[JAD]

Hi Tom et al,

Im starting PGCE on the 18th as well and your right about the build up to getting started, pre course tasks etc, you want to give yourself the best start on what promises to be one of the most intense years of our lives, trying to hit the ground running you know! I think its going to come in very handy to all us students having this forum in which to share our ideas, thoughts and worries. A friend of mine asked how I was feeling changing my career, going back to uni and that entails, best way I could describe it was like the first day in a new school!

[Claire22]

Hi everybody,



I started my two week induction yesterday and as JAD said its like first day at school....horrible feeling!! Anyway, had ice-breakers today as well as being given what seems like hundreds of pieces of paper and things to file in one of the five files we have to keep!!! Already I do not like the word FILE!!



Anyway despite the information overload I my looking forward to getting into school and putting some of the ideas I have read on the forum over the past months into practise!!



Claire

[eli]

Hey everyone,

I'm starting may PGCE next monday and I have to admit that I'm really scared!

I'm mostly worried that I haven't done enough preperation and that everyone else will be miles ahead of me. I do however think that this forum is a really good idea and I look forward to being able to help and support other people in the same boat as myself.

[Carl Fazackerley]

Claire22, on Sep 5 2006, 03:25 PM, said:

...being given what seems like hundreds of pieces of paper and things to file in one of the five files we have to keep!!! Already I do not like the word FILE!!

Get used it Claire; I'm feeling the same after two days of INSET before starting my NQT year - I think I'm supposed to teach at some point too!

eli, on Sep 5 2006, 06:11 PM, said:

I'm starting may PGCE next monday and I have to admit that I'm really scared! I'm mostly worried that I haven't done enough preperation and that everyone else will be miles ahead of me.

Some will be ahead others will be behind - just think about the varied backgrounds people come into teaching from, it wouldn't matter how much prep you'd done, someone would be better prepared. I felt like you this time last year and a lot through PGCE, but it very often isn't helpful to compare yourself to others as we all progress at different rates and essentially the PGCE course is about you and your performance alone. I am also sure that you are better prepared than you think demonstrated by your awareness and membership of this forum

Good luck everyone!

This post has been edited by Carl Fazackerley: 05 September 2006 - 06:58 PM

[Nick Dixon]

Hi,



i'm about to start my history teacher training also. It's nice to hear that other people are in the same boat and are having the same fears!



I guess i'm a bit in awe of it all really, can anyone please advise me on what i should be doing over the next couple of weeks before i start as all i'm doing really is getting quite stressed about my lack of subject knowledge and staring at a couple of books i have purchased which are the size of giant bibles. I'm never going to be able to read them all and they are currently being used as a little table for my cups of tea! Can anyone recommend something light and easy going for me to read to help me please?! (The national curriculum is one thing i have had a look at already.)



I look forward to reading future posts from everyone. Good luck everyone!

[Chris Garratt]

Nick,

I do have a reputation for being laid back but I think even my critics would say that you don't need to worry too much! The next year, and then if you make it your NQT year will take enough out of you as it is. Relax, have a few nights out. Skim-read those books and don't worry about lack of subject knowledge. I'm learning new things 5 years into my career about subjects I've taught from day 1.

As regards to reading, your PGCE course will advise you on that. Personally I would monitor this (and other excellent) forums and the linked websites. Somewhere there are pupil friendly versions of NC statements that I've always found much easier to undertsand. I think they're on the www.schoolshistory.org website***.

Anyway, just some thought from a knackered teacher just 2 days in!!! (Edited to say, knackered in a good way after two great days!)

*** Edited to say ... yes they are ... on this page

This post has been edited by Carole Faithorn: 06 September 2006 - 08:41 PM

[Mark P]

Hey All,

Have just been reading through the PGCE thread for last year. What a wondeful and supportive place this is. Will be sure to keep you all updated on my PGCE experiences.

Like many of you I am quite nervous about the prospect and am worrying that I won't have done as much as prep as other students on the course. Silly I know.

Tomorrow I have my first day at a middle school, where I will spend the week observing the KS2 curriculum.

Mark

[JAD]

Hi guys,

Had first day in a school (as a PGCE student!) for my primary participant observation today. I wonder how long it will take to get that calm poise and aura of control that all the good teachers seem to have (quite a while is my guess, till then I'll just have to act it.) Its really good to get into school and start on the tasks we have been assigned, I know observation week isnt assessed, as such, and is a way of breaking the ice for the students as regards starting the course but its good it actually be in school with tasks to complete and the opportunity to help teach, even if just a little and its really proving useful in regards to thinking about the nuts and bolts of the profession. As I was leaving the grounds one of the pupils who had been in the class I was shadowing asked if I had enjoyed the day "Yes" I replied, he then asked if I was going to come back to school then, "Yes" (hopefully for many a year)

Good luck to you all and keep posting.

[Mark P]

Well I am over half way through my 'observation' week. I put it in inverted commas because I haven't been doing much observing at all, but helping to run the lessons, creating resources etc. Its great fun and I'm probably picking up much more than if I were sitting at the back of the class jotting down everything the teacher said/did. I've been mainly working with year 6 which has been a new experience for me but it seems like a great age to teach. I've been with some really enthusiastic teachers that really love their jobs, a refreshing change from some of the jaded teachers I have worked with before. All in all, I'm itching to start the PGCE year properly, even though it is probably going to be the most challenging thing I've ever done.

[Rachel Juckes]

Going to the first one who asks....

I have a copy of Haydn's "Learning to Teach History in the Secondary School"

going to anyone about to embark on their PGCE who might have it on their reading list.

First person to express an interest in this, I'll PM you and let you know you've got it (sounds a bit like ebay this doesn't it!!) and then if you pass on your address I'll send it out to you.

It's one of those books which I think would probably do far more good on someone else's bookshelf these days so hands up if you want it!

R.

[Nicola]

Dear Rachel,

The offer of the book would be much appreciated if its still available. I would really like to have my own copy rather thena relying on the few in the library that everone needs! IHow much would you like for it?

Kind regards, Nicola

This post has been edited by Nicola: 15 September 2006 - 04:33 PM

[sarahn]

Hello
hope the start of the course is going well for you all - even if you are only 'observing'.

to JAD - absolutely do fake the 'aura of control' until you are there. some of my best teaching has been done while I was 'acting'.

nothing else to say really, just enjoy your weekend!
Sarah

[Claire22]

Hiya



Finished induction weeks yesterday and I am looking forward to going to my placement on Wednesday. I was pleased to find out that I have a good school (81% A* - C) which is about a mile from where I live. My only "oh no" moment on hearing my school was that its an all girls school. This is cool but when I was working as an LSA I found some of the the girls (in mainstream) to be quite defensive. The thought of teaching 30 girls from my old school would scare me as they were very disruptive!!



Going with an opened mind though....I'm ready for the challenge!! I will be spending the weekend brushing up on the music charts/whats hot, whats not in the world of fashion etc... quite sad for a 23yr old .

[Becky B]

Hi All

I'm half way through my prelim placement and loving it....the children don't want me to leave and neither do the staff! quite an achievment .



I undertook aschemewhere i worked in an all gilrs school, i also thought it wasgoingto be hard going...but it was only afew individuals who made it hard going on the behaviour front so don't be too worried rememeber the staff are there to help you!



Well i get to uni in a weeks time and it is just dawning on me how hard this year is going to be...oh well

Good luck to everyone!

[Nick Dixon]

Hello,

I worked as an LSA also in the hope that it would help me to prepare for teaching, which i'm quite sure it has after watching many different teachers over the last 8 months but i am still so nervous about the thought of standing up infront of a class!

I taught a history lesson (kindly offered to me by the teacher) to some year 3s in my primary school observation week last wednesday on ancient egypt, i was so nervous my hands were shaking as i was using the projector and i could hear myself talking faster and faster to the point of rambling! The lesson went pretty well though considering this and the pupils were able to answer questions at the end on what they had learnt(whoo hoo!), I just hope this nervousness doesn't last too long especially as it will be twice as difficult teaching secondary school!

Oh my god!......