PGCE - Current Students Thread
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Hi,
I did my post grad aged 30. I met a good friend on the course who went through the death of her father and the birth of her child during the course!
It is tough, but so rewarding. Stick with it. You have to know that being a teacher, you will always feel like this! We are always worn out by xmas and soooo looking forward to the break. Teaching is very challenging. It is like no other job at this level - we get paid less than the other professionals, but work long hours that are not clocked or paid, but are deemed part of the job. The holidays are in part for relaxation, but also often for marking or prep.
On the other hand, colleagues are a huge support and helping to mould the minds of future generations makes the job so rewarding. Stick with it. You won't regret it. I'm English, but live in Germany. If you are single, the international teaching scene is a brilliant way to see the world.
I did my post grad aged 30. I met a good friend on the course who went through the death of her father and the birth of her child during the course!
It is tough, but so rewarding. Stick with it. You have to know that being a teacher, you will always feel like this! We are always worn out by xmas and soooo looking forward to the break. Teaching is very challenging. It is like no other job at this level - we get paid less than the other professionals, but work long hours that are not clocked or paid, but are deemed part of the job. The holidays are in part for relaxation, but also often for marking or prep.
On the other hand, colleagues are a huge support and helping to mould the minds of future generations makes the job so rewarding. Stick with it. You won't regret it. I'm English, but live in Germany. If you are single, the international teaching scene is a brilliant way to see the world.
(edited 9 years ago)
As we move into christmas I can feel myself getting more and more tired. But I'm still really enjoying most of the job (except marking - it's still taking me an absolute age). I have a really nice year 7 class that everything's going swimmingly with, a chatty but otherwise fine year 9 who are making progress and a difficult year 8 class who I'm still battling against. The only downside is despite being a physics and maths specialist I spend most of my time teaching biology.
I was meant to be taking over my year 7 maths class this coming week, but have just had an e-mail saying that might change as the department is being observed by the LEA. Not ideal seeing as I've already planned their lessons...
I was meant to be taking over my year 7 maths class this coming week, but have just had an e-mail saying that might change as the department is being observed by the LEA. Not ideal seeing as I've already planned their lessons...
So it's official...just e-mailed my uni tutor to tell her I can't have my obs tomorrow as I won't be there. Feeling really low now 
. I had planned the lesson and everything and now because of the timetable there's no good classes she could see me with. It's just annoying when you get hyped up for something and genuinely want to do it and then get ill. Furthermore, I don't know how long I'll be off for this week, and I'm on primary placement the week after, then it's the final week of placement. I really don't feel like I've gained any proper experience from this placement and am feeling a bit out of my depth for the second placement, where we are expected to walk in on week one and pick up 12 hours worth of teaching... it's going to be a tough placement.
. I had planned the lesson and everything and now because of the timetable there's no good classes she could see me with. It's just annoying when you get hyped up for something and genuinely want to do it and then get ill. Furthermore, I don't know how long I'll be off for this week, and I'm on primary placement the week after, then it's the final week of placement. I really don't feel like I've gained any proper experience from this placement and am feeling a bit out of my depth for the second placement, where we are expected to walk in on week one and pick up 12 hours worth of teaching... it's going to be a tough placement.Original post by Airfairy
So it's official...just e-mailed my uni tutor to tell her I can't have my obs tomorrow as I won't be there. Feeling really low now . I had planned the lesson and everything and now because of the timetable there's no good classes she could see me with. It's just annoying when you get hyped up for something and genuinely want to do it and then get ill. Furthermore, I don't know how long I'll be off for this week, and I'm on primary placement the week after, then it's the final week of placement. I really don't feel like I've gained any proper experience from this placement and am feeling a bit out of my depth for the second placement, where we are expected to walk in on week one and pick up 12 hours worth of teaching... it's going to be a tough placement.
. I had planned the lesson and everything and now because of the timetable there's no good classes she could see me with. It's just annoying when you get hyped up for something and genuinely want to do it and then get ill. Furthermore, I don't know how long I'll be off for this week, and I'm on primary placement the week after, then it's the final week of placement. I really don't feel like I've gained any proper experience from this placement and am feeling a bit out of my depth for the second placement, where we are expected to walk in on week one and pick up 12 hours worth of teaching... it's going to be a tough placement.For what it's worth, I think you've made the right decision - there's no point being observed when you aren't anywhere near your best. Yes, it's unfortunate, but illness is a reality of life, and especially as a teacher (teenagers aren't known as the most hygienic of beasts XD).
The PGCE is all about being thrown in at the deep end, and everyone's going to feel uncomfortable about going into their second placement school. The important thing is to work through it and keep in mind why you went into teaching in the first place.
Original post by tory88
For what it's worth, I think you've made the right decision - there's no point being observed when you aren't anywhere near your best. Yes, it's unfortunate, but illness is a reality of life, and especially as a teacher (teenagers aren't known as the most hygienic of beasts XD).
The PGCE is all about being thrown in at the deep end, and everyone's going to feel uncomfortable about going into their second placement school. The important thing is to work through it and keep in mind why you went into teaching in the first place.
The PGCE is all about being thrown in at the deep end, and everyone's going to feel uncomfortable about going into their second placement school. The important thing is to work through it and keep in mind why you went into teaching in the first place.
Yeah I know. Thanks for the words of wisdom! When do you start your second placement? Seems different at every uni.
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Original post by Airfairy
Yeah I know. Thanks for the words of wisdom! When do you start your second placement? Seems different at every uni.
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Don't forget though - your second placement is also a chance at a fresh start. I felt very nervous going to my second because I knew it would be much more pressure/higher expectations etc however it was a chance to realise all my mistakes, rectify them and start afresh with new classes. Hope you feel better soon btw - I feel your pain!! Had a cold/Tonsillitis all weekend and so have marked none of my y8 assessments aghhh
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Preparing lessons is taking me hours. My uni told us we should always lesson plan a week ahead.But, I'm never more than a day ahead of myself.
I want to plan comfortably in good time. but nowadays I'm preparing lessons the night before and it really makes me feel stressed out.
I want to plan comfortably in good time. but nowadays I'm preparing lessons the night before and it really makes me feel stressed out.
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by Airfairy
Yeah I know. Thanks for the words of wisdom! When do you start your second placement? Seems different at every uni.
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Mine seems quite late - I have 4 weeks after christmas at my first placement and then 3 weeks at university. So we're talking the end of February. But by that point we're expected to have a passable level of understanding of all the teachers standards and to be regularly meeting them.
Original post by Red Lightning
Preparing lessons is taking me hours. My uni told us we should always lesson plan a week ahead.But, I'm never more than a day ahead of myself.
I want to plan comfortably in good time. but nowadays I'm preparing lessons the night before and it really makes me feel stressed out.
I want to plan comfortably in good time. but nowadays I'm preparing lessons the night before and it really makes me feel stressed out.
That's a weird thing for your university to say - I don't know anyone who plans a week ahead. I'm NQT+1 and I still plan some of my lessons the night before. On Sundays I plan Monday/Tuesday/most of Wednesday/the odd bit of Thursday/Friday if I have a brainwave. Then on Monday nights I continue with Wednesday's planning, on Tuesdays I finish Wednesday/start Thursday, etc.
I don't think you can plan that far ahead until you know exactly how the intervening lessons went. For example, I teach Y11 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I normally plan their Monday and Tuesday lessons at the weekend, but wait 'til Tuesday night to plan Wednesday's lesson, based on how much we got through previously.
Obviously its not great to be running out of time to plan and staying up late to finish tomorrow's lessons. But my colleagues and I all do at least some of our planning the night before and that's including very experienced teachers.
One thing that really helps is outlining all your lessons for a term (just with a lesson topic) so that when you sit down to plan, you know at least roughly what you'll be doing.
Hi Everyone, I just had my first observation and it was a total disaster! The planning was fine but I couldn't control the class so it was a nightmare. Feeling really demotivated. I like teaching in theory, but classroom management seems like a whole other skillset that I don't have.
How is everyone else finding that side of things? I'm teaching 16-17 year olds which makes it a lot harder. I'm sure I'd be better off with managing younger kids.
How is everyone else finding that side of things? I'm teaching 16-17 year olds which makes it a lot harder. I'm sure I'd be better off with managing younger kids.
Original post by Teachingheadache
Hi Everyone, I just had my first observation and it was a total disaster! The planning was fine but I couldn't control the class so it was a nightmare. Feeling really demotivated. I like teaching in theory, but classroom management seems like a whole other skillset that I don't have.
How is everyone else finding that side of things? I'm teaching 16-17 year olds which makes it a lot harder. I'm sure I'd be better off with managing younger kids.
How is everyone else finding that side of things? I'm teaching 16-17 year olds which makes it a lot harder. I'm sure I'd be better off with managing younger kids.
Yeah I'm not so good with classroom management. What are you teaching? I would have thought if you're teaching something like A-Levels they should be pretty sensible by then!
Well I'm teaching in an FE college, so it's basically the kids who dropped out of school before getting A-levels! Total nightmare!! I like the subject which is why I'm doing it, but I don't know if I've got the energy to manhandle the students every day
Has anyone bought Twinkl premium membership? I can't decide... on the one hand, valid for a year and awesome resources. On the other, £50 
Had my first major wobble (I.e. Tears!) today. Had a uni tutor observation and thought it had gone really well. They then spent 45 minutes telling me everything that I should have done differently (not ONE positive mentioned!) and then gave me good overall with two 1's?! Feeling like if it was good why slag it off so much?! I really thought I had done enough for outstanding (have got this 3 times on internal obs and felt like this lesson ticked all the boxes on each standard according to the chart they gave us at the start) and this has made me feel like the uni just won't give me a 1? Anyone else feeling like this?
Original post by Bobble1987
Had my first major wobble (I.e. Tears!) today. Had a uni tutor observation and thought it had gone really well. They then spent 45 minutes telling me everything that I should have done differently (not ONE positive mentioned!) and then gave me good overall with two 1's?! Feeling like if it was good why slag it off so much?! I really thought I had done enough for outstanding (have got this 3 times on internal obs and felt like this lesson ticked all the boxes on each standard according to the chart they gave us at the start) and this has made me feel like the uni just won't give me a 1? Anyone else feeling like this?
Maybe the uni are reluctant to give you a 1, because you still have 2nd placement to go, so they want to make sure you keep on improving. Personally I'd swap with you, I'd be ecstatic to get 2, well done you
. I got serious cause for concern because of my professionalism, my book marking wasn't regular enough and that my lesson plans and powerpoint wasn't submitted at least 48hrs before each and every lesson. I have 2 weeks to correct these otherwise I will fail my 1st placement 
Original post by peony flowers
Has anyone bought Twinkl premium membership? I can't decide... on the one hand, valid for a year and awesome resources. On the other, £50
I got it! It's pretty cool to not have to worry about what you can get... I kept seeing stuff I thought was cool and then finding it was premium. It's certainly something you can do without if the money is a stretch, but little bits can be very handy.
xxx
Original post by myrtille
That's a weird thing for your university to say - I don't know anyone who plans a week ahead. I'm NQT+1 and I still plan some of my lessons the night before. On Sundays I plan Monday/Tuesday/most of Wednesday/the odd bit of Thursday/Friday if I have a brainwave. Then on Monday nights I continue with Wednesday's planning, on Tuesdays I finish Wednesday/start Thursday, etc.
I don't think you can plan that far ahead until you know exactly how the intervening lessons went. For example, I teach Y11 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I normally plan their Monday and Tuesday lessons at the weekend, but wait 'til Tuesday night to plan Wednesday's lesson, based on how much we got through previously.
Obviously its not great to be running out of time to plan and staying up late to finish tomorrow's lessons. But my colleagues and I all do at least some of our planning the night before and that's including very experienced teachers.
One thing that really helps is outlining all your lessons for a term (just with a lesson topic) so that when you sit down to plan, you know at least roughly what you'll be doing.
I don't think you can plan that far ahead until you know exactly how the intervening lessons went. For example, I teach Y11 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I normally plan their Monday and Tuesday lessons at the weekend, but wait 'til Tuesday night to plan Wednesday's lesson, based on how much we got through previously.
Obviously its not great to be running out of time to plan and staying up late to finish tomorrow's lessons. But my colleagues and I all do at least some of our planning the night before and that's including very experienced teachers.
One thing that really helps is outlining all your lessons for a term (just with a lesson topic) so that when you sit down to plan, you know at least roughly what you'll be doing.
Science teachers tend to have to plan further in advance than other teachers, as they need to request experiments from the technicians in good time for everything to be ready (in my department this is the Wednesday before, but others can be sooner than that).
Arghh, I had really terrible lesson(poor differentiation, did not challenge the pupils enough).I got told it would of been unsatisfactory if It were a formal observation.
Feel so stressed out, I have to mark mock exams as well as preparing for lessons tomorrow. I feel like going home to my warm bed and cry( or shout) to my pillow if I'm being honest.
Feel so stressed out, I have to mark mock exams as well as preparing for lessons tomorrow. I feel like going home to my warm bed and cry( or shout) to my pillow if I'm being honest.
(edited 9 years ago)
Just been told that I have a formal observation tomorrow with ITT coordinator and mentor because next week's observation isn't possible now.
Feel so sick with worry
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Feel so sick with worry
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Original post by ParadoxSocks
Just been told that I have a formal observation tomorrow with ITT coordinator and mentor because next week's observation isn't possible now.
Feel so sick with worry
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Feel so sick with worry
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Youll be fine, just stay calm and so your best.
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