[Steve Wales]

andrewhemel, on Oct 12 2007, 08:58 PM, said:

This thread has gone a bit quiet so I thought I'd bring it back to life with a plea. As part of the course we have to do peer-teaching where every week we teach a topic for 15 minutes. So far its been going well but I've volunteered to do missionaries (1750-1900) and I don't really know where to start - much less make an interesting short lesson from it. Has anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks in advanced!

Missionaries 1750-1900? You are in an interesting position - you should enjoy it. Seriously, perhaps start by not speaking and writing "Guess the character/s " on the board. Provide some clues that can be worked out. Leave the students work out what you want them to. Ask them at the end what the lesson objectives were. Clues e.g. a travel ticket/brochure, a bible, mosquito spray, hymn sheet, letter sent to or by your character/s giving info you want ( make theses clues up , if necessary). Good luck! PS can be used for any subject

This post has been edited by Steve Wales: 25 October 2007 - 08:27 PM

[Sarah S]

I taught my first starter today - and it went really well!

Their normal teacher is very good on discipline, so I didn't need to worry about that really, but I was still so nervous I thought I was going to be sick. But - I didn't run over time so the kids stayed focused, I'd pitched it at the right level I think, and best of all - they actually retained the information and could talk about it at the end of the lesson!

I've had really stressful days - esp with uni - but I just wanted to note this down so I can look at it again next time I have a terrible day

I'm on such a high, I even got loads of planning done cos I was in such a happy and productive mood

Hope everyone else is enjoying themselves.

[Danielle]

Hi sarah,

I'm on the IOE course as well, it feels very demanding especially when my NQT colleagues glass over when they ask what the essays are on!

I am a late starter to my placement and have been getting to know the kids for the last week, but I taught some I'd met for the first time kinda on my own yesterday, a target group of year 8 boys who have very low literacy and one who is very low EAL too, and so their behaviour is rotten to their teacher who has had enough.

I felt so proud though that after we had ironed out one boy who was angry for not being in the main classroom, that they were polite, attentive, eager and we had a fab discussion about the material they were given.
That is one hour that I am going to keep in my memory bank for future reference, especially when I have to take a whole class of their peers on the same topic area next week!!!!

That is what I am going to be holding on to when I feel stupid about topics, or nervous that I'm never going to able be a real teacher etc etc. The constant ticking of boxes is a bit of a downer when all you want to do is get on with the learning of the job.

[Carl Fazackerley]

It is really good to see that there are people posting positives in this thread, as this can at times this can be really hard. I found it especially useful to this when I was training and last year as an NQT so please do keep it up!

[Sarah S]

Seeing as it's the weekend and I'm not desperately searching for ideas on here, I thought I'd see how everyone was doing.

I've been teaching lots over the past few weeks, amd doing lots with my form which has been really great. I even taught two full lessons to year 13 on Mussolini and the church and got them to draw graphs of significance

Have got my first obs from uni on Friday with year 7 - not looking forward to that!

Oh, and Becky, stop reading and post something!

[Sarah S]

Sorry to double-post, just thought I'd write a note about tomorrow - hopefully so that I can look at it tomorrow night and laugh!
Have got my first obs from my uni tutor tomorrow and I'm so scared. I've been incredibly ambitious and planned an activity that's based on one of the Thinking History activities, and I'm worried that it's going to go so horribly wrong!
Fingers crossed I'll be editing this tomorrow to say that it wasn't a disaster!

[vickicrabb]

Good luck - tutors usually look for you to do something imaginative - they don't want to see you using a texdtbook. They would rather you have a go.

I got observed today and I am in my 3rd year of teaching, but a new school, checking I am settling in OK. Will always find it a little daunting, but I like being observed to check I am on the right track.

I haven't had my feedback yet and I am nervous - I was Lenin and I had government advisors telling me how the civil war was going and if I didn't like it I was sending them to Siberia. I feel it went on too long - but that is the other thing that is good - evaluating what you have done to improve next time!!

So, good luck!!!

[JaneMoore]

Speaking as a University tutor, I am looking for several things. First can I say I am looking to be positive. I am NOT looking to tear you apart. It is still early days in your teaching career and you are still finding your way.

Second, I want to see you are taking on board what I have said as your tutor - and what the university professional preparation sessions and your mentor have been telling you. I want to see your subject knowledge is good and you have worked, if you need to, on getting up to scratch.

I am looking at the relationship you have established with your teaching group and how you present yourself in front of the class. I expect you to follow the university requirements over lesson plans as well as school procedures. IF YOU ARE CONFIDENT I want to see an ambitious lesson, BUT - I am not expecting that at this stage. I want to see solid teaching and evidence of learning from the pupils.

DON'T FORGET to leave time for your plenary - and demonstrate that the pupils have been learning.

Everyone of us feels stressed at the idea of being observed. I have had an observation myself recently and spent the week before dreaming the lesson I planned. It also has the effect of raising the adrenalin levels and making you perform to a higher standard.

Good luck

Let us know how you get on

Jane

[Sarah S]

Thanks for the support. I thought the lesson went horribly wrong, but both my tutor and the teacher who was observing thought it was ok, so I guess I'm just being a bit self-critical.
I think my tutor liked the fact that I was trying to do something different, and she gave me some useful suggestions as to how I could have tweaked the lesson to make it more productive in terms of the pupils' learning and how to encourage higher level thinking skills.
Behaviour was rubbish, but I'm following it up so I guess that's the important bit.
Thanks again for the good wishes
Sarah

[JaneMoore]

Well done!

If you are self critical, and reflect where you could make improvements, accept the praise you deserve as well AND listen to advice you are well on your way to success.

Enjoy the rest of your TP

[SarahJas]

Hi all!
I'm looking forward to starting my twin school placement and anticipating new pupil groups to teach. I had plenty of KS3 experience last time around but no KS4 or 5. Thinking specifically about KS5, I know my school follow Edexcel Board specifications for AS (8264) and A2 (9264). I'm happy to continue reading up but could really do with some advice as to lesson direction at that level. Obviously we are not just looking at facts here (nor at any level), I'd love some advice as to what general questions I should keep in the back of my mind when preparing myself for KS5 teaching. So much of the subject matter is new to me so what 'angles' should I be taking. I do plan to look up past exam questions to help get ideas but ANY advice would be really useful.
Thanks

[Sarah S]

Hi all,
Sorry Sarah, don't think I'll be able to help you there, but good luck with the KS5 teaching - I've not got any sixth form this time and I do miss them.
Have got an interview at a school with a sixth form next week tho - teaching a slot on Malcolm X
Hope everyone's doing well and interviews are starting to come up!

[Sean Lang]

andrewhemel, on Sep 16 2007, 04:59 PM, said:

hello, I'm also starting a history PGCE this year at Exeter. My degree was in International Relations so, whilst I can talk for hours about the Cold War, my knowledge on British history is flakey at best. I've been using British History for Dummies for a basic reference to what happened and when and using online encyclopaedias to add meat to the bones. Its been good as I can now tell you something about every king from Edward the Confessor to Henry VII. If you don't have much time, its a good method to get some basic knowledge stored!

Delighted to hear that "British History FD" has been useful to you, especially as I did my own PGCE at Exeter!

[Sarah S]

Hope everyone's doing ok.
Am desperately trying to understand Jorn Rusen at the minute and what it has to do with school history!
Also have to go home on Monday for a family funeral - does anyone have any advice on what sort of activities I could do with a Year 8 BPOTA class without being too teacher-lead, just in case I lose it?!

[vickymahoney]

Hello Everybody!

Well no-one has posted for a while, most probably because we've all been far too busy! I just wanted to say its my last day at my school today. Feeling relieved that I've passed and finished my PDP but sad I wont be returning. Oh well I need to relax for a couple of days. I start my 1st teaching job July 1st so it will be back to work once again.

How is everyone else feeling now they have finished?

Vicky