Welcome to the Companion Videos
One of the great privileges of my career has been the opportunity to visit schools in the United States and spend time with American educators. Those experiences gave me a genuine appreciation of the American education system and reinforced something I've always believed: while our education systems may differ, the qualities that make a great teacher are remarkably consistent wherever you are in the world.
Although the videos you'll find here were filmed in schools across the United Kingdom, don't let that distract you. You'll notice differences in terminology, school organisation and classroom routines, but the principles of effective teaching remain the same. The purpose of these videos isn't to compare education systems; it's to share practical ideas, experiences and perspectives that teachers everywhere can learn from.
Whether you're preparing to teach in the United States or simply exploring the profession, I hope these videos encourage you, challenge you and give you greater confidence as you begin your own teaching journey.
Video 1: Choosing the Right Environment
One of the biggest decisions you'll make isn't simply whether to become a teacher, it's deciding where you want to teach.
Throughout my career I've visited many different educational settings, each with its own culture, challenges, and rewards. Some immediately felt like home. Others made me realise they weren't the right environment for me.
As we've discussed throughout this book, the best way to discover where you belong is through first-hand experience. Spend time observing, volunteering, and talking to teachers in different settings. Nothing will tell you more about your future than seeing the profession from the inside.
Although we often talk about teaching as though it's one career, teaching young children, middle school students, high school students, college students, or adults all require different skills, personalities, and approaches.
Teacher preparation programs can teach you classroom management, lesson planning, and instructional strategies. What they can't teach you is where you'll feel most fulfilled. Only experience can answer that question.
Video 2: Special Schools
Before you watch this one, a quick note: the footage shows a UK Special School, so some of what you see, the setup, the staffing, the terminology — will look distinctly British.
In the US, you probably won't use this term, but you'll have your own equivalent learning environments.
During one theatre-in-education project, I had the privilege of visiting a special education school while following a group of actors delivering performances about online safety.
The staff were extraordinary.
As the students entered the assembly hall, each with their own individual needs, I found myself standing quietly at the back of the room, deeply moved by what I was witnessing.
What struck me wasn't simply the dedication of the teachers. It was their constant awareness of every student in their care. Every child mattered. Every need was understood. Every moment required patience, compassion, and remarkable professionalism.
At the end of the performance one young student became extremely distressed because she didn't want the performance to end. I watched one of the teachers calmly guide her through that anxiety with incredible kindness.
People often think the word "special" refers only to the students.
For me, it also describes the teachers.
That visit taught me something important about myself. While I admired these educators enormously, I also realised that emotionally I would probably find this environment difficult. Recognising that isn't a weakness—it's part of understanding where your own strengths and passions lie.
Video 3: Small and Rural Schools
Some of the most inspiring schools I've visited have also been some of the smallest.
Smaller schools may not always have the budgets or facilities of larger districts, but they often make up for it through innovation, flexibility, and an incredibly strong sense of community.
One school I visited had very little of the technology you might expect to find elsewhere, yet the creativity of the teaching was exceptional. Good teaching has never depended solely on expensive equipment.
Smaller schools can also be quicker to embrace new ideas. Decisions often involve fewer layers of administration, giving teachers greater opportunities to innovate and make a real difference.
If you're someone who enjoys creativity, close relationships, and contributing to a strong school community, you may discover that a smaller school is exactly where you belong.
Video 4: Larger District and Charter Schools
Although I personally enjoy the atmosphere of smaller schools, larger schools offer tremendous opportunities of their own.
With greater resources often comes access to wider extracurricular programs, specialist facilities, larger support teams, and more opportunities for professional growth and leadership.
Many teachers thrive in these environments because they enjoy working within larger teams and having opportunities to specialise as their careers develop.
Neither environment is better.
They're simply different.
Finding the right fit is one of the most important decisions you'll make in your teaching career.
Can you help?
I hope you're enjoying Becoming a Teacher: The 5 BIG Mistakes and that it's helping you begin your journey with greater confidence.
If you found the book useful, I'd be incredibly grateful if you could take a minute to leave a short review on Amazon.
Reviews help other aspiring teachers discover the book and decide whether it might be the right guide for them.
Thank you for your support—and I wish you every success in your teaching career.
Andrew Harold