PGCE - Current Students Thread
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Original post by Steveluis10
Wow, that was really tough.
The class teacher was off sick for year 7 so I took the lesson while the cover teacher sat at the back. Went pretty well on the whole except most of them not doing their homework so I've given them 'til tomorrow to do it or they will be getting white slips.
I then dashed from that lesson to my year 8 class, got them settled into a quick starter but a few we're acting up and asking to go the toilet. After about ten minutes they started to quieter as I kept on top of behaviour and issued warnings etc. I completely messed up my timings though and thought we had 20 minutes left when we had 5. Oops.
I then dashed down the corridor, folder full of loose sheets in hand, to my year ten class which was a disaster. The class is a really difficult class even for experienced teachers. Their behaviour wasn't actually an issue it was just a complete lack of being bothered because it was last lesson. I was told to read the first chapter of a book with them, no one would read so I had to read the whole chapter (stopping to question at times) but only about 4 people out of 11 were listening, the rest were literally slumped on their desks falling asleep. I tried to get on top of this but they weren't budging. Hardly any pupils made progress and it was a waste of everyone's time - plus my voice was going by the end.
I then sat with the teacher who observed me. I was beyond tired and just sort of murmured replies every so often. She was nice about it but I knew deep down she must have known it was a shambles. She hasn't given me a grade for the observation yet but if I was her I'd give me a 4. It was partly me not knowing the class well enough and underestimating how long it would take to just read one chapter and partly the class not respecting me as a student teacher and showing no interest in learning. Definitely one to forget and try and improve in my next lessons with them.
Overall, crazy experience - it's the first time I've had 3 lessons in one day let alone back to back in the afternoon. It's great experience to have as this is the reality of teaching but I experienced so many highs and lows in 3 hours.
Got home and did 3 evaluations, lessons planned for tomorrow but not Thursday but going to leave it for tonight - just need some rest and recovery!
The class teacher was off sick for year 7 so I took the lesson while the cover teacher sat at the back. Went pretty well on the whole except most of them not doing their homework so I've given them 'til tomorrow to do it or they will be getting white slips.
I then dashed from that lesson to my year 8 class, got them settled into a quick starter but a few we're acting up and asking to go the toilet. After about ten minutes they started to quieter as I kept on top of behaviour and issued warnings etc. I completely messed up my timings though and thought we had 20 minutes left when we had 5. Oops.
I then dashed down the corridor, folder full of loose sheets in hand, to my year ten class which was a disaster. The class is a really difficult class even for experienced teachers. Their behaviour wasn't actually an issue it was just a complete lack of being bothered because it was last lesson. I was told to read the first chapter of a book with them, no one would read so I had to read the whole chapter (stopping to question at times) but only about 4 people out of 11 were listening, the rest were literally slumped on their desks falling asleep. I tried to get on top of this but they weren't budging. Hardly any pupils made progress and it was a waste of everyone's time - plus my voice was going by the end.
I then sat with the teacher who observed me. I was beyond tired and just sort of murmured replies every so often. She was nice about it but I knew deep down she must have known it was a shambles. She hasn't given me a grade for the observation yet but if I was her I'd give me a 4. It was partly me not knowing the class well enough and underestimating how long it would take to just read one chapter and partly the class not respecting me as a student teacher and showing no interest in learning. Definitely one to forget and try and improve in my next lessons with them.
Overall, crazy experience - it's the first time I've had 3 lessons in one day let alone back to back in the afternoon. It's great experience to have as this is the reality of teaching but I experienced so many highs and lows in 3 hours.
Got home and did 3 evaluations, lessons planned for tomorrow but not Thursday but going to leave it for tonight - just need some rest and recovery!
I think you'll really benefit from all this. Some of what you say doesn't sound too nice but I'm sure you're gaining a lot from it. Besides you're new to the three lessons a day and within a week you should adjust fine.
Reading your posts are really interesting. It gives a good perspective of how the secondary course is. How you describe the Year 10s is one of the reasons I stayed away from secondary. But sometimes I do feel I'll be missing something by not being a part of preparing kids for their GCSEs.
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Original post by Steveluis10
Wow, that was really tough.
The class teacher was off sick for year 7 so I took the lesson while the cover teacher sat at the back. Went pretty well on the whole except most of them not doing their homework so I've given them 'til tomorrow to do it or they will be getting white slips.
I then dashed from that lesson to my year 8 class, got them settled into a quick starter but a few we're acting up and asking to go the toilet. After about ten minutes they started to quieter as I kept on top of behaviour and issued warnings etc. I completely messed up my timings though and thought we had 20 minutes left when we had 5. Oops.
I then dashed down the corridor, folder full of loose sheets in hand, to my year ten class which was a disaster. The class is a really difficult class even for experienced teachers. Their behaviour wasn't actually an issue it was just a complete lack of being bothered because it was last lesson. I was told to read the first chapter of a book with them, no one would read so I had to read the whole chapter (stopping to question at times) but only about 4 people out of 11 were listening, the rest were literally slumped on their desks falling asleep. I tried to get on top of this but they weren't budging. Hardly any pupils made progress and it was a waste of everyone's time - plus my voice was going by the end.
I then sat with the teacher who observed me. I was beyond tired and just sort of murmured replies every so often. She was nice about it but I knew deep down she must have known it was a shambles. She hasn't given me a grade for the observation yet but if I was her I'd give me a 4. It was partly me not knowing the class well enough and underestimating how long it would take to just read one chapter and partly the class not respecting me as a student teacher and showing no interest in learning. Definitely one to forget and try and improve in my next lessons with them.
Overall, crazy experience - it's the first time I've had 3 lessons in one day let alone back to back in the afternoon. It's great experience to have as this is the reality of teaching but I experienced so many highs and lows in 3 hours.
Got home and did 3 evaluations, lessons planned for tomorrow but not Thursday but going to leave it for tonight - just need some rest and recovery!
The class teacher was off sick for year 7 so I took the lesson while the cover teacher sat at the back. Went pretty well on the whole except most of them not doing their homework so I've given them 'til tomorrow to do it or they will be getting white slips.
I then dashed from that lesson to my year 8 class, got them settled into a quick starter but a few we're acting up and asking to go the toilet. After about ten minutes they started to quieter as I kept on top of behaviour and issued warnings etc. I completely messed up my timings though and thought we had 20 minutes left when we had 5. Oops.
I then dashed down the corridor, folder full of loose sheets in hand, to my year ten class which was a disaster. The class is a really difficult class even for experienced teachers. Their behaviour wasn't actually an issue it was just a complete lack of being bothered because it was last lesson. I was told to read the first chapter of a book with them, no one would read so I had to read the whole chapter (stopping to question at times) but only about 4 people out of 11 were listening, the rest were literally slumped on their desks falling asleep. I tried to get on top of this but they weren't budging. Hardly any pupils made progress and it was a waste of everyone's time - plus my voice was going by the end.
I then sat with the teacher who observed me. I was beyond tired and just sort of murmured replies every so often. She was nice about it but I knew deep down she must have known it was a shambles. She hasn't given me a grade for the observation yet but if I was her I'd give me a 4. It was partly me not knowing the class well enough and underestimating how long it would take to just read one chapter and partly the class not respecting me as a student teacher and showing no interest in learning. Definitely one to forget and try and improve in my next lessons with them.
Overall, crazy experience - it's the first time I've had 3 lessons in one day let alone back to back in the afternoon. It's great experience to have as this is the reality of teaching but I experienced so many highs and lows in 3 hours.
Got home and did 3 evaluations, lessons planned for tomorrow but not Thursday but going to leave it for tonight - just need some rest and recovery!
Well done, you made it through and it sounds like there were loads of positive points
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Anyone else regularly getting up in the middle of the night to finish work? Today and yesterday I got up at 4.30am so I can work for about an hour before I leave for work, then get in another hour and a half at school between 7 and half 8. Just too tired after a full day of lessons and marking between 60 or so books to finish off the things I need to before the next day. So instead I end up in bed by 9pm and up at the ass crack of dawn.
Today I at least have the afternoon out of the class, so hopefully I can mark my literacy and numeracy books then, and do my prep for Thurs (and hopefully some of Fri) before 6pm. Might actually get a night off! (probably not - I'm sure I'll find something I need to do).
Today I at least have the afternoon out of the class, so hopefully I can mark my literacy and numeracy books then, and do my prep for Thurs (and hopefully some of Fri) before 6pm. Might actually get a night off! (probably not - I'm sure I'll find something I need to do).
Original post by TraineeLynsey
Anyone else regularly getting up in the middle of the night to finish work? Today and yesterday I got up at 4.30am so I can work for about an hour before I leave for work, then get in another hour and a half at school between 7 and half 8. Just too tired after a full day of lessons and marking between 60 or so books to finish off the things I need to before the next day. So instead I end up in bed by 9pm and up at the ass crack of dawn.
Today I at least have the afternoon out of the class, so hopefully I can mark my literacy and numeracy books then, and do my prep for Thurs (and hopefully some of Fri) before 6pm. Might actually get a night off! (probably not - I'm sure I'll find something I need to do).
Today I at least have the afternoon out of the class, so hopefully I can mark my literacy and numeracy books then, and do my prep for Thurs (and hopefully some of Fri) before 6pm. Might actually get a night off! (probably not - I'm sure I'll find something I need to do).
Not getting up in the middle of the night, but I'm often up late working / worrying.
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Found out my second placement - so happy with it!
Was surprising because it isn't more challenging than my first school - both schools are very good behaviour wise. But anyway. Close to home and is a specialist humanities school which is excellent for my subject! It's a C of E school so I'm going to have to get used to morning worship.
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Was surprising because it isn't more challenging than my first school - both schools are very good behaviour wise. But anyway. Close to home and is a specialist humanities school which is excellent for my subject! It's a C of E school so I'm going to have to get used to morning worship.
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Original post by sunfowers01
Not getting up in the middle of the night, but I'm often up late working / worrying.
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At this stage in your training, should be marking 60 books per day?
Thanks for the positive comments people, it's nice to see that when you're on a course like this! Tomorrow is going to be tough - the year ten class first lesson then third period my PLC is coming to observe my year 8 lesson (only told me today, ugh). I think my plan is fairly good, quite focused, just hope the class are in a relatively good mood to complete everything.
Really nervous about my Uni tutor coming in on Tuesday to observe a lesson, going to plan it after school on Friday as my school finished at 12:30 on Fridays so gives me a lot of time to focus on that.
Once that's out the way I'll have about 3 and a half weeks left (13 school days, not that I'm counting...) of this placement. We find out where our second placement is on the 6th Feb.
Really nervous about my Uni tutor coming in on Tuesday to observe a lesson, going to plan it after school on Friday as my school finished at 12:30 on Fridays so gives me a lot of time to focus on that.
Once that's out the way I'll have about 3 and a half weeks left (13 school days, not that I'm counting...) of this placement. We find out where our second placement is on the 6th Feb.
Original post by jaime1986
At this stage in your training, should be marking 60 books per day?
I'm doing school direct primary and on my final assessed period, so teaching 70% of the week's lessons, which means marking 70% of the week's work. I'm just glad science didn't fall on a day when I was also teaching numeracy and literacy or I'd have been marking 90 books!
Interview is tomorrow. I can't decide if the fact that I know the people who will be interviewing me is making me more or less nervous. Terrified they're going to ask me something I have no idea about!
Original post by Shelly_x
Interview is tomorrow. I can't decide if the fact that I know the people who will be interviewing me is making me more or less nervous. Terrified they're going to ask me something I have no idea about!
Best of luck. Just approach it like you would for any interview - go with the flow and be yourself. Is this for a September start?
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Really good luck! Let us know how it goes! I'm off to visit a school tomorrow which I'll be applying to if I like it. I'm nervous just going to see the place, so can only imagine how you feel!
Had my worst day of the whole course so far today
Had my year 8 observed lesson with the Professional Learning Co-ordinator and my mentor. It was just after break so I had time to get organised, put my PowerPoint up, put everyone's books on the desk and resources. As they came in I had a starter up on the board, they settled fairly quickly and seemed engaged; I got feedback and it was really good. At this point I was thinking this is amazing, usually quite a noisy class was really behaving well and trying to impress for the PLC at the back, they were on my side.
Then things went iffy.
My main task was met with some apathy by several problem pupils, no matter what I said I couldn't get them to do anything. I tried being polite and asserting my authority but they weren't interested. One girl claimed I was picking on her yet I had praised her work and answers only moments before.
I got some feedback which was fairly good.
Then my second part of the task is where it really went wrong - the noise levels rose, the class lost focus a bit, I began to get a bit nervous and all over the place. Lost track of time and had 4 minutes to do the plenary which was a complete mess. It was too complex and poorly designed. The pupils stood up when the bell went, I had completely lost them.
I was thinking it might be a 2b (we get graded 1,2a,2b, 3, 4) because the pupils were engaged at times and gave good answers when questioned which I did build on and made challenging.
My mentor took me to another classroom afterwards and said the PLC thought it should have been a 4 (inadequate) as there was no differentiation of task and next to no progress. My mentor said she gave me a 3 because she could see some progress in a few books (though minimal) but said my observed focus was differentiation and although I had by outcome I had none by task. I tried to differentiate in my plenary by giving different groups different challenged tasks but I just ran out of time.
It was the first 3 I've had so far (all the rest 2b and one 2a) so I was really gutted, especially as my PLC observed and my tutor is coming on Tuesday to see the exact same class but in the afternoon so it will be even more challenging. My mentor basically tore the lesson apart (despite her lessons not being any better at times, but that's the way of the game) and left me to reflect on the shambles of my lesson.
Have to say I felt utterly dejected and useless afterwards. Nerves got the better of me and I didn't enjoy the lesson at all. I went to the toilet and although I didn't cry I felt utterly miserable. Couldn't face anyone for the rest of the day but I did go and have a chat with a teacher in my department who I like and respect a lot as her lessons actually are outstanding. She said not to worry and talked me through a possible lesson to teach on Tuesday when my tutor comes in. I felt a bit better after that and one of my course mates said she got a 3 last week but got a 2a with my tutor this week so there is hope for me!
I just feel so overwhelmed though about this lesson on Tuesday coming up, I feel like I have no idea what to do in such a short space of time, that my class will play up, that they'll say they don't understand what to do and that it will be another mess where I'll panic and lose all sense of time.
This is the lowest point of the PGCE so far and I can't wait to finish this placement now. The behaviour is really challenging not just for me but for all the teachers there.
Had my year 8 observed lesson with the Professional Learning Co-ordinator and my mentor. It was just after break so I had time to get organised, put my PowerPoint up, put everyone's books on the desk and resources. As they came in I had a starter up on the board, they settled fairly quickly and seemed engaged; I got feedback and it was really good. At this point I was thinking this is amazing, usually quite a noisy class was really behaving well and trying to impress for the PLC at the back, they were on my side.
Then things went iffy.
My main task was met with some apathy by several problem pupils, no matter what I said I couldn't get them to do anything. I tried being polite and asserting my authority but they weren't interested. One girl claimed I was picking on her yet I had praised her work and answers only moments before.
I got some feedback which was fairly good.
Then my second part of the task is where it really went wrong - the noise levels rose, the class lost focus a bit, I began to get a bit nervous and all over the place. Lost track of time and had 4 minutes to do the plenary which was a complete mess. It was too complex and poorly designed. The pupils stood up when the bell went, I had completely lost them.
I was thinking it might be a 2b (we get graded 1,2a,2b, 3, 4) because the pupils were engaged at times and gave good answers when questioned which I did build on and made challenging.
My mentor took me to another classroom afterwards and said the PLC thought it should have been a 4 (inadequate) as there was no differentiation of task and next to no progress. My mentor said she gave me a 3 because she could see some progress in a few books (though minimal) but said my observed focus was differentiation and although I had by outcome I had none by task. I tried to differentiate in my plenary by giving different groups different challenged tasks but I just ran out of time.
It was the first 3 I've had so far (all the rest 2b and one 2a) so I was really gutted, especially as my PLC observed and my tutor is coming on Tuesday to see the exact same class but in the afternoon so it will be even more challenging. My mentor basically tore the lesson apart (despite her lessons not being any better at times, but that's the way of the game) and left me to reflect on the shambles of my lesson.
Have to say I felt utterly dejected and useless afterwards. Nerves got the better of me and I didn't enjoy the lesson at all. I went to the toilet and although I didn't cry I felt utterly miserable. Couldn't face anyone for the rest of the day but I did go and have a chat with a teacher in my department who I like and respect a lot as her lessons actually are outstanding. She said not to worry and talked me through a possible lesson to teach on Tuesday when my tutor comes in. I felt a bit better after that and one of my course mates said she got a 3 last week but got a 2a with my tutor this week so there is hope for me!
I just feel so overwhelmed though about this lesson on Tuesday coming up, I feel like I have no idea what to do in such a short space of time, that my class will play up, that they'll say they don't understand what to do and that it will be another mess where I'll panic and lose all sense of time.
This is the lowest point of the PGCE so far and I can't wait to finish this placement now. The behaviour is really challenging not just for me but for all the teachers there.
Original post by Steveluis10
.
Keep going. All the way through my PGCE I never got higher than a 3 for an observation. It's much easier when you're in a job. You'll know the kids better and you can plan perfectly to tick the right boxes in order to get a 2 or a 1 in observed lessons.
Sometimes I wonder why I bother
Original post by sunfowers01
Sometimes I wonder why I bother
Why? What's up?
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Original post by Steveluis10
Had my worst day of the whole course so far today
You wouldn't believe how many atrocious lessons I had. I think I had maybe 2 "pass" lesson observations out of about a bazillion (I was observed at least 4 times a week and was in school the whole year) up until about Easter. Then I went to another school and did a placement and got loads of positive feedback so when I went back to my actual school I believed I could do it. Basically if I had done a PGCE I wouldn't have passed my first placement.
Teacher training is really the teaching job, just magnified and intensified. You will have lessons and days like that when you are experienced, but they get fewer and farther between. It's easy for me to say, but try not to let it get you down. From all your previous posts it seems that you do enjoy teaching and you care about the kids and that they learn. This is the single most important factor in a teacher. Be open and honest in your reflections and evaluations. I am 100% certain that you will not fail the PGCE because of this one lesson observation.
Finding someone you trust and respect to talk to about things like this is really important, so I'm glad you have such a person at your school. I didn't feel I had that at my placement school, especially in the first year so I did a lot of crying down the phone to friends and parents that year!
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by sunfowers01
Sometimes I wonder why I bother
I'm stressed and upset and I have no one I feel I can talk to.
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I didn't get the job... They said it was a good interview and i was very passionate and confident but i didn't mention teaching and learning enough. May be slightly awkward when i go back there in march now...
All good experience though, and now you've got something you can make a point of doing at future interviews.
I agree it might be a bit awkward, but I bet you'll have something else lined up by then and won't even care.
I agree it might be a bit awkward, but I bet you'll have something else lined up by then and won't even care.
I'm sorry to hear that Shelly, I'm sure something else will come around.
I've had time to reflect on yesterday's horror show and after meeting with the PLC who observed me he gave me great feedback and said because my observed focus was differentiation that's why he would have given me a 3 or 4. He said if it had been something like learning environment or engagement then he would have gone higher. This made me feel so much better and allowed me to see exactly what I need to do to improve.
Spent the last 2 hours planning my lesson for my tutor coming in on Tuesday - it looks good and I'm happy with it but worried I won't get it all done in time. Going to show it to the teachers i think highly of on Monday and see what they think. I'm just so desperate for it to go well!
I've had time to reflect on yesterday's horror show and after meeting with the PLC who observed me he gave me great feedback and said because my observed focus was differentiation that's why he would have given me a 3 or 4. He said if it had been something like learning environment or engagement then he would have gone higher. This made me feel so much better and allowed me to see exactly what I need to do to improve.
Spent the last 2 hours planning my lesson for my tutor coming in on Tuesday - it looks good and I'm happy with it but worried I won't get it all done in time. Going to show it to the teachers i think highly of on Monday and see what they think. I'm just so desperate for it to go well!
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