous pages of appendices, but Alan clearly states how to approach them and why. I therefore enjoyed the debate on 'Britishness'. This was introduced during my secondary school days and I remember we hated how it was presented; however, Alan provides a very good argument for how 'British values' should be explored in schools - and now I will take his insights on board in my own teaching.Nathan Alexander Kennedy
There is so much in this book I wish I had been able to read before starting my training. Becoming a Teacher is an invaluable guide for trainees and teachers alikeMaisey Hodges
I was hooked from the start - the tone, the way it sets out exactly what the book aims to do, how it is structured to enable the reader to dip in and out, and much more. There is great use of further and recommended reading per chapter too. I particularly enjoyed the section on teaching and theory, as I found myself drawn into the question of whether we are reliant on the theory to underpin practice. I also enjoyed reflecting on the incident of children climbing high up in the tree and what the teachers were trying to achieve. This engaged my whole household in an interesting discussion! A thoroughly thought-provoking read and a pleasure to engage with.Amelia Shimells
Becoming a Teacher is a wonderful read and a perfect 'new teacher' gift. Alan's personal reflections are not only funny but also comforting. He finds the funny side of the mishaps we all experience, from training year and beyond! The book is easy to navigate and covers a great range of topics too, yet there is no pressure to read the entire book - you can dip in and out of it regularly with ease. Its chapters are of a good length and when you get stuck in, you find yourself at the end of the chapter and wanting to read more.Katarina Pillai
At university we tend to focus on specifics with relatively little time for aspects such as ethics or morality, so this book helps to develop a teaching philosophy and to determine what defines you as a teacher. Becoming a Teacher is incredibly insightful for both ECTs and more experienced teachers, and will help develop wider perspectives on teaching.Amelia Sowden
I found this book extremely interesting. It is very easy to connect with Alan's writing, and his personal anecdotes are motivating, inspiring and moving in bringing the book to life. Alan covers broad themes and ethical conundrums related to building character, relating it to professional development and reminding us why we should take certain actions for the betterment of the pupils and communities we serve. The story concerning one of his students' attitude towards Anne Frank's diary resonated with me as I teach within an inner-city school in Greater Glasgow - and I'm all too often faced with sectarian views which can at times be difficult to confront. Alan reminded me that it is ethically and morally right to tackle controversial issues in a way that does not lead to further provocation. I think Becoming a Teacher is a fantastic book that could be described as a go-to guide for anyone joining the teaching profession.Sarah-Jane Hamilton
Becoming a Teacher gripped me from the first page and at times I had to drag myself away from reading it. I love the personal stories that make your heart drop as you ask, 'What if I were put in that situation?' I found the 'Discuss and reflect' sections very helpful too - they made me think about my own teaching and I found myself using the questions as talking points within my department at school. The discussions that ensued have helped me see teaching from the perspective of my more experienced colleagues.Bryher Freight
I very much enjoyed the interactivity throughout this book, where the reader is encouraged to reflect upon and consider a variety of issues as well as draw lessons from the personal experiences of Alan himself. This offers a personal touch and makes the book easy to relate to. Alan highlights the pressures of teaching, but not to the point that it would put off any aspiring trainees; if anything, it will give them a sense of purpose and an understanding of the challenges that lie ahead. Ultimately, we as teachers are role models - and that's something, as emphasised by this book, that I am proud to be a part of. I will certainly be keeping a copy for use in my career.Daniel Strachan
I will be honest, when I first started reading this book I thought: 'What have I done? I can't possibly read an entire academic book.' Well, let me tell you that I was wrong! It is written very thoughtfully without lots of references or jargon, and I really enjoyed how Alan includes anecdotes from his teaching days and time as a head teacher. It really is thought-provoking but also very readable, so you can put it down and pick it back up again without losing your thread. I would highly recommend this book for those who are only just starting their teaching journey or halfway through it like me. Becoming a Teacher is a brilliant book and I think Alan's words, thoughts and pearls of wisdom will stay with me and support me throughout my career.Hannah Mitchell
In an environment where the teacher dropout rate is high, this thought-provoking book will offer much support to teachers during their early years. I certainly would have appreciated having it during my PGCE and ECT years. The format is perfect to guide discussions with mentors and also to enable ECTs to reflect on a variety of issues they will be confronted with. That said, I also think it would be a valuable read for more experienced teachers.Maddy Fowler
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and was really inspired by the concept of a good teacher being recognised by the values they model. The historical perspective provided is very interesting too, and I also appreciate the reassurance that the challenges I will face as a teacher will build my character - this sends out a message of 'keep going' even if you feel you are not at your best at that particular time. I think the book inspires student teachers to uphold codes of practice and standards, not just as a professional prerequisite but also as a moral responsibility.Eildh Macpherson
While reading Becoming a Teacher I found myself reflecting on my own beliefs and politics, and I really liked this. Alan's honesty and transparency makes it easy to imagine oneself in the situations described in the book, and to consider what one's own reactions might be to similar situations - such as going on strike, which really challenged my thinking. I enjoyed the discussion and reflection sections too, as being confronted with specific questions was really thought-provoking. The book is also helpful in relieving anxieties on how to handle situations in the classroom, and offers a perspective of teaching backed by a wealth of experience and honesty.Nicole Larkins
This is an engaging and very thought-provoking book that would have been great to have had right at the beginning of my journey into teaching. Alan asks questions and encourages the reader to think for themselves, while also providing a genuine account of the experience of teaching. Absolutely brilliant.Patricia Duncan
The style in which the book is written is fantastic. Alan's stories of his own experience really grab the reader and he kept my attention throughout.Michaela McCaugherty
This is a really useful book as it gives an authentic insight into teaching, and not just the 'fluffy' stuff that we are often shown at university. It strikes a great balance between personal experiences and theory, and it's full of knowledge that would be really helpful for ECTs too.Chris Griffiths
The introduction to this book is so powerful that it reminds me why I chose this profession. I love that its content isn't at all patronising and has a sense of humanity and relatability in its coverage of the topic of ethics. The message is that it's OK to make mistakes, as we are all human, and from mistakes comes great learning and character building - something we are not reassured of enough as new teachers. Becoming a Teacher is inspiring to read and it makes you want to be a better teacher.Natasha Ryan
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Becoming a Teacher. I'm even drawing on some of it in my job applications! But the best part for me is how Alan manages to connect all the guidelines, procedures and protocols around being a teacher with real-life stories. Some even brought a little tear to my eye! Alan's words remind me of the writing of James Herriot, in being very honest and showing teaching for what it is - and he also discusses topics not found on my PGCE course, such as how to manage criticism.Michael Walker
