PGCE Applications 2015

Original post by Zoe_88

Has anyone got any tips on what I should be taking notes on during my classroom observation? Obviously things like classroom/behavioural management, use of learning resources with national curriculum etc. Anything else? Also what do people wear? Should I go quite smart or because I'm just observing for now can I get away with smart casual (jeans, nice top)? Any advice welcome!

I would go smartish. I usually just wear smart trousers and a nice top when I go to school :smile:

I would say no to jeans as it just doesn't give the right impression in my opinion but depends on which school you are I suppose.
Hmm, behaviour management, the use of the TA in the lesson, how the lesson caters for a range of diverse learner, what help is given to children with SEN, positive reinforcement, the type of learning taking place- is it child centred? Or teacher led? Marking, note what is on displays. Hope this helps. Probably lots more but just trying to think off the top of my head on a Saturday morning, haha x

Reply 382

Veggiechic6

14

I've just been keeping a log of everything really. What class I'm observing, lesson activities, how the class is organised, what I specifically contributed, how the teacher dealt with things that arose, how different abilities are catered for, what surprised/struck me throughout the day, answers to questions I asked the teachers etc. I've finished my observation at an infant school, I'm heading to another school soon, so I'll be comparing and contrasting it to what I've already seen.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 383

Zoe_88

Cool thanks for the advice :-)
Have people been observing a few different year groups? I'd like to maybe start on a key stage 1 class and also do a key stage 2 as well so I can see which key stage I'd like to specialise in for the course.

Reply 384

Original post by Zoe_88

Has anyone got any tips on what I should be taking notes on during my classroom observation? Obviously things like classroom/behavioural management, use of learning resources with national curriculum etc. Anything else? Also what do people wear? Should I go quite smart or because I'm just observing for now can I get away with smart casual (jeans, nice top)? Any advice welcome!

When I did my two weeks observation (I did one week in two secondary schools) I planned to sit and observe and make notes, however, once I was there I realised that it seemed more appropriate for me not to. This was because all of the teachers were very happy for me to speak to the students, often encouraging me to help then and chat to them about the school. When parts of the lesson were more teacher-led I found myself solely listening to the teacher and remembering in my head different techniques they had used. Then after every day I would make notes from memory. This seemed friendlier because often I think teachers feel a bit unnerved if you are sat making notes. Also, if you are just sat making notes its easy to miss something or write down too much!

I would definitely recommend that you wear smart-ish clothing, because the head teacher from the school could write one of your two UCAS references. Obviously you don't need to be too formal, but I personally wouldn't go for jeans.

Some other tips on the observation experience -
Try to get involved as much as you can in the staff room chatting to teachers etc to gain a real insight into the profession
Speak to as many pupils as possible
Offer to help where you can
Ask the school if any of the teachers are NQT's, or possibly even PGCE students. The headteacher of one of the schools I went to arranged a meeting for me with an NQT, and another with a PGCE student, which was really beneficial when it comes to the application process.
If you happen to be observing during a week when the school has any evening events such as an Open Day or a parents evening, go. It's just something extra you can talk about and gives you an insight into the roles of a teacher other than the actual teaching.
Ask if you can have a look at some work and see if you can mark it or give feedback on it.

Hope that helps you :smile:

I did my observation in the last month and it was really helpful!

Reply 385

cumbria15

I'm starting a placement next week, through until Christmas, then have another lined up after Christmas. I'm hoping that this will give me something to write about in my personal statement and show my desire to continue learning/observing after throughout and after the application process.

On the DBS, the school I'm going to and on previous placements have all accepted recent checks I had done from elsewhere - one was done by the University and another by a club I volunteered at. I think as long as its an enhanced check and recent, they are happy with them. I suppose some schools may wish to do their own, but if you have a recent one, mention it to them.

Reply 386

Has anyone booked their skills tests yet? I've booked mine for the second week of November because it apparently looks good if you do them before you have interviews (fingers crossed) but you can also only do them after you have applied because you have to take proof of your application to the test centre. I'm worrying now that because UCAS haven't confirmed a date yet (just says applications open end of October at the mo), that eventually they will just push back the date to November and I wouldn't have applied by the time my skills tests are booked for! As it's nearly mid-October it seems very strange that they haven't given us a specific date.

Reply 387

Pineapple pie

2

Original post by GHicks

Has anyone booked their skills tests yet? I've booked mine for the second week of November because it apparently looks good if you do them before you have interviews (fingers crossed) but you can also only do them after you have applied because you have to take proof of your application to the test centre. I'm worrying now that because UCAS haven't confirmed a date yet (just says applications open end of October at the mo), that eventually they will just push back the date to November and I wouldn't have applied by the time my skills tests are booked for! As it's nearly mid-October it seems very strange that they haven't given us a specific date.

I am sure you will be able to change the date if that were to happen. The dates I have been quoted have been between 28 oct and 3 nov so I think you will be fine. I would like to book them but feel I need to practise more 1st. What kind of time slots does it offer you? And do you do them both on the same day?

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Reply 388

Original post by Pineapple pie

I am sure you will be able to change the date if that were to happen. The dates I have been quoted have been between 28 oct and 3 nov so I think you will be fine. I would like to book them but feel I need to practise more 1st. What kind of time slots does it offer you? And do you do them both on the same day?

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You don't have to book them both on the same day. I wouldn't recommend doing that but that is just my opinion. My test centre had times like 8:00 and 12:00 haha. Not very accommodating.
Also, I have booked mine for the 8th and 12th November. Hoping that will be okay!
X

Reply 389

Original post by GHicks

Has anyone booked their skills tests yet? I've booked mine for the second week of November because it apparently looks good if you do them before you have interviews (fingers crossed) but you can also only do them after you have applied because you have to take proof of your application to the test centre. I'm worrying now that because UCAS haven't confirmed a date yet (just says applications open end of October at the mo), that eventually they will just push back the date to November and I wouldn't have applied by the time my skills tests are booked for! As it's nearly mid-October it seems very strange that they haven't given us a specific date.

I know. I wish they would give us a bloody date. Why is it taking them so long to get organised??!! :frown:

x

Reply 390

Original post by Pineapple pie

I am sure you will be able to change the date if that were to happen. The dates I have been quoted have been between 28 oct and 3 nov so I think you will be fine. I would like to book them but feel I need to practise more 1st. What kind of time slots does it offer you? And do you do them both on the same day?

Posted from TSR Mobile

I think it depends on where your closest test centre is so if it's in a city then times are more likely to get filled but luckily mine is in a large town so less busy, was quite easy for me to get the times I wanted and it ranged from 8am to around 5pm I think but I booked mine 2 weeks ago now. I'm doing mine on the same day, I've left 2 hours in between though. I've heard that if you book on the same day they usually just get you to do the second one straight after if you are comfortable with it. I guess it depends on how confident you are about the tests really! There are practice ones online if you didn't know already :smile:

Also recommend the books by Mark Patmore and Jim Johnson which have lots of info about the tests!

Reply 391

Original post by GHicks

I think it depends on where your closest test centre is so if it's in a city then times are more likely to get filled but luckily mine is in a large town so less busy, was quite easy for me to get the times I wanted and it ranged from 8am to around 5pm I think but I booked mine 2 weeks ago now. I'm doing mine on the same day, I've left 2 hours in between though. I've heard that if you book on the same day they usually just get you to do the second one straight after if you are comfortable with it. I guess it depends on how confident you are about the tests really! There are practice ones online if you didn't know already :smile:

Also recommend the books by Mark Patmore and Jim Johnson which have lots of info about the tests!

Do they really ask you to one afterwards? Blimey. Mind you, suppose it would save time but sucks if you wanted to do last minute revision! X

Reply 392

Original post by katie543

Do they really ask you to one afterwards? Blimey. Mind you, suppose it would save time but sucks if you wanted to do last minute revision! X

Yeah I've heard from two friends and both were asked to go straight in! One didn't mind so did and the other just went in anyway as felt a bit pressured, but I'm sure they could have said no and used the time in between if they had wanted to. I'm doing mine on the same day to get them out of the way tbh.

Reply 393

Original post by GHicks

Yeah I've heard from two friends and both were asked to go straight in! One didn't mind so did and the other just went in anyway as felt a bit pressured, but I'm sure they could have said no and used the time in between if they had wanted to. I'm doing mine on the same day to get them out of the way tbh.

Yeah I did think about it. Do you feel prepared for them at all? X

Reply 394

_JamesGibson_

I'm hopefully going to be applying for secondary business studies but feel that I won't have appropriate refrences or not enough school experience, anybody have any ideas on what to do to improve these areas?

Reply 395

Original post by katie543

Yeah I did think about it. Do you feel prepared for them at all? X

If I'm honest the literacy I have found quite straightforward. The numeracy I found much harder but fortunately I do some voluntary tutoring for GCSE maths so this has helped a lot! The numeracy I think is more scary because of the first set of questions where you only get about 20 seconds, but once you get past the scariness of it I think its fine. Just make sure you practice and you'll be fine! I'd just like to get them out of the way now x

Reply 396

Original post by GHicks

If I'm honest the literacy I have found quite straightforward. The numeracy I found much harder but fortunately I do some voluntary tutoring for GCSE maths so this has helped a lot! The numeracy I think is more scary because of the first set of questions where you only get about 20 seconds, but once you get past the scariness of it I think its fine. Just make sure you practice and you'll be fine! I'd just like to get them out of the way now x

Same. The literacy is okay. But the numeracy I did find difficult initially but I have been practising with the Numeracy Ready exams and the DfE ones so I am hoping I will be okay. I just want to apply now. I am so bored of waiting! Where are you thinking of applying too? X

Reply 397

Original post by katie543

Same. The literacy is okay. But the numeracy I did find difficult initially but I have been practising with the Numeracy Ready exams and the DfE ones so I am hoping I will be okay. I just want to apply now. I am so bored of waiting! Where are you thinking of applying too? X

I think Southampton and Reading and not sure about third one. You? I want to do Secondary History! Very competitive :/

Reply 398

Original post by GHicks

I think Southampton and Reading and not sure about third one. You? I want to do Secondary History! Very competitive :/

Yes I have heard that! I want to do primary! Also equally competitive! I am applying to Reading, and two schools direct schemes I think which are near me :smile:

x

Reply 399