PGCE - Current Students Thread

I'm on an R.E. PGCE, but on my current placement the humanities department is all mixed so I teach History and Geography too. I've just finished the Black Death last week and I really enjoyed it! They asked me a lot of questions that I couldn't answer, but I don't think it is an issue that I don't know - after all I haven't done any History since I was 13!

I like the bubble idea. I could have done with something different for what I used to show the spread of disease across countries.We did like a flow chart based on a map on the board but they didn't do it very well and couldn't read the map very well. My mentor said that the lesson I did on the impact and consequences of the Black Death was my best lesson yet. I sort of don't want to go back to teaching R.E. haha. I think the kids prefer History and Geography too so it's easier to get them engaged.

It's definitely not a problem that you can't answer questions, it's all about how you deal with them. I teach science and have a physics degree, but sometimes even my lower ability classes can ask questions that I can't answer (and sometimes that science can't - they're good at cutting through assumptions and asking why). The important thing is to turn it into a learning opportunity and promote curiosity - I try to avoid saying "it's complicated" and instead give some form of explanation or go and look it up (even when in reality physics nearly always boils down to "this is what the maths tells us happens, and our observations agree with this").

Personally, I think it's good that pupils see that teachers don't have all the answers - knowing that everyone can improve their knowledge and that not every question has an answer yet (or ever will) is a very powerful tool in promoting education.

I'm on an R.E. PGCE, but on my current placement the humanities department is all mixed so I teach History and Geography too. I've just finished the Black Death last week and I really enjoyed it! They asked me a lot of questions that I couldn't answer, but I don't think it is an issue that I don't know - after all I haven't done any History since I was 13!

I like the bubble idea. I could have done with something different for what I used to show the spread of disease across countries.We did like a flow chart based on a map on the board but they didn't do it very well and couldn't read the map very well. My mentor said that the lesson I did on the impact and consequences of the Black Death was my best lesson yet. I sort of don't want to go back to teaching R.E. haha. I think the kids prefer History and Geography too so it's easier to get them engaged.

My favourite trickis to tell them to look it up and if they get the right answer next lesson, they'll get a merit...

That's awesome though! Any chance you could send me the consequences of the black death!? I'm just about to start planning it and I don't know how to make it interesting - I have a problem with doing a history PGCE with a history degree in that I have too much knowledge and sometimes it's really hard to know what needs to be taught and what doesn't >.<

I'm currently just finishing a depth study about King John which is my specialism and it's quite difficult sometimes to make it accessible to KS3

Got my interim report back for placement two and I'm on all good's with one high for the standards. Feel like my mentors been a bit too generous but I'm not asking him to change it!

So excited for my year 7 Black Death lesson tomorrow - I've got some bubbles and I'm going to be using them to demonstrate the spread of disease!

I got invited to an interview on Tuesday, and the Head asked me on the phone whether I had any interviews on Monday. Is that a common thing? I don't, but what if I had said yes?!

They probably just wanted to know what the chances are of you getting another job first so they can plan. For example, if everyone had an interview before they might invite more to interview as the chances are at least one won't come.

Don't worry about it. It's perfectly acceptable to be open about it, it's one of the peculiarities of the education sector which is really hard yo figure out. My friend once had two interviews coming up and was phoned by a head and ended up arranging to call back and let her know if she would be interested in an interview once she knew if she'd got another job! It kind of has to be that way because they need to know straight away if you accept the job so it's always gonna be first interview priority.

Xxx

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Ah, ok, that makes sense Just back from the interview.... talk about nerve wracking! I really hope I don't have to go through this process too many times There was only me and one other person there, but I don't know if they are doing another lot this afternoon. Going to try and relax this afternoon, after having spent the whole weekend in a ball of stress

I have my uni mentor observation tomorrow and I feel a bit sick with worry. My starter ideas all feel a bit dreadful

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I hope it went well!! It's a horrible process but each one is invaluable experience.



Good luck! Just be yourself, the point of observations is to develop your practice and get useful (hopefully) feedback. What are you teaching?

Image representation in computing. I think I can do it but I just worry a bit about a boring starter.

I wish I'd been observed in my amazing colour theory lesson a few weeks ago. I'm hoping I can link it enough into that for the pupils to stay engaged.

I've made them a kahoot quiz for the end and I have a few really good videos so it's just figuring out what tasks to do with them.

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I've started to apply for NQT jobs but I was wondering,how long would you commute? I saw this really good school but I know it will take me an hour(or more) to get there door-to-door.

I've started to apply for NQT jobs but I was wondering,how long would you commute? I saw this really good school but I know it will take me an hour(or more) to get there door-to-door.

I'm doing Secondary English so having all the fun associated with that

I hope it went well!! It's a horrible process but each one is invaluable experience.

I've started to apply for NQT jobs but I was wondering,how long would you commute? I saw this really good school but I know it will take me an hour(or more) to get there door-to-door.

Got a phone call this afternoon to let me know that I'd got the job! So relieved I really didn't think I'd done well enough in both the lesson and the interview. Seems like a lovely school, and it's really close to my house, which is such a bonus. Now I can relax and focus on passing my placement!