ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to provide the reader with a broad overview of teaching in general to set the scene for the rest of the book, which deals with teaching mathematics. The process of teaching is highly complex and therefore to become an effective teacher is a great achievement. There are a number of ‘steps’ to help you reach this goal, so these steps will be the focus of this chapter. The best analogy to describe ‘becoming a teacher’ is that it is like a journey-one that lasts a lifetime, provides a wide variety of experiences and offers numerous ‘great wonders’ along the way. This book will focus on the early stages of your journey. It aims to guide you through Initial Teacher Education, securing your first post and introducing you to the requirements of Induction and Early Professional Development. From there, you should have the confidence to continue your journey of professional development with the support, advice and friendship of your colleagues.
